When I was pregnant, I was surprised to encounter apps claiming they could detect a baby’s heartbeat using only a phone microphone. They were popular. They were marketed with confidence. As a professional audio engineer, … Read More
When my son was little, I found myself in a conundrum: how do you comfort a child who is crying or screaming inches from your ears? My watch was sending high-noise alerts, so I knew … Read More
Hearing damage from loud sounds is permanent, but it’s also preventable. Many parents and caregivers don’t realize just how often kids are exposed to dangerous noise levels in everyday life—at home, school, events, and even from toys. … Read More
This is a reposted blog from Sound Is Fun! written in 2018. Loud and quiet are basic sound concepts that can be taught to toddlers. Even though we tend to teach these concepts through games, … Read More
In 2000, a group of fifth graders at Ida Weller Elementary School (Centerville, Ohio) took on a research question: “Are there times or activities in our school when the noise level becomes dangerous to people’s hearing?” … Read More
Noise machines are marketed as sleep solutions. For babies. For kids. For adults. The promise is simple: add steady sound, reduce disruption, sleep better. Used thoughtfully, they can help. Used carelessly, they can create unintended … Read More
Originally written for Sound In Fun! in 2018. Some websites say to avoid music like heavy metal or rap during pregnancy and only play gentle music (like classical) to not startle your unborn baby. I’ve … Read More
Environmental sounds are often the first shared reference points between a child and the world around them. A plane passes overhead and a toddler looks up. A garbage truck brakes and they freeze, listening. These … Read More
When my nephew was nine, he got the book Klutz Lego Make Your Own Movie, which teaches how to do stop-motion animation with Legos. When I saw his first videos, they were so fun I … Read More
We teach young children how to recognize colors and shapes. We teach them to name emotions. These are foundational skills for everything from math to art to language developing. Teaching them to name sounds may … Read More