🚀 go-pugleaf

>I am considering buying a microscope for my 10 year old daughter. I like to get
>a good quality (i.e. not a toy) yet not too expensive one (say, under ~$250).  

I would strongly recommend getting a dissecting microscope, with good
light sources for both transmission, and side lighting.

Dissecting microscopes are lowish power, say 5X to 50X, allow
examination of everyday articles, and plant and animal life, such as
flowers and pond water, without the need for any special preparation.
They allow stereo viewing, which means that things like mould on
bread, or the surface of textiles, look spectacular.

Dissecting microscopes are also cheaper!

The general problem of obejective crunching into cover-slip, or
smashing slide, is also avoided. (Because focussing at high
magnifacation is tedious for a child).

(I did have access to a decent microscope as a nipper, and enjoyed
using it very much. When I was a student, I had possession of a
dissecting microscope for a few weeks, and enjoyed that _much_ more).