Headphones For Your Kids – What to Look For?

It's likely your kids use technology as much or more than you do!

There is a wide assortment of headphones available that are specially designed for kids. There are several attractive options available such as the ones with friendly faces on them. These add a great level of fun for your young listeners.

They can be used with several devices including car DVD entertainment systems, iPhone, iPod, MP3 players, PCs, laptops, and gaming systems. When you are out there buying head gear for your children, look for the ones with the following vital features:

•    Light weight
•    High quality
•    Ergonomically sized for kids’ pint-sized heads
•    Volume Limit Technology
•    Adjustable headband
•    Multi-platform compatibility
•    Soft ear pads for comfort
•    Moderately priced

In this era of computer games, MP3 players, and DVD players, kids are using headphones more often. According to health practitioners, at young age, exposure to recurrent loud noise makes kids prone to hearing loss. It also greatly increases the possibility of hearing loss due to aging, later in life. Choosing the right headphones for your kids now could avert hearing problems for them in the future.
Following are the important factors to consider while making the purchase.

Fit

Headphones that need least adjustments are safer since there is less possibility of them cracking or fraying from constant repositioning. Besides, a proper fit makes sure that your kids hear the complete range of sound in their headphones. Choose headphones that have foam padding on them. This would provide you kids’ ears extra comfort, and would also allow them to wear for longer duration without any need of adjusting them.

Volume

The most vital feature in kids’ head gear is volume control. Some headphones let you to change maximum limit of decibel levels and there are others that come with preset maximum levels (usually not above 85 decibels). In each case, your kid’s will be safe from eardrum-splitting sound levels, regardless of the sounds their audio player plays. According to experts, in-ear buds and headphones worn over the ear are safer options for kids as long as they have volume control.

Durability

In addition to buying a headphone with the right fit, it is also important to choose the ones that can stand rough handling. Frayed wires and cracked ear covers pose threat of electrical shock. If you have a very young kid or he has a propensity to destroy his toys, buy headphones that have strong plastic exterior over the ear covers, and also reinforced covering of cord at the place where it joins plug and ear covers.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

To save your kids from life-lasting hearing loss, give preference to noise cancelling headphones in circumstances that involve continuous loud noise, such as attending car races or riding on a loud bus.

These special headphones are very effective with bass or low noises. If your kid is exposed to strident treble or high-pitched noises, it is better to rely on foam earplugs that protect your kids’ inner ear.

Sports Headphones – What’s Your Type?

Enter any gym and you will find most bikers, weight lifters, and runners plugged into their iPhones or iPods. After all, exercise and music are tightly linked. A study published in one of the reputed journals has revealed that music has the capability of boosting endurance while exercising by 15 percent!

If you are also the kind of person who likes to rock to music beats during the sweat sessions, then you surely need outstanding pair of headphones (specially designed for sports) that can help you keep upbeat and motivated. It is vital that the sports headphones you choose, not just sound great, but they must look cool, fit snuggly inside or over your ears, and be sweat-resistant.

As far as buying the perfect sports headphone is concerned, you can take different paths - earphones or headphones, wireless or wired, inexpensive or pricey. A wired headphone is more conventional, but wireless head gear can set you free from the tangle-prone cables. Headphones are worn over your ears, while earphones are inserted in ear canal, making a tight seal. Whichever you buy and whether you spend more conservatively or splurge, you'll end up having a great buddy for workout still!

Discussed here are some categories of sports headphones that you might want to read about before making any purchase.

Ear hooks headphones
If you are on a tight budget, earbud-type head gear that come with ear hooks, are quite affordable. These headphones are similar to the ones you get with most MP3 players and smart phones, but these come with a rubber attachment or curved plastic that clasps around your ear.

Advantages – Several affordable options available; stays firmly in the ears; provides satisfactory audio quality; generally comfortable
Disadvantages – Ear hooks are not very flexible and have a poor fit; not available in different sizes

In-ear attachment headphones
These headphones are also a good option for those on low budget. These are similar to ear-hook headphones and have ear buds with attachments made of silicone or rubber. These minimal sports headphones are available in a wide range of designs. These are flexible enough to be re-positioned for better audio quality.

Advantages – Have a firm fit; least skin contact; can be freely positioned; quite affordable
Disadvantages – Ear hook headphones are more secure than these; when taking off the headphone, attachments sometimes get dislodged

In-ear headphones (neckband style)
These headphones, specially designed for sports, provide a snug fit, with an added expediency of a single piece design which is easier to wear. These mostly have a single cord coming out from one side of neck band. This lessens the chances of snagging the headphones somewhere.

Advantages – Have a firm fit; elastic band and single cord are more resilient in due course
Disadvantages – Comfort depends on the fitting of neckband; similar to ear hook headphone variety; fussier listeners might not like the fixed positioning of ear buds

Some tips
•    While exercising outdoors, ensure that you are able to hear your surroundings.
•    Look for water resistant sports headphones.
•    You can also opt for head set versions of sports headphones. These come with remote for smart phones and built-in microphone.
•    Make sure you clean them regularly.