The focus was on warning them about the risks of listening to loud music and the importance of turning down the volume on MP3 players. This was the first time this activity session has been used in the early years sector.
What did they do? The children took part in hearing activities during the day, including "guess that tune", giving them the chance to hear music using cochlear ear implants, which are sometimes referred to as bionic ears. Children were also shown a model of a giant ear to highlight its different parts and had the chance to take hearing tests.
What does it hope to achieve? Vivienne Michael, chief executive of Deafness Research UK, explains that hearing loss through MP3 headphones is escalating among young people. The aim of targeting children under five is because some are already using MP3 players. She says: "The opportunity to present to nursery school children is essential, as one of our aims is to protect the hearing of the next generation and children are using MP3 players much earlier than people might believe."
