I am officially confused - downloaded music, Spotify and 6yo DS

[ManicMinor]

I am realising that I am a comparative dinosaur when it comes to accessing music, so am not sure what to do! My 6yo ds has asked for some kind of music player for his room for Christmas. Fine. I don't want something portable (cos he's 6), I don't want something that will give him internet access or unlimited music exposure (cos he's 6). We have a Spotify premium account and he has his own playlist on that (listens via my ipad), but I don't think they have any parent controls, so don't want to give him free rein (want radio edits only). If we need to go down the track of buying & downloading each song he likes individually, then so be it, but I still don't know what device would be best for his room.

Is there any way he can use our Spotify account safely, and if so, on what device? If not, do you have any recommendations on a device he can have in his room to listen to downloaded music?

TIA...

You can use spotify to listen to playlists offline - so he could create approved playlists on your computer then listen on another laptop or device if it wasn't connected to the internet? Or get an iPod dock and iPod?

Thank you! Listening offline could work, yes, we could then control the playlist (never tried it). Need to work out the best device to do that with. With an iPod, I think it would have to be an iPod touch to synch to Spotify, is that right?

Yes it would have to be an iPod touch. Problem with that is you then have internet access and games, which you might want to restrict for now (screen time).

It would probably be cheaper to get him something like an iPod nano - even a second hand one perhaps - and then you can buy the songs you want and put them on through iTunes - you will already have an iTunes account because you have an iPad. You can get loads of fun docks aimed at children shaped like different things. If you go for an older iPod nano then it won't have the new "lightning" connector and the docks will be cheaper.

Thanks Berstie, thought so.

I have a possible solution - I have an old iPhone 3S, that I have just upgraded from, so it no longer has a working sim, but can connect to wifi still. Would it work to download ds's Spotify play list, have it available offline, then turn off and lock the wifi? Then all I would need is a docking station.

Yep! :)

Yay, will be a damn sight cheaper than an iPod touch then!