Hi Susan,
Allow me to tell you a little story of an 8 year old that loved watching the skies with binoculars and never got over it.......
When I was eight, my father had a pair of expensive (they were back then) good quality 7x50 binoculars purchased back in the 60's, which were always kept in a special place. I grew up watching the skies with these binoculars with my father right by my side. Because they were "his", I always had respect for them and knowing it went back in its special case and in its special place, to me as a child, made them all the more "special". He never denied me using them and would always happily pass them over whenever I wanted to use them. It gave me a thrill every time I used his "special" bincoculars and I in turn would feel very special.
When my father passed away 12 years ago, upon the instructions of his will, gave me his beloved binoculars, and to this day these are what I use (and in a sense, still feel he is by my side). The red velvet inside the storage case is still perfect, but the leather outer casing has worn throughout the years - but I will never replace it as it represents too much sentiment. A good pair of binoculars has so far lasted 50 years, in great condition, and many years left in them still.
If they were handed to me at 8, they would have gotten accidentally mistreated. At that age it is difficult to be so "dilligent" with things, as they are still growing up and learning how to look after things as responsibility comes with age, IMO ( my daughter at 8 was very good with her toys, but there were times when she got lazy).
So my suggestion would be to do what my father did with me and You don't need to wait till such dire endings to pass them over, but an age where he will really appreciate them (and he will appreciate them more because of the sentiment attached). 7x50's are fairly easy to handle, and I know they give great views, because they kept me interested in the skies all my life. My sister-in law and I had a bino session last summer, hers were 10x40's and the difference was very noticeable to me. In my 7x50's (as an example) I could clearly make out the Southern Pleiades, they were beautiful and bright & I couldn't stop looking at the beauty, but in hers they didn't show up so well (quite dim). The Orion Nebula was the same. I'm no expert with bino's by the way, only speaking from my experience.
All the best with your decision,
Suzy.
