Tips for Birding with Kids (part 1 of 3)

Amy Simso Dean, birder for over 25 years, runs MYBirdClub, an after school bird-watching club for kids in south Minneapolis. In this series, Amy provides tips for birding with the young ones.

Using Binoculars

Kids, especially small kids, can have a hard time using binoculars, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to try.

• 2 Rules: They are ALWAYS on your neck. You NEVER swing them around. They are hard and they really hurt if you accidentally hit someone with them.

• Stick with a power of 6x, 7x or 8x —any more and they are hard to hold steady.

• I tape down diopter rings or use binocs with rings that lock. Little hands love to twist.

• Explain how to use them: stare down the bird with your eyes and move the binoculars in front of your eyes without looking away from the bird. Practice on something big and unmoving like a tree or car.

• You can explain how small movement make a big difference by stretching out your arm and demonstrating that the shoulder moves a little while the hand moves a lot.

• Remind them that this is a skill that develops like playing an instrument or a sport and that even grown ups get frustrated. You can’t yet… Yet is a very powerful word.

• Bring a scope if you’ll be someplace it makes sense. Make it as low as the shortest person. I like an angled scope for this reason.

• I do not carry anyone's binoculars.

• I encourage kids to use the ones I provide if they bring some from home that will be harder to use like those mini stadium binoculars. I never insist, but I may ask them to compare and see which they like.

• If you do not have enough for every kid, give binoculars to ½ and switch half way through your walk. The other kids are spotters (be sure to explain what an important role this is).