We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
In a world of screens, virtual distractions, and indoor pass-times, we always look for fun outdoor activities with our kids. I never imagined metal detecting might be a good hobby until Matt bought himself a Fisher Gold Bug 2 metal detector. He was learning how to look for gold nuggets near our home. He was energetic and passionate about the hobby. It naturally made sense for us to try metal detecting with kids. It’s been fun to the joys of this exciting and rewarding activity.
Metal Detecting With Kids As A Hobby
Metal detecting opens up a world of educational and recreational benefits. It combines all the best elements of an exciting treasure hunt with a fun family bonding experience. Metal detecting with kids allows you to explore the natural world with your child, teach them a new skill, and reward their cooperation by finding buried treasure! It pairs really well with one of our other favorite hobbies – family travel! This includes camping trips and spending time on the 30A beaches!
Why Metal Detecting Is Great for Kids
I’ve outlined eight reasons why metal detecting with kids should be your family’s next adventure.
I’ve also outlined options for kids-related starter gear to get into the hobby quickly and inexpensively. With the holidays approaching, many of these items make wonderful gifts for kids!
Fostering a Love for Exploration and Discovery Through Metal Detecting
Kids are natural explorers, and metal detecting feeds that innate curiosity. With a metal detector, every step is filled with anticipation and excitement. The thrill of unearthing a hidden coin, a piece of jewelry, or maybe even a historical relic can instill a love for exploration that lasts a lifetime. It’s a treasure hunt in the most literal sense, one that can make your regular trips to the park or beach extraordinary.
Metal detecting with kids makes learning a family experience. We enjoyed sitting with our kids before the hunt and looking at maps of the area we would detect. Furthermore, we would talk about the natural features like creeks, hills, roads, and other things that make some areas more attractive.
Once we arrived, we would talk about the location’s topography and where we were most likely to find something interesting underground. The immediate reinforcement of finding treasure due to their study and exploration makes metal detecting a phenomenal way to teach kids the value of research. If you homeschool, this can easily integrate with your curriculum in many different ways!
Educational Opportunities Abound
Metal detecting isn’t just about the thrill of the find; it’s a gateway to history, geology, and environmental studies.
Finding an old coin or artifact can lead to discussions about the history of your location, the people who lived there, and the technology of the time. You can link these discoveries to books and educational materials to turn a fun outing into a valuable learning experience.
We had many conversations with our kids about who may have lived in these areas long ago and what they may have left behind. We discussed different types of rocks, the heaviness of items, and what sinks and rises to the top. The kids always wanted to find gold (!), so that was a fun discussion point.
You can’t imagine the thrill of hearing a child yell, “I found gold!” and seeing their excitement as they carefully examine iron pyrite (fool’s gold) in their little hand.
Physical Exercise and Outdoor Connection
With the increasing dominance of screens and indoor entertainment, metal detecting provides a fun and engaging way to get your family outside. Walking, digging, bending, and sifting add to good physical exercise.
Plus, spending time in nature has numerous mental health benefits for you and your kids. Our kids embraced the physicality of the hobby, crawling over logs and rocks and digging with zeal. The more challenging the dig, the more they expected a big reward to be uncovered! It’s an excellent exercise for the whole family. Everyone must be ready to sweat, spend time on their knees, and be hunched over digging holes.
Connecting with nature is, necessarily, a physical experience. Being at home in the woods, listening to the birds sing, enjoying a stream’s calm waters, and hearing the gentle wind rustle the leaves will instill a sense of reverence and respect for the outdoors.
Building Patience and Perseverance
Metal detecting requires patience and perseverance. Only some outings will yield treasures, but the joy is often in the hunt itself. Teaching your children to appreciate the process and not just the end result can be a valuable lesson in patience that translates to other aspects of life.
Metal detecting can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also test your patience. The metal detector will often blare loudly, and someone will scream, “I got something,” only to dig up a rusted nail, a bobby pin, or an old shell casing. It’s a sport that requires hard work and resilience. Persistence might be paid off with something that has no monetary value.
The real value is in the experience and creating lasting memories with your family that will endure forever. Sometimes, digging up that old railroad spike is worth more than you might think!
Enhancing Family Bonding
There’s something inherently collaborative about metal detecting with your kids. Whether it’s the shared excitement of a find or the joint efforts to dig and sift, this hobby brings families together in a unique way. You’ll work with your family as a team, fostering communication, cooperation, and shared memories. Kids are naturally competitive and thrive working together (and alone) to gain rewards and recognition.
Metal detecting shows kids the value of teamwork safely and engagingly. They will quickly realize that digging holes is more manageable with others’ help. And they will learn assessing the value of a find is always more fun when you have second opinions.
Environmental Stewardship
Metal detecting can also teach your kids about environmental responsibility. By picking up litter and metal trash during your hunts, you’re cleaning the area and demonstrating a commitment to caring for our planet.
Many detectorists pride themselves on leaving places better than they found them, a valuable lesson for children. We always picked up what trash we could and tried to set an example for our kids. If we found nails in the ground, we would put them in our bag so they wouldn’t pop a tire later.
If we dug up a worm, we carefully moved it to a new, safe place in the shade. If we were in a public place, such as a park, we would be respectful of others and minimalist in our approach.
Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving
A successful metal-detecting outing requires planning, creativity, and problem-solving. You’ll analyze maps, consider historical contexts, and interpret signals from your detector. Your kids will learn to approach problems logically and creatively, enhancing skills that will benefit them academically.
Metal detecting can be as simple or sophisticated as you want. You can spend countless hours teaching your kids about how the magnetic properties of the detector work on various minerals. Or you can turn on the detector and go! You might pour over maps of old gold-bearing lodes to ascertain the perfect place to detect. Or you may venture into your backyard and pre-seed the area with pennies for your family to find.
The creative boundaries are limitless, and so many lessons can be taught and learned. The educational potential of the hobby is only limited by how much time and energy you want to invest.
It’s Accessible and Inclusive
One of the great things about metal detecting with kids is its accessibility. You can find equipment that fits your budget with a wide range of detectors available. It’s also an inclusive hobby, suitable for various ages and abilities. Whether at the beach, park, or backyard, metal detecting can be tailored to your family’s interests and needs.
Metal detecting can occur essentially anywhere outdoors. We have explored beaches (a lot of fun!), deserts, city parks, and driveways. You can go on short excursions that don’t require a lot of pre-planning or time. It’s a perfect skill your kids can teach Grandpa as they walk together in the backyard!
If your kids aren’t able to do physically strenuous things, don’t worry. They can experience the thrill of moving the detector and hearing the sound of finding something. A friend or family member can help them do the digging. The important part is you are all doing it together!
Kids Metal Detecting Gear
Metal detecting does require some metal detecting gear. The necessary tools will make the hobby more manageable and rewarding. I’ve compiled some different options for equipment to get you started metal detecting with your kids. They are easy to purchase on Amazon!
- Metal Detector
- Hand Scoop and Rake
- Pinpointer (optional but suggested)
Best Metal Detectors for Kids
National Geographic Junior Metal Detector
Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector
Nokta Mini Hoard Kids Waterproof Metal Detector
Metal Detecting Hand Scoops and Rakes
CIPOOH Sand Shovel and Trident Rake
DetecTrek Sand Scoop and Shovel
Sluice Monkey 12.5” Green Heavy Duty Plastic Prospector’s Sand Scoop
Kids Metal Detecting Pin Pointers
Superboom Metal Detector Pinpointer Waterproof
DEWINNER Waterproof Search Pin-Pointer
Metal Detecting With Kids: Start Searching for Buried Treasure With Your Kids
Metal detecting with your kids isn’t just a fun way to spend a weekend; it’s a stimulating hobby that offers educational, physical, and emotional benefits.
From teaching patience to fostering a love for history and the environment, the opportunities for growth and connection are immense. Embrace the adventure, the learning, and the quality time together. Your family’s next treasure awaits just below the surface.
Looking For More Adventures?
I have an entire section of my blog dedicated to family travel and adventures of all kinds. You can visit the Our Little Lifestyle Travel section to read about all of our adventures over the years!
PIN This Metal Detecting With Kids Blog Post
