Telescope and rocket for a 4yo boy? Pressie help please!

[CocktailQueen]

DS has suddenly said he'd like Santa to bring him a telescope - to look at the stars and planets. Hmm. Have looked at the National Geographic child's ones but they have crap reviews. Don't want to spend a fortune as it will prob be a fab. He'd like one to hold like you do binoculars, not one to put on a stand. Does anyone have any ideas/recommendations?? Thanks!

Also looking for rocket recs - he wants a rocket that will go to the moon. He already has a stomp rocket. Any suggestions??!

It is great that your DS is interested in astronomy, but a telescope at this age will likely just frustrate him, for many reasons. Firstly, 4 year olds and even most 6 and 7 year olds haven't yet developed the coordination required to close one eye and focus through the eyepiece. It's even difficult for a lot of adults! Also, in order to really see well, you need a good quality telescope which will cost at least £150+. Finally, images you see are inverted, which is confusing. To see an object to the left you have to move the scope right, etc. For children interested in astronomy, it is much better to get a good pair of binoculars and you can get a tripod for them. This way they can use both eyes. The amount of detail you can see is better than telescopes of the same price. He can also use them for other purposes. You should look for 7x35 or 8x40 (first number is the magnification and second is the size of the objective and indicates how much light comes in). The higher the numbers the heavier and more expensive. This is a good starter - Celestron Upclose 8x40 binoculars. A tripod will be helpful to avoid shaking which will impede your view. And it may be obvious but make sure your DS does NOT look at the sun through binoculars or a telescope.

Sorry I have no recs on rockets!

peppa pig rocket?

hdoodle - he can't work binocs and gets frustrated with them. Thanks for the advice. Think he wants to be like Captain Barnacles from Octonauts!!

Fellikexmas- he;s too grown up for peppa pig - sorry! Was thinking about something atad older.

Hi there, if he can't work binoculars he definitely won't be able to work a telescope! Maybe something like this for now just for fun, and then when he is older you can upgrade. But if he has trouble with binoculars, he will have more trouble focusing through one eyepiece.

Oh, I thought a telescope would be easier! Anyway, thanks for the link - have seen a couple on ebay, and they actually have good reviews on Amazon, unlike the others I've seen!

Not entirely sensible, but how about Mentos & coke www.bing.com/videos/search?q=coke+rocket&qpvt=coke+rocket&FORM=VDRE#

Hawkins bazaar do a bubble stomp rocket - maybe a bit of a variation on a theme, but very popular at my ds's recent birthday party.

Thanks got him a Hawkins bazaar catapult parachute rocket and a make your own rocket craft set!! And got him a pirate telescope as recommended above :) Sorted!