Is 5 too young for an MP3?

[EthansMom]

So, I'm starting to think about my Christmas shopping. One thing I'm considering for my DS5 is a Sandisk mp3 player. DS takes good care of his toys; he loves classic rock, heavy metal, & alternative; and he's good with electronics. I can get the sandisk player for $35, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if it got lost/stolen/broken.

If he gets one, he wouldn't be allowed to take it to school, but could listen to it at home, in the car, or while waiting for swim or jujitsu lessons.

So, what's your opinion? Is an mp3 an appropriate gift for a 5 year-old?

 

[WDWfan36]

I'm not sure but I know lots of kids that don't have mp3 players even though their going into higher grade. Anyways I think it would be cool. If they take care of it and enjoy music, I would get him it

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I bought one for my 6 yr old nephew for Christmas : ) I think you should do it

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We got one for our 6yo last year. He doesn't listen to it a lot, but likes it. We need to put some more music on it (more popular music on it--he's used to listening to the music his teen brothers listen to, but we need to screen it, first). We got the Mickey one from the Disney website.

 

[MushyMushy]

I think they're fine as long as you're watching the volume level when they're listening to music. I constantly had to remind my kids to turn their music down, but other than that, they were okay with walkmans and such.

 

[va32h]

Wow. I must be totally out of touch.

My son is 6, and he plays with Hot Wheels and likes to ride his bike. It would never even cross my mind to get him any kind of music-playing device.

Sometimes I think I have the only children left on the planet who don't have video game systems, personal computers, cell phones, and ipods.

We are such a neanderthal family!

 

[EthansMom]

We are such a neanderthal family!

Not at all. My son loves to play with Hot Wheels and ride his bike. Like you we don't have any game systems, though DS does have a Leapster and loves to play computer games (Hot Wheels Test Track 1 & 2 are great!). DS keeps begging for a Playstation, but I really don't want to spend the money and I know that many of the games are inappropriate for DS.

Also, no personal cell phone for DS and I'm not paying the money for an Ipod for him (DH and I have Ipods).

But, we listen to a lot of music in the car and DS is a huge head banger, so as long as we screen the music that's loaded into his mp3 and we get him one of the inexpensive ones, why not?

 

[Sparx]

I see no problem with it.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

MP3 players are the new walkmans. So, if you would buy your child a walkman then sure, buy him that one. $35 is very reasonable.

You may want to consider buying a flash based drive vs. a hard drive based player though. Flash drive based players can be shaken and jostled a lot more than hard drive based.

 

[EthansMom]

You may want to consider buying a flash based drive vs. a hard drive based player though. Flash drive based players can be shaken and jostled a lot more than hard drive based.

Thanks. Yes, the one I'm looking at has a flash drive and an fm radio tuner.

He already has a personal cd player, but I can't see putting money into more cds when we could just pick and choose his favorite songs to download onto an mp3.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Thanks. Yes, the one I'm looking at has a flash drive and an fm radio tuner.

He already has a personal cd player, but I can't see putting money into more cds when we could just pick and choose his favorite songs to download onto an mp3.

Totally. And the MP3 player will be a bit more functional than the CD player.

 

[Micca]

I just texted our 4 year old on his Blackberry and he says "that's cool".

 

[bgirldeb]

We don't have any video game systems, but we let my DS (6) listen to my husband's small (50.00 range) sandisk mp3 player, and I will probably get him his own as long as he kept the volume down and took care of it. It's not as extreme as it sounds. It really is like the new "walkman"

 

[Glynis]

We got one for our 6yo last year. He doesn't listen to it a lot, but likes it. We need to put some more music on it (more popular music on it--he's used to listening to the music his teen brothers listen to, but we need to screen it, first). We got the Mickey one from the Disney website.

Do you mind me asking how much this cost you? I'm looking at them for my 6 year old son and my 9 year old daughter. I just don't want to spend a ton of money. I know they'd love the Disney ones as they look "cool". Thanks.

 

[azgal81]

I don't see anything wrong with it.

 

[becka]

I am actually looking at getting our 4 year old one later this year for our trip to Florida. He loves music but we are getting a little sick of the Wiggles, Hakuna Matata, etc.. We figured a cheap MP3 player for the car will keep him entertained some of the time during our 24 hour drive and we won't have the hassles of bringing along and switching out lots of CD from a CD player.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Thanks. Yes, the one I'm looking at has a flash drive and an fm radio tuner.

He already has a personal cd player, but I can't see putting money into more cds when we could just pick and choose his favorite songs to download onto an mp3.

I totally agree! I think it's definetly worth it.

 

[EthansMom]

Do you mind me asking how much this cost you? I'm looking at them for my 6 year old son and my 9 year old daughter. I just don't want to spend a ton of money. I know they'd love the Disney ones as they look "cool". Thanks.

Someone over on the Budget Board had posted that they'd seen the Disney ones at Target this week for $39.XX (~$40). I think the usual retail price is roughly $50.

Here's a link to the Sandisk mp3 that I'm going to get DS: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&coliid=I2N22MNWTUJD3K&colid=1O9KV6U3HBR84

 

[bgirldeb]

I just texted our 4 year old on his Blackberry and he says "that's cool".

Yeah we told our 4 year old if he's good he'll get a bluetooth earpiece to go with his cell phone.
eta:

Here's a link to the Sandisk mp3 that I'm going to get DS: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&coliid=I2N22MNWTUJD3K&colid=1O9KV6U3HBR84

That's exactly the one we have/let my 6-year old listen to. It's a nice little player! DH bought it to take to the gym for the treadmill.

 

[Glynis]

Someone over on the Budget Board had posted that they'd seen the Disney ones at Target this week for $39.XX (~$40). I think the usual retail price is roughly $50.

Here's a link to the Sandisk mp3 that I'm going to get DS: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&coliid=I2N22MNWTUJD3K&colid=1O9KV6U3HBR84

Thanks. I'll head to Target tomorrow to check it out! Does Target do layaway? Anyone know?