we use them all the time. my dd has used them since she was 6. very easy to use, they do make a childs size. yes you can use earphones, but it is a little tricky, get the larger size headphones, like you can buy if you fly jet blue, we saved ours and use them for flying, earbuds are tricky but will work, they just fall out if you move-the earbuds that is. we take our earplanes out once we get in the air, and put them back in before landing.