While slapping headphones on the kids playing games or watching shows at home or on the road makes for an obvious respite from the din of squeaky voices and electronic clatter, such devices are usually not ergonomically suited to the diminutive build of a youngster's cranium. Unless you're using Headphones for Kids by Kidz Gear.

Though nothing fancy, Kidz' 'phones are of a similar quality to "don't touch daddy's stuff" headphones of similar pricing, likely to take a solid beating and keep on ticking, comfortable as you please and, most importantly, scaled in sized--but telescopically expandable--to suit the head of kids from about 2-years old and up to perhaps 10, depending on the eventual size of the melon being fitted.

The most likely source of kid-themed electronica is Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP, which doesn't actually accommodate headphones without a special adapter (US$4.95 at store.nintendo.com). Regardless, clever parents should be able to set up the home console, PC, stereo, TV set and portable DVD player quickly enough, considering what's a stake.

KidzGear is currently bundling Headphones for Kids with the similarly superlative Binoculars for Kids for a single purchase price US$29.99. Online at www.gearforkidz.com.