Tips for Glassing with Kids

Getting your kids into glassing is a great way to get them out in the wild, a fun adventure, and a way to spend time with them.

There is a saying about how to stay young. “God doesn’t count the days you spend outside with your kids.” Sharing your love of the outdoors with the next generation is what it is all about. Seeing your kids smile when they find their first deer is incredibly rewarding.

Getting kids to be still and focus comes with its own challenges. Here are some tips to help.

Snacks: always have snacks. Period. End of article. Use them as little rewards for seeing things. Use them just to ward off the inevitable “I’m hungry.” Again, always have snacks.

Stay warm. Early mornings on a ridgetop are cold. Make sure you have extra layers in your pack for the kids. You don’t want this to be an unpleasant experience for them.

Use lighter optics or a tripod: Kids will have an easier time holding binoculars with a smaller objective or a monocular. You can also set up a tripod and spotter to fit the level of their eye. The lenses on some binoculars will be too wide for kids.

Combine glassing with other activities: Bringing your optics on a camping trip, bike ride or a fishing trip can be a great way to keep kids interested.

Move: Break it up. Don’t sit in one place too long.

See things: If possible it is best to start kids where you know they will see things. Maybe you know where a herd of elk are, or when deer will be moving. Stack the odds in your favor and make their first experience exciting.

Know how: Make sure they know how to use the optics. That they know not to touch the lenses of your good binoculars. Often kids will have trouble centering their eye in the optics to actually see. I like to have them start farther back till they see the bright circle and have them move their eye to that until they can see through.

-Patrick

Glassing Gear

PEAX Glassing Pad
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