Are five year old ears strong enough for a walkman?

[ScummyMummy]

One of my twin sons thinks he's a cool dude (I think so too) and wants desperately wants his own cd walkman and some "angry" music to play on it. Their birthday is coming up and I'm tempted to grant his hearts desire, natch, but can't shake myself of a nagging worry that listening to loud music through headphones might damage his hearing. Does anyone know the score on this?

And while we're at it does anyone have any other ideas for top presents for my soon to be 5 year olds? I need some inspiration.

Buy it. Just explain tohim that the muic shouldnt be too loud and agree on a volume.
Don't know the health bit though.

I got a bargain for my ds1 fifth birthday (next week). It's a little tikes construction sandpit complete with scoop crane, dump truck and road way. I love playing with it!! It should have been £100 but I only paid £35 new. I shop all year round for my kids presents and buy when I see bargains!

I think a CD player is an excellent idea. My ds1 has had one for a little while and he loves it. But we got him some good quality soft padded headphones so that they didn't go in his ears. He uses his headphones now when he's on his computer or using his leapad. It's bliss!!

scummy, when mine were little we got special kids' Sony walkmans (walkmen) from ELC, they have a volume governor on them. I know ELC have changed hands (several times?) since then, do they still have an equivalent?

Now those are outgrown we have a rule (in the car at keast) that if we can hear them in the front then they're turned up too high.

Other pressies - do they have walkie-talkies? These are brilliant - they're 2-channel so they can both talk at once (none of that roger-over nonsense), and they're hands-free, and they use AA batts and not those expensive 9-volt ones.

Alternatively Argos also have various bits of "spy" kit - eg this (£20 each though) and this . But they say age 6 and over...

Sorry to put a dampner on things, but I wouldn't buy a cd walkman myself as I ended up in hospital twice due to hearing loss by listening to my personal stereo too much (tape one, not cd). First time I was 8 years old and 2nd time I was 10. Unless you can supervise use/volume (especially with the type of music he would like to listen to on it) then I personally would say no. What about a cd player (not walkman)? Would that be visable?

Sorry, but I think you are right to have this nagging worry.

Here you go - has a volume limiter - but (eeek) £40.

Would he think it uncool though?

Oops, second "this" before was meant to be spy wrist cam , not the same thing again!

Wow- that walkie talkie set is a definite must, janh! How fab- I would NEVER have thought of them and my boys will absolutely LOVE them. Thank you thank you thank you. I like the spy stuff too! I think you could be right about potential coolness problems with the ELC walkman- he's been eyeing his aunty's slim silver one with clip on headphones with a wistful yet covetous air... thanks for finding it though. I guess I need to decide whether I can trust myself to supervise his walkman volume vigilantly 24/7! Thanks so much for your advice and ideas everyone.

Your son's sandpit sounds lovely, PipBeckett. Hope he has a great birthday.

I brought my dd's very cheap (4 quid i think) personal stereos when we went on holiday last year. They were 3 and 5. I was sitting in between them so was able to keep a check on the volume. It was supposed to stop them from arguing but it didn't, they just argued over who had which tape instead

ELC still do both CD and casette walkmans with volume limiters. Mind you, they go really quiet and unles the room is very quiet they are in you can't here them. TBH even with the limiter off they are not that loud anyway, and don't use 'in the ear' headphones so pretty good anyway. Can't remember price but not too bad at all from what I remember.