Traffic lights for ECEs

With the use of traffic lights showing noise levels in the room, the National Foundation for the Deaf encourages ECEs to become quieter places for children and teachers.

The foundation rolled out its Safe Sound Indicator (SSI) campaign last week and mounted a national appeal to provide an SSI to every ECE in New Zealand.

Chief executive Louise Carroll said the project was off to a flying start.

“We’ve received donations and grants for well over 600 so far and the support is growing.”

Mrs Carroll said the NFD wanted to educate children, their teachers and parents about hearing loss caused by excessive noise, and the SSI was an ideal way of doing that.

It shows noise levels in traffic lights with red, which is triggered by noise at 90 decibels, being a time for children to cut back on the noise.

“We hope the lessons the youngsters learn will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” she said.

The SSI was developed by the NFD over several years from a concept by 10-year-old Jamie Fenton. Jamie, now 17, was recently named 2011 Young New Zealander of the Year. 

“The SSI is a valuable aid and teachers at centres that have them are already finding the children are self-regulating their noise levels,” Mrs Carroll said.

The Safe Sound Indicator retails at $290 - people who could not afford to donate the full price were joining others in sharing the cost, Mrs Carroll said.