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Paul UK · Sep 24, 2005, 06:12 AM

My daughter listens to my iPod quite frequently, and is starting to enjoy & appreciate music in general, her 6th birthday is fast approaching and the idea of an iPod nano seems like a great present for her, but is it overkill for a 6 year old. All of my music is AAC, and I don't fancy exporting to mp3 just to buy her a cheaper player. does anyone have any bad or good experiences with younger owners of an iPod.

Thanks for your advice/input.

Randman · Sep 24, 2005, 06:43 AM

I'd be a little concerned about hearing. You wouldn't want her to be listening too loudly.

That said, you could hook her up with some audiobooks from the iTMS or audible.com so it's also a learning/enjoying process.

If you're going to do it, get a 512mb shuffle. Easy to use, durable and not as big of a loss if something happens to it. I'd also consider some speakers so she doesn't have to wear headphones for it.

Ω · Sep 24, 2005, 07:05 AM

I would also consider the safety of your daughter and people who may look to steal the iPod - the headphone suggestion from Randman will help to reduce this risk.

Paul UK · Sep 24, 2005, 07:22 AM

Totaly agree with the safety of her hearing, when she listens to my iPod the volume is set to a low level & she listens to her playlist with the lock on. If she had her own player she would at some stage turn up the volume, so proberly she is still too young. The audiobooks I know she would have loved (she will just have to listen to her old man read her stories for a little while longer).

jam8 · Sep 24, 2005, 09:27 AM

I think that the shuffle would be most ideal. Or, if she needs more space and that screen, you can get a new Ipod Mini for not too expensive on ebay or even on these forums. They'll be about the same price.
Just make sure she's responsible and treats it with care, and she'll be very happy! These ipods are designed to be used at all ages, remember. =]

Cadaver · Sep 24, 2005, 09:30 AM

I bought my daughter an iPod Shuffle (512MB) for her 7th birthday. Its perfect for her. I manage the content and charging, but otherwise its very easy for her to use.

SirCastor · Sep 24, 2005, 09:36 AM

For what it's worth, the Nano (and I frankly assume the shuffle) is practically invincible. Your daughter probably won't be able to break it.

Logically, I think the Shuffle makes more sense, but if I were 6, I'd want a screen. I'd want to know what I was playing. Be able to choose the song I want (rather than have to mentally review the order of my music) I would give consideration to the Nano again.

Flip500 · Sep 24, 2005, 10:10 AM

well I think that if you taught her about "how to listen to her ipod" as far as how loud she listens to it at. here's a site that test the durablity of the iPod nano ( http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/nano.ars/3 ) I think it isn't so much wether she will break it or not but really if it is just to much space... you said she listen's to here own "playlist" on your iPod. Well, if see has her own playlist(s) I agree with the 512 mb iPod shuffle, every night she would decide what she wanted to listen to the next day, or if your were there you could change the playlist in the mornings... and she could just tell you what playlist she wants on her ipod. But I also agree with sir castor, i think any one would want a screen, but I think there's just so much unnessisary space on it that it wouldn't be worth it... another option is getting her a 3 gen iPod or on of the older ones really cheap off a website... screen, to much space, and it could be fairly cheap too.

Drakino · Sep 24, 2005, 12:26 PM

For what it's worth, the Nano (and I frankly assume the shuffle) is practically invincible.

Well, the nano is mostly invincible, as long as you don't mind the screen likely getting scratched just by staring at it. Over a few months of normal use, odds are the screen will be unreadable.

Go with a Shuffle if you must have an Apple based player that does AAC. Otherwise, look into a third party AAC player, though they won't play iTunes Music Store files unless you decrypt them.

iREZ · Sep 25, 2005, 02:52 PM

shuffle all the way...i dont see any hearing issues arising. i had a walkman when i was 5 and i knew what was too loud, kids are stupid....but not that stupid.

misc · Sep 26, 2005, 02:13 PM

I think it all boils down to if you trust your daughter with that expensive a piece of equipment? If you do, then go for it!

Cadaver · Sep 26, 2005, 10:38 PM

For a 6 yr old, an iPod with a screen might be too hard to operate if her reading skills aren't above average.
The shuffle, on the other hand, is far easier to use.

wilsonng · Sep 27, 2005, 01:09 AM

I personally think the iPod shuffle is the best and toughest to break.

If you do get a nano, I'd also grab the Speck ToughSkin for the nano. It has thick rubber bumpers around the sides to help absorb against shock. The rubber casing and screen protector also helps protect it from scratches.

I have the Speck ToughSkin for my full-sized iPod. It makes it a little bulkier but it gives me more peace of mind when I drop it (and yes, I did do it a few times by accident).

In any case, it's best to sit down with the child and teach them the importance of safety when it comes to hearing as well as showing it off to her classmates who may want to "borrow" it.

The Speck ToughSkin for the nano should be out in October.

I use the nano to show pictures of cartoon screen captures from DVDs I have and entertain her with a slide show.

I also scanned in images from a deck of flash cards and ask my niece what this is? (dog, cat, mouse, tree, etc.).

I'm Chinese as well and I also took the time to scan in Chinese words and use it as a flash card device in the same manner as well.

That screen doubles well as an educational tool. That's how I'm able to get my wife to accept my new toy.

Paul UK · Sep 27, 2005, 07:06 AM

The general consensus seems to be with the shuffle and I think that would be the best option also, with a lesson on how to be responsible with such a present and if she enjoys it and wants to upgrade in a few years time, then she can start saving her pocket money!

Thanks to all for the responses.

I was David B. · Sep 28, 2005, 03:03 AM

I would also have concerns about the loudness of an iPod. If she wants to listen to music/audiobooks at home, there is no reason why she shouldn't use a stereo.

But if she uses the iPod while she is going to/back from school, it will become very dangerous. Kids must learn to concentrate at the right thing to the right time first.

Paul UK · Sep 28, 2005, 06:27 AM

Just for the record she will not be taking the Shuffle to school & neither child is allowed out as far as our front door without one or both parents being present (too many weird people about nowadays). Regarding hearing, volume levels will be explained & monitored strictly or the shuffle will find a good hiding place, It is a shame you cant set audio levels from within iTunes for different players, I think that would be a good feature.
The shuffle has been ordered now, I know it will be appreciated & thanks again to all for the input.

Big Mac · Sep 28, 2005, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Cadaver

For a 6 yr old, an iPod with a screen might be too hard to operate if her reading skills aren't above average.
The shuffle, on the other hand, is far easier to use.

I'm pretty sure an intelligent 4 year-old could understand the written iPod UI. I know I was reading at that age. Now whether a child that age would be responsible enough to care for an iPod is a different question.

I say a shuffle with some speakers would be great. If you can afford to spoil her with a nano and don't care about the loss potential, you could consider it, but I would deem that going a bit overboard.