Best Metal Detectors for Kids and Young Adults

Metal Detectors for Kids Buyer’s guide

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a) Age

How old your kid is will determine the kind of metal detector you are going to get them. There is a junior metal detector for kids and more grown-up options. You can get your kids a not-so-junior metal detector to allow them to use it for a longer time as they grow up.

b) Digital Display

Metal detecting has evolved and there are some with an LCD display. You should consider detectors with an LCD over ones without. The LCD shows the detecting mode, how deep an object might be, battery level, sensitivity feel, overload warning, and more.

c) Waterproof Search Coil

Since the best search location is the beach, I would strongly suggest a waterproof search coil. Apart from the beach, there is a chance that the ground in your search area will be wet. From dew in the morning to swampy areas, a waterproof metal detector expands the scope of locations you can visit.

d) Adjustable Sensitivity

You need different sensitivity levels to detect different metals. Therefore, you need sensitivity control when treasure hunting as you are bound to find more metals. A metal detector with fixed sensitivity is good enough but one with an adjustable sensitivity is better.

The operating frequency is something else you should look for in a detector to determine the kinds of metals you find. A device with a high operating frequency will help you find a wider variety of metals.

e) Adjustable Backlights

If you have a metal detector in one hand, it might be a bit tricky to have a flashlight in the other, especially when working at night or in a dark place like an abandoned house. There are many situations when you will need the metal detector backlight.

f) Height

A very tall metal detector will be frustrating for the kid and a very short metal detector will be too taxing for an adult. The height is one of the first features I look at when buying a metal detector. If you find an option with an adjustable height, you are in luck.

g) Weight

Go for a detector with a light weight. If you are going to carry the device around for long periods, the weight should not be too much, especially for kids.

h) Depth Indicator

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If you want to know how deep an object is with a metal detector, find one with a depth indicator. The indicator saves you time and allows you to use the right tools at any given time.

i) Visual Target Identification

Look for metal detectors that have visual discrimination indication which helps isolate the type of metal you are dealing with. One with a discrimination control helps zero in on the metal you have found and displays the type on the screen.

j) Headphone Output

Headphones are useful when metal detecting and having a metal detector with output is the way to go. You can pick up on signals more easily when you are in a noisy place. Furthermore, you can keep your activities private and no one will know the exact moment you make a find.

k) Preset Ground Balance

Since some minerals in the soil respond to certain frequencies as a metal would, a preset ground balance isolates the frequency response of a target. Apart from minerals, wet sands cause this problem too. To help you find metals faster, get a detector with this feature.

l) Search Modes

There are metal detectors with up to four search modes. The different search modes help in zeroing in on a target. Here are the four modes in a nutshell:

a. Discrimination Mode

This is the mode that isolates a metal by avoiding other metals to help make high-value finds only.

B. All-Metal Mode

The all-metal mode is the mode that will signal any object as long as it is metallic.

C. Tone-Mode

This is the mode that uses a high tone for certain metals and a low tone for others. The tone mode is almost similar to the discrimination mode as it can give you different tones for different metals.

D. Target Mode

The target mode lowers the sensitivity of the metal detector to help pinpoint the target more accurately. This means that the device will not be able to pick up on metals unless they are very close.

NOTE: Metal detectors can come with some or all four modes.

m) Battery Power Indicator

Avoid metal detectors with no battery-power indicator as they might die out of the blue, cutting your adventure short. Additionally, the indicator helps you plan better.

n) Audio Signals

Find a metal detector with different audio tones that signify different frequencies and can help you know whether what you are detecting is worth looking at or not.

Where to Go Treasure Hunting

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• Beaches

• Backyard

• Local Park

• Old Houses

• Local School

• Local Church

What to Buy Alongside a Metal Detector

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1. Headphones

2. Carry bag

3. Shovels

4. Sand-scoop

5. Metal detector pin-pointer

6. Gloves

7. Sifter

FAQs about Kids Metal Detectors

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a) How can I encourage a child to start a metal detecting hobby?

One of the most interesting things I had to do when introducing my kid to metal detecting was seeding the area where we were to go treasure hunting. It is okay for a parent to ensure the kid finds something for the first few times, then switch to more authentic searches. this is one way to encourage the kids to pick up metal detecting at a young age.

The other way is to make the activity as much fun as possible for the kids. Do not hunt for a very long time, travel to an exciting location and bring snacks along. Having exciting gear makes the whole process worthwhile. Dressing up for the activity is fun too.

b) Is a metal detector safe for kids?

Most time, the metal detector is the least you have to worry about. The things a kid can find using the metal detector are worrying. The metal detector is safe as long as you are consistently monitoring the kid.

Choosing a relatively safe place to hunt for treasure might lead to safer results compared to just going anywhere with a metal detector. For instance, you are bound to find safer material on the beach than under a bridge on a riverbed.

Getting an entry-level metal detector is the best approach for younger kids because they are bound to discover less, significantly reducing the potential for a dangerous find.

c) What can a child expect to find with these models?

Kids can expect to find coins, jewelry, keys, old tools, random car parts, and boxes hidden in backyards. Most of the time, it is a surprise what you end up finding using an entry-level detector, let alone a professional one.

d) Are kids’ metal detectors just toys?

Depending on what you use it for, a metal detector can be just a toy, or it can be one of the most important things you have in your arsenal. For instance, when I was about to turn my backyard into a mini-garden, I used a metal detector for kids to ensure there are no metals before I started digging.

A simple metal detector can go a long way in finding things and solving mysteries.

e) Will my kid’s detector work at the beach?

The most popular place to use a metal detector is the beach. The beach is one of the most popular places for people to visit in any beach town and has the potential to have metal objects. Try to imagine how easy it is to lose an object at the beach. It is just as easy to find an object at the beach using a metal detector.

The sand is not too dense to keep a children’s metal detector from working. The beach is the first stop you should make as a treasure hunter with your kids.

f) Will my kid’s detector work in the water?

A metal detector works well under fresh water. In most cases, you will find a metal detector with a waterproof search coil. A metal detector will work both under salt and fresh water.

g) Will metal detectors for kids find gold?

There are metal detectors that will find gold, and those need to have higher frequencies than entry-level metal detectors. Gold has a relatively low conductivity and will not be detected by most metal detectors. If you are a professional treasure hunter, you definitely have the right equipment to help you find gold compared to a relatively cheap metal detector.

h) How fast will my child outgrow a kid’s metal detector?

Metal detectors are versatile toys that can be useful for an adult as well as a kid. The only way a kid can outgrow a metal detector is when they need a stronger one. Otherwise, a metal detector is one of those toys you keep coming back to as it has no age restriction (some have age limits, but not a restriction).

i) What cannot be detected by a kid’s metal detector?

Non-magnetic material will not be picked up by a metal detector. There are others like copper, lead-gold, aluminum, brass, and silver that will not stick to a magnet. Therefore, you metals you will find are magnetic metals.

The other materials you will never pick up with a metal detector are non-metals like wood, plastic, paper, glass, and so on.

j) What interferes with a metal detector for kids?

There is a low chance that your kids’ metal detector will get interference. However, there are a few things like radio waves that might interfere with a metal detector. An electromagnetic field can interfere with a metal detector as well, especially if there are electrical wires running on the ground. The chance that you will come across interference when working with a metal detector is low.

Rules and Tips when Metal Detecting with Kids

• You can “plant” treasures to find for your kids when playing out in the yard. This is fun but do not do it often as lying to them is not too helpful.

• You can let them know that you planted a treasure and whoever gets it first wins a prize.

• Kids have a short attention span, therefore It is best to work within a given time than to stretch it out.

• Snacks will be a great way to keep the kids going in their quest and snack breaks helps in regaining the energy lost during a search.

• Do not bring kids into an abandoned home or somewhere unsafe. It is better to go to a familiar place for safety.

• Have a buddy system to prevent anyone wandering off alone.

• If there are more than two kids, it is better to have another adult around for supervision especially during breaks.

• There is a need to point out the dos and Don’ts in a playground, like setting a perimeter that no one can exceed, and ensuring no one removes their safety gloves.

• Safety gear helps avoid cuts, debris getting into the eye, and any dangerous situation.

• You want the kids to bring everything they have found and a carry bag will come in handy.

Final Thoughts

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A metal detector is a great tool for fun and serious searches. My household has at least six of them and once every while, we go out treasure hunting. The most valuable thing we have found out there so far is the time spent together as a family in a fun and exciting way. 

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