Belkin's new headphones are perfect for little ears

School holidays are almost over, and touch wood we don't have to homeschool again anytime soon. 

In saying that, if you're the carer of a child and want to be prepared, a pair of quality headphones are the best thing for your sanity.

You probably know Belkin as the third-party phone charger and Apple accessories leader, but over the last couple of years, the Californian tech company has expanded their audio range.

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This week I went hands-on, alongside my six-year-old, with Belkin's new headphones specifically designed for children; Belkin's SoundForm Mini On Ear Wireless Headphones for Kids (a mouthful of a product name). 

Straight out of the gate, these headphones have all the features you'd want from a pair of affordable headphones for kids. 

• Wireless with optional audio cable.
• Long battery life.
• Simple setup.
• Durability.

Oh, and one of the best parts, Belkin says these headphones are "spill and accident-proof". 

Setting up and compatibility 

The Belkin SoundForm Mini headphones are the easiest pair of Bluetooth headphones I've ever set up. 

No extra dongles, no specific button or code or to input. It was as simple as power on and selecting the device. 

These headphones are compatible with most Bluetooth devices, including Apple and Android devices.

They're also compatible with the Nintendo Switch, making them the perfect gaming companion for little ears. 

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The headphones will automatically switch off when the device they're connected to powers down. Which is a huge help to the battery life.

But with devices such as the Nintendo Switch, you'll need to connect the SoundForm Mini each time you turn it on. 

Of course, there's always the old-fashioned ways of connecting via a 3.5mm audio cable (included in the box).

The user has the option to go wireless with Bluetooth or plugin for sound with compatible devices.

Audio quality and microphone

With any kind of headphones labelled "designed for kids", you wouldn't have high expectations when it comes to quality of sound - Belkin's kids' headphones are an exception here.

Surprising sound quality from such a light package. Bass reduced; these headphones still managed to produce a decent output.

The SoundForm Mini headphones are also capped at 85 decibels when connected via Bluetooth. 85 decibels is about the same as a hairdryer, so your younglings' ears are in safe hands. 

Sitting along the underside of the right ear cup is an in-built microphone. 

My daughter and I tested the microphone by Facetiming the grandparents without any issues.

The inbuilt microphone is a welcome feature, great for online classes, gaming, and video calls.

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Durability 

These headphones aren't designed for adults, so it's not recommended for a person like me to try them on.

But for the purpose of this review… I stretched the headphones around my head.

The frame bent around my noggin' without a hitch, all thanks to the adjustable headband. 

As mentioned earlier, Belkin says these headphones are made of spill and accident-proof materials, with up to two years of mess protection. Can't say I put it to the test, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time. 

The biggest thing for headphones and kids is making sure they're comfortable on the ears. The soft padding on each speaker is comfortable and my daughter managed to wear them for an hour without complaint.

The ear cups on the SoundForm Mini sat around my daughter's ears, like a faux-leather cocoon. 

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In the past 12 months, I've looked at various headphones for my children, especially while homeschooling during lockdown.

Our experiences with other products, similarly priced, don't compare. 

Battery life

My kids are limited in screen time each day. That said, if each of my children used these headphones for two hours a day - every day of the week - the battery would still likely have some juice. 

As these headphones aren't pushing out extra bass and power, it enables them to last that bit longer. 

Belkin says the SoundForm Mini should last for about 30 hours of playtime. 

There's no USB power brick in the box, so you'll need to grab a charger or find a device with a USB port to charge the SoundForm Mini.

The included charging cable is a standard USB-A to Micro-USB, not my first preference when it comes to cables.

Most new tech should come with USB-C, a faster alternative, and Belkin is no stranger to this type of connection.

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What's in the box?

• 1 x pair of Belkin SoundForm Mini Headphones. The headphones come in blue, black and white. 
• 1 x 3.5mm audio cable, 1.29 metres in length, for wired use. 
• 1 x charging cable, a short USB-A to Micro-USB. 

Also in the box is the obvious instruction booklet alongside the warranty information which is also tucked in there. 

Speaking of the warranty, it's a great bonus. Should they stop working within two years of purchase you can contact the manufacturer for replacement. 

But for less than $40, who is complaining? 

The Belkin SoundForm Mini headphones are the best affordable headphones for children on the market right now. 

9News was supplied a pair of Belkin SoundForm Mini Headphones for the purpose of this review.