The Fourth of July is always an exciting time, often marked by trips to the beach, family barbecues and, of course, fireworks. Seeing the sky light up with all sorts of colors is an exciting experience for any child.
But some children may be more sensitive to loud noises than others—as pretty as fireworks are, they are usually accompanied by loud bangs and booms. While parents might be used to this cacophony, it can be frightening for children to experience for the first time. It can also be difficult for children who may be noise-sensitive due to autism or other special needs.
Fireworks can also exceed the noise level that children should be experiencing. According to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, noises above 85 decibels can have negative effects on a child’s hearing, and fireworks can reach up to 150 decibels. Exposure to loud noises can also result in temporary negative effects like tinnitus.
Here are some tips on how you can help your child enjoy fireworks in spite of the noise.
Use Hearing Protection
The most obvious first step when helping a child who is afraid of fireworks is to cover their ears. Earmuffs, earplugs and noise-canceling headphones are all options that can help to dampen the noise of fireworks.
Child-friendly earplugs are ideal, but they may not be manageable for younger children, especially toddlers. Earmuffs might be better for younger children whose ears may be too small for most earplugs.
Continuum Pediatrics suggests that the usage of white noise via headphones plugged into a phone or tablet can help drown out the sound of fireworks, making them a more enjoyable experience for children who are sensitive to loud noises.
Try Quieter Fireworks
Fireworks are not legal in all states, but there are some quieter alternatives that are. This way, a child can still get an exciting 4th of July experience even if they have to skip out on larger-scale fireworks shows completely.
In Maryland specifically, fireworks are illegal for private use. But there are a few exceptions that are legal and produce less noise than a fireworks show would, which are primarily ground-based. These include sparklers, snakes, party poppers and a few ground-based “fountain” fireworks.
While many of these fireworks still produce noise, these noises are typically less than an aerial fireworks show would produce.
However, ground-based fireworks being quieter does not necessarily mean that they are safer. Parents should supervise their usage at all times and ensure that children are handling things like sparklers safely.
Stay Further Away
An important factor in loud sounds damaging a child’s ears is how close they are to the source of the noise. The closer a sound is, the greater impact it can have on a person’s ears.
While getting closer to a fireworks show might give you a better view of the action, it will also give you a front-row seat to some very loud noises that could damage your child’s ears, especially for young children.
Fortunately, fireworks are visible from great distances. If you and your child still want to watch a fireworks show, moving further away from the source of the fireworks can lessen the impact of their noise.
If you live near an area that is putting on a fireworks show, you can even opt to watch the show from the safety of your own home.
Be Understanding
Being afraid of fireworks might seem silly to an adult, but loud noises can be a big deal for children. It’s important to meet your child at their level about these anxieties and help them to work through them, rather than forcing them to sit through something that might not be comfortable for them.
Holding an open dialogue about your child’s noise-related anxieties may be helpful. Connect the Dots Pediatric Therapy suggests that parents explain to their children how fireworks work, so they can gain a better understanding of them. That way, the noise they make will seem less inexplicable and scary.
You can also prepare by watching fireworks videos with your child, which can give them a sense of what to expect as well as a quieter version of the sound they make.
Bringing along your child’s comfort items, like a stuffed animal or a blanket, can also be helpful. Having a familiar item to hold onto can help calm a child down.
And in the case that none of these tips work and your child is still scared, there’s no shame in that. The fireworks will always be back next year.
