Free Kids Hearing Safety Resources
Protect little ears before the noise gets too loud.
Loud sounds are part of childhood: fireworks, concerts, sports, parades, pep rallies, travel days, theaters, classrooms, and everyday family adventures. This free resource hub brings together trusted public hearing-safety materials from NIH/NIDCD, child-friendly education from Ear Peace Foundation and HearO Saves the Day!, plus simple BANZ® guidance for helping babies and kids build safer listening habits early.
Public hearing-health resources commonly note that sounds at or above 85 dBA may increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, especially when exposure is repeated or lasts too long.
👶 For babies specifically
Babies' safe thresholds are lower than the general adult standard — and below the noise level of a typical restaurant.
Noise-induced hearing loss is often preventable.
Children are not always able to recognize when a sound is too loud, move away from it, or ask for help. Teaching simple hearing-safety habits early can help families make loud moments safer and more comfortable.
Lower the volume
Turn down headphones, tablets, televisions, toys, and other devices whenever possible. Small habits can help protect hearing over time.
Move away from noise
Distance matters. Sitting farther from speakers, sirens, engines, or fireworks can help reduce sound exposure.
Wear hearing protection
When volume cannot be lowered and distance is not enough, properly fitted hearing protection can help reduce loud sound.
Babies have a lower safe sound threshold than adults — and it's lower than you might think.
Safe volume for babies is 75 dB over 8 hours and 80 dB over 24 hours. A noisy restaurant can hit 85 dB. A lawnmower runs around 90 dB. A concert can reach 110 dB. All are above the safe threshold for extended baby exposure — which is why hearing protection matters for babies at everyday events, not just extreme ones.
Download printable hearing-safety materials.
These free resources include NIH/NIDCD public education materials, Ear Peace Foundation classroom resources, and the HearO Saves the Day! book partnership. They are helpful for families, schools, pediatric offices, venues, daycares, camps, music teachers, and community events.
How Loud Is Too Loud?
A family-friendly overview explaining how sound is measured, when noise can become harmful, and how to help children learn healthy hearing habits.
Open PDFHow Loud Is Too Loud? Bookmark
A quick printable reference showing everyday sound levels, including fireworks, sporting events, concerts, lawnmowers, movie theaters, conversation, and whispers.
Open BookmarkHow Loud Is Too Loud? Poster
A visual poster for classrooms, waiting rooms, venues, community centers, hearing health events, and family resource tables.
Open PosterNoise-Induced Hearing Loss
A more detailed fact sheet explaining what noise-induced hearing loss is, what causes it, and why prevention matters at every age.
Open Fact SheetTeacher Toolkit for Preventing NIHL
Classroom-ready resources from NIDCD for teaching students about sound, hearing, loud noise, and prevention through hands-on activities.
Open ToolkitProtect Your Child's Hearing
NIDCD guidance for parents and caregivers on choosing and using hearing protectors, including earplugs, earmuffs, and everyday safety habits.
Read GuideEar Peace Foundation Lessons
Free hearing-safety education resources for teachers, parents, librarians, pediatric offices, and community programs introducing healthy listening habits.
Open LessonsHearO Saves the Day!
A kid-friendly hearing-health story from Ear Peace Foundation that helps children learn how hearing works and how to protect it from loud sound.
Meet HearOTip: Pair the NIH/NIDCD bookmark with Ear Peace Foundation classroom lessons or the HearO book for a full family, classroom, or venue resource table.
Turn hearing safety into a story kids can understand.
BANZ® is proud to support hearing-health education alongside Ear Peace Foundation and HearO Saves the Day!, a children's book created to help families and educators introduce safe listening habits early.
HearO gives kids a friendly hero, simple language, and memorable ways to understand why loud sound matters — making this page more than a list of links. It becomes a starting point for conversations at home, in classrooms, and at loud family events.
- Use HearO before concerts, fireworks, school assemblies, and sports events.
- Share Ear Peace Foundation resources with teachers, librarians, pediatric offices, and venues.
- Pair the story with BANZ® earmuffs so kids can connect the lesson to real-life hearing protection.
HearO Saves the Day! helps kids learn four simple ways to protect their hearing.
Written by Adele Sandberg and Sherilyn M. Adler, Ph.D. of Ear Peace Foundation, the book uses imaginative storytelling to help young children learn about hearing, loud sound, and how to keep their ears safe.
Everyday kid noise can add up.
Some loud moments are obvious. Others are part of normal family life. A good rule of thumb: if you need to raise your voice to be heard at arm's length, the noise may be loud enough to take seriously.
- Fireworks and parades
- Concerts, festivals, and theater events
- Sporting events and pep rallies
- Airshows, races, and motorsports
- Movie theaters and arcades
- Airports, airplanes, and public transportation
- School cafeterias, assemblies, and gyms
- Lawn equipment, hand dryers, sirens, and household tools
Before loud events, pack a simple sound-safety kit.
A little preparation can make loud family experiences easier, especially for babies, toddlers, children with sensory sensitivities, and kids who are still learning how to explain discomfort.
- Pack properly fitted hearing protection for each child.
- Choose seats farther from speakers, fireworks, engines, or sirens when possible.
- Take quiet breaks before kids become overwhelmed.
- Watch for signs of discomfort, covering ears, crying, irritability, or withdrawal.
- Model safe listening by wearing hearing protection yourself when needed.
For babies and younger kids, over-ear protection is often the easiest place to start.
Earplugs must fit correctly inside the ear canal, which can be tricky for young children. Protective earmuffs sit over the ear instead, making them easier for many caregivers to place, check, and use consistently during loud events.
BANZ® Hear No Blare® earmuffs are designed for babies and kids, with soft cushioned cups, adjustable fits, lightweight materials, and trusted hearing protection for loud family moments.
Make hearing safety easier to share.
Use these resources for classroom lessons, sensory kits, community events, family welcome packets, pediatric offices, music programs, and loud venue planning. For younger children, pair the safety tips with HearO Saves the Day! and Ear Peace Foundation's classroom materials to make hearing health easier to teach.
Schools & teachers
Print the bookmark or poster, link the Teacher Toolkit, and use hearing-safety reminders before assemblies, music events, pep rallies, and field trips.
Venues & events
Add hearing protection reminders to family event pages, sensory guides, ticket confirmations, guest services desks, and quiet-area signage.
Parents & caregivers
Keep hearing protection in the stroller, car, diaper bag, sports bag, or travel backpack so it is ready when a loud moment happens.
Kids hearing safety FAQ
👶 What are the safe sound levels specifically for babies?
Safe volume for babies is no more than 75 dB over an 8-hour period, or 80 dB over a 24-hour period — lower than the general threshold often cited for adults. For reference: a noisy restaurant can reach 85 dB, a lawnmower runs around 90 dB, and a rock concert can hit 110 dB. All of these are above the safe threshold for extended baby exposure. This is why hearing protection is recommended for babies in any environment that's louder than normal conversation — not just obviously extreme situations like fireworks.
Who are Ear Peace Foundation and HearO?
Ear Peace Foundation is an educational nonprofit focused on helping young people understand the dangers of loud sound and the simple behaviors that protect hearing. HearO Saves the Day! is their children's book created to make hearing safety more memorable for families, teachers, librarians, pediatric offices, and community programs.
How do I know if a sound may be too loud for my child?
A simple warning sign is needing to shout to be heard by someone an arm's length away. Ear pain, ringing, buzzing, covering ears, crying, or sudden behavior changes can also be signs that the sound is uncomfortable or overwhelming.
Are earmuffs or earplugs better for babies and younger kids?
It depends on the child and situation, but earmuffs are often easier for babies, toddlers, and young children because they do not need to be inserted into the ear canal. A proper seal still matters, so check that hair, hats, glasses, or headbands are not creating gaps.
Will hearing protection block out all sound?
No. Hearing protection reduces sound; it does not create silence. Children may still hear voices, music, and environmental sounds, but at a reduced level depending on the product, fit, and environment.
When should we bring hearing protection?
Bring it any time loud noise is likely: fireworks, concerts, festivals, sporting events, airshows, races, movie theaters, airports, music lessons, parades, school events, and crowded indoor venues.
Can this page be shared with my school, venue, pediatric office, or community group?
Yes. This page was created to make public hearing-safety resources easier for families, schools, venues, and community programs to find and share.
Help your child enjoy the event without ignoring the noise.
From first concerts and fireworks to flights, sports, school events, and everyday adventures, BANZ® hearing protection helps families prepare with confidence.
Important resource note: This page links to free public educational resources from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, part of the National Institutes of Health, along with educational resources from Ear Peace Foundation and BANZ® HearO partnership content. BANZ® shares these resources to support family hearing-safety education. BANZ® is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by NIH, NIDCD, HHS, or the Noisy Planet® campaign unless expressly stated in a separate written agreement.
"It's a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing."® and the Noisy Planet logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This page is for general education and is not medical advice. If you have concerns about your child's hearing, speech development, sensory needs, ear health, or sound tolerance, please consult a qualified healthcare professional or audiologist.