We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a sleep-and-study headband that doubles as a soft eye mask for younger kids, choose Joythink Kids; if you need a rugged, shareable travel headphone for kids age 6 and up with serious battery life, choose Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952.
• Joythink Kids — biggest strength: It's a headband and a sleep mask in one, with an ultra-soft, stretchable polyester build and a headband that swivels flat for packing.
• Joythink Kids — biggest trade-off: It's a fabric headband design, not a structured on-ear headphone, so it's aimed at comfort and quiet listening rather than loud, immersive sound or rugged outdoor abuse.
• Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952 — biggest strength: Up to 45 hours of battery life, an 85dB volume limit for kids age 6+, and an integrated share cable so two kids can listen from one device.
• Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952 — biggest trade-off: It's a chunkier, collapsible headphone (about 10.8 ounces) built for travel and durability, not for lying down to sleep.
• Who each is for: Joythink Kids fits toddlers, younger children, and anyone who wants a comfy headband for sleep, study or quiet travel. The Skullcandy Grom XT fits kids 6+ who need a tough, long-lasting headphone for road trips, flights and shared movie nights.
The Joythink Kids headband is a different category of product from a traditional headphone. Instead of ear cups pressing on the head, it wraps a thin built-in speaker inside a soft elastic headband, so audio plays right against the ears while the fabric itself doubles as a sleep mask. The material is polyester, and it's described as soft, breathable, stretchable and skin-friendly — the kind of thing a child can wear for a long time without the pressure points that hard plastic headphones can create. The adjustable headband is meant to fit a range of head shapes, and it swivels flat so it can be tucked into a bag without taking up much room. The whole package is small and light (about 5.16 x 4.37 x 1.02 inches and 2.82 ounces), and it ships in a purple cartoon-patterned design.
On the audio side, Joythink lists a driver tuned for crisp vocals, full dynamic bass and a lively overall sound, plus an HD microphone for clear real-time voice pickup. There's also a 24/7 support line as part of the brand's service promise. The included battery is a single lithium polymer cell, so it charges and runs wirelessly over Bluetooth.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, this is the pick for parents of toddlers and younger kids who want one soft object that handles bedtime, quiet time, studying and light travel. If your child finds regular headphones uncomfortable, or you specifically want something that can be worn lying down on a pillow, this headband design makes far more sense than a rigid pair of ear cups. It's also a gentle first "headphone" for a small child who isn't ready for a full-size set.
Who should skip it? If you need maximum volume, strong isolation, or something that can survive being tossed around a school bag and a playground, this isn't built for that kind of punishment. And if your kid is 6 or older and wants to genuinely rock out on a long trip, the fabric headband approach will feel limited next to a proper headphone.
The Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952 — the Grom XT Wireless Kids Headphone in black — is the opposite philosophy: a purpose-built, durable, travel-ready headphone for children age 6 and up. The headline spec is battery life: up to 45 hours on a charge, and if you're scrambling before a trip, a 10-minute Rapid Charge adds about 4 more hours. That's the kind of runtime that covers a long-haul flight or a multi-day road trip without hunting for a charger.
The second standout feature is the integrated share cable. Two kids can plug into one device and watch the same movie or listen to the same playlist at the same time, which is Skullcandy's answer to the endless "it's my turn" fight in the back seat. There's also a 3.5mm backup AUX cable for a direct wired connection when the battery is empty, a USB-C charging cable, and a user guide in the box.
Safety and fit get real attention here. The Grom XT limits volume to 85dB for kid-friendly listening, with a Volume Limit Override on the volume wheel for noisy environments like a plane cabin. The ear cups are sized specifically for kids, and the adjustable headband strap is designed to find a comfortable fit. Controls are deliberately simple: one large button so kids can manage music and calls themselves. And the whole thing collapses into a compact shape for travel, weighing about 10.8 ounces.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, this is for parents of kids 6+ who take trips, need a headphone that can take some knocks, and want volume protection without giving up real sound or battery endurance. The share cable alone makes it a strong family-travel pick.
Who should skip it? If you want a headband your child can sleep in, or you're buying for a toddler, this isn't it — it's a structured on-ear headphone, and it's designed around age 6 and up for a reason. Anyone who wants the lightest possible object on their kid's head should also look at the headband option instead.
• Best for sleep, naps and lying down → Joythink Kids. The headband doubles as a soft sleep mask; the Grom XT is a rigid headphone.
• Best for battery life → Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952. Up to 45 hours, plus a 10-minute Rapid Charge for about 4 extra hours.
• Best for two kids sharing one device → Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952. The integrated share cable is made exactly for that.
• Best for the youngest kids (toddlers) → Joythink Kids. Soft, stretchable, skin-friendly fabric and a one-size adjustable band suit small heads.
• Best for volume safety with an override → Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952. Built-in 85dB limit with a Volume Limit Override for loud places.
• Best for travel and packing → Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952. Collapsible design plus USB-C and a 3.5mm AUX backup cable.
• Best for a compact, pack-flat headband → Joythink Kids. It swivels flat and weighs only about 2.82 ounces.
• Best for a wired backup option → Skullcandy S6KBW-Q952. The included 3.5mm AUX cable keeps it usable when the battery runs out.
My Verdict
Yes — that's its core strength. The soft, breathable, stretchable fabric and thin built-in speaker are designed to be worn against the head and even as a sleep mask, so it works for naps and bedtime in a way a rigid headphone can't.
Up to 45 hours of listening per charge, and a 10-minute Rapid Charge gives about 4 extra hours. That's one of the longest runtimes you'll find in a kids' headphone.
Yes. The integrated share cable lets two children listen from one device at the same time, and there's a 3.5mm AUX cable as a wired backup.
The Joythink Kids headband. Its soft, stretchable, skin-friendly fabric and lightweight fit are aimed at younger children, while the Skullcandy Grom XT is designed for kids age 6 and up.
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