Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be utterly confused how children are meant to listen to music?

316 replies

toyoutous · 14/05/2022 12:55

DD is 13 and wants to listen to music in her bedroom. This is perfectly normal and I am very happy for her to do this. But I have no idea how you are meant to do this in the modern world? We don't allow anything internet connected in the bedrooms. Given that, what is a 13 year old meant to do?? I could buy her a CD player but does that make sense in 2022?

OP posts:
jaffacakesareepic · 14/05/2022 12:59

A radio?

Hermanfromguesswho · 14/05/2022 12:59

iPod? MP3 player? Alexa?
cd player would only work if you have cds and space to store them!

Blossomandbee · 14/05/2022 12:59

An iPod or MP3 player? Although these are becoming obsolete now.

musicforthesoul · 14/05/2022 13:00

Spotify do offline playlists, as does amazon music I think. Probably others as well.

PickAChew · 14/05/2022 13:01

You can still buy radios. There's a whole hilost of different genres of music available on DAB.

jaffacakesareepic · 14/05/2022 13:02

Alternatively record players are having a bit of a retro revival?

I would query whether you need to rethink the no internet connected devices though.

I presume its so you can monitor her internet usage which makes sense, but surely thats just no browser based internet devices? What if she wanted a fitness watch, or you wanted smart heating controls?

If you went with just no browser based devices then an amazon dot would work and could play music?

herecomesyour19thnervousbreakdown · 14/05/2022 13:03

toyoutous · 14/05/2022 12:55

DD is 13 and wants to listen to music in her bedroom. This is perfectly normal and I am very happy for her to do this. But I have no idea how you are meant to do this in the modern world? We don't allow anything internet connected in the bedrooms. Given that, what is a 13 year old meant to do?? I could buy her a CD player but does that make sense in 2022?

I am interested in why you don't allow this.

Triffid1 · 14/05/2022 13:04

In the modern world, she would listen using a streaming (internet) service via a device such as an Alexa or a phone/ipad, possibly connected to a speaker.

No Internet in the bedroom is a very odd, not-at-all-modern concept.

Evilista · 14/05/2022 13:04

I don't ban internet usage, I just monitor it, so it's not a problem allowing them to use Spotify, etc

2reefsin30knots · 14/05/2022 13:05

I agree, Alexa. Her phone doesn't have to be in the room for Alexa to access her music streaming service.

MagnoliaTaint · 14/05/2022 13:07

No internet in the bedroom is eminently sensible. YANBU, OP - I've started buying CDs again. Radio is also an option.

NoSquirrels · 14/05/2022 13:08

jaffacakesareepic · 14/05/2022 13:02

Alternatively record players are having a bit of a retro revival?

I would query whether you need to rethink the no internet connected devices though.

I presume its so you can monitor her internet usage which makes sense, but surely thats just no browser based internet devices? What if she wanted a fitness watch, or you wanted smart heating controls?

If you went with just no browser based devices then an amazon dot would work and could play music?

This would be your answer, unless you’re ideologically opposed to devices ‘listening in’ like Alexa/Google home.

You could set up an old phone as an iPod and connect it to a speaker with a cable. Just feels a bit unnecessary.

Coldnoseandtoes · 14/05/2022 13:08

Seconding the Alexa suggestion, that's what DD uses. We have an Amazon music account.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 14/05/2022 13:08

You could buy a CD player but would she be ablue to get the music that she wants to listen to in that format?

Phones allow access to Spotify, Amazon music, bbc sounds, most radio stations. With a blue tooth speaker she’s sorted.

I’m struggling to understand the reason that no internet connected devices are allowed in the bedroom. At 13 does she have a desk in there - how does she do her homework? So much of our 13 year olds is uploaded and submitted through Teams, or requires some online research. At 13 you should be able to trust them to have unsupervised internet access, with parental controls set up as you feel comfortable with.

LilacPoppy · 14/05/2022 13:09

Why can’t she have an Alexa? You can put it in child mode if you really want to.

PinkyFlamingo · 14/05/2022 13:10

What's your reasons for no Internet in bedroom?

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 14/05/2022 13:14

We use sonos, we have a mix of the sonos brand and the ikea versions in various rooms so the dc have their own. We have the bog standard versions so while they are Internet connected they are not linked up to voice control, Alexa or whatever. The speakers are linked to Spotify, amazon, band camp and so on so everything we own electronically or subscribe to can be played and everyone can create playlists. You can play different stuff on each speaker in the house or group them. It is controlled by an app so we have the app on the family tablet as well as our phones. When dc were younger they put their music on via the tablet but now they are teens they have the app on their own phones.

Schoolchoicesucks · 14/05/2022 13:17

You could do a Bluetooth speaker controlled by a phone with offline Spotify playlist. The phone wouldn't have ro be in same room. Or in room but not connected to Internet.

LampLighter414 · 14/05/2022 13:17

toyoutous · 14/05/2022 12:55

DD is 13 and wants to listen to music in her bedroom. This is perfectly normal and I am very happy for her to do this. But I have no idea how you are meant to do this in the modern world? We don't allow anything internet connected in the bedrooms. Given that, what is a 13 year old meant to do?? I could buy her a CD player but does that make sense in 2022?

What are you looking for in this thread?

Clearly you are aware that there are offline solutions such as CDs. Go with them if you don't want to break the rule you have imposed.

Alternatively use an Internet based service and have it switched off or removed when not required. Echo dot is good for this. Easy to move around the house.

Chattydoll · 14/05/2022 13:18

My daughter has an Alexa device that plays music connected to my Spotify account. It has a child mode so I’m happy for
her to use unsupervised. She also
enjoys listening to audio books through it. I think zero internet in the bedroom will become tricky, especially as they age.

MrsWooster · 14/05/2022 13:18

iPod and wired speaker or Old smartphone and a Bluetooth speaker. No sim means no data-based internet but you’d have to block it from the wifi if you think dd would try and get round the rules.

calmlakes · 14/05/2022 13:18

DS has a record player.
I think Spotify has a download function so you can listen offline.
DC are allowed internet in their bedroom though.

Wouldyabeguilty · 14/05/2022 13:19

Poor kid.

Notanotherwindow · 14/05/2022 13:20

No Internet in the bedrooms is bizarre and not at all practical in this day and age. Can understand no screens in bedrooms to monitor Internet usage but why not an Amazon dot for music? You can lock them down so she can't shop or anything.

Sidge · 14/05/2022 13:21

CDs are a very expensive way to listen to music really.

But her an Echo Dot. She can’t access the internet per se, but can stream music, podcasts, ask questions, check the weather etc. You can filter content.