Taking Care Of A Kids Microscope
Being a quite expensive educational toy, kids microscopes need to be handled with great care. This optical instrument is so delicate that it can be easily damaged with carelessness or simple neglect. In order to make your kids microscope last longer, here are a few guidelines that a teacher or parent should remind their kids to follow.
Hold the microscope with both hands. In carrying or transporting the optical instrument, hold it by the arm while supporting its base. Grabbing the kids microscope stage can cause misalignment and other problems. Remember not to swing the microscope as you might accidentally drop it or the eyepieces might slip out.
The kid microscope stage must be kept parallel with the table top especially when examining fluids or wet objects. Tilting the microscope, on the other hand, can only be done when examining dry objects.
Have a well-lighted area for better results. The mirror should always be adjusted in relation to a window or lamp. Direct sunlight should be avoided and instead, it is ideal to make use of a clear area of sky or sunlight reflected from a white wall. In case there isn’t any natural light around, an electric bulb with a ground glass shade or any light that does not flicker may be used.
Most of all, keep your kids microscope clean. Use camel’s hair or chamois skin in brushing off dust that settles upon it. Pressurized air can also be used to remove the particles. However, do not use the chamois skin in cleaning the lenses because it contains natural oils that will further make the dust stick onto it.
Use a lens cleaning paper or very soft linen in cleaning the lens of the microscope. The coatings on the objective lens can be very sensitive to scratches so make sure to rub the glasses gently. Be sure not to touch the objective lens with your fingers as the marks left can be very difficult to remove.
In cleaning the lenses from smudges, fingerprints or oils, moisten the cleaning cloth with distilled water. A small amount of detergent can also be added in cleaning the microscope body. Never use solvents or paint thinners and make sure to wipe all surfaces dry after cleaning.
Microscope maintenance must be done at least once a week to avoid accumulation of dust that may cause stiffness. After removing the dust, stiff movements can be solved by cleaning and lubricating the sliding channel, rack and pinion.
Store the kids microscope in a dry place, preferably in its case or under a bell jar. Humid or moist surroundings can attract the growth of fungi which can cause major problems if not treated immediately. In case of such environments, the microscope should be placed in a waterproof and air-tight container with a drying agent.
As much as possible, do not remove the eyepieces as empty eye tubes collect dust that can be very hard to clean. If there is a need to remove the eyepiece, cover the tubes with a plastic bag with a rubber band tied around the eye tube. Some kids microscope kits also come with black plastic tube inserts to slip into the eyetube if the eyepiece is removed.
Avoid storing the instrument in direct sunlight as it may affect the quality of the imaging.
By knowing how to properly use and care for kids microscopes, the child student will be able to make it last longer. Students and children will also learn how to be responsible in using their kids microscope equipment especially when performing their microscope activity for science studies.
