MP3 player and headphones for an 8 year old. What do you think?

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

We've decided the only way to avoid seemingly interminable journeys listening to Horrid Henry CDs is to get DS an MP3 player so he can listen to whatever he wants. We've got a long journey to France coming up and there's only so much we can take.

But I keep thinking headphones for a child is dodgy.

Am I being oversensitive?

If I get a nice pair fo the big ones, you know with the padding, rather than the tiny ones which go in his ears, will that be ok?

Get ones that can't be turned up loud, if such a thing exists. I'd be very leery about letting a child that age have head/earphones, it's so easy to damage their hearing.

DS is 6 and has an MP3 player that he uses for the odd long journey. It has a volume inhibitor so can only be turned up to a certain volume - is red / yellow and a little chunkier than some mp's but designed for children so can be dropped etc.

Ah, you can get them with volume inhibitors then? I'll certainly look for one specifically for children.

Thank you.

LOL at very leery, that means something completely different to me

Ah, I meant leery as in "cautious", not pervy! (Am a Scot)

Only problem wth the volume inhibiters is that often in transport it means that the volume is too low and can hardly be heard. At 8y I think he is old enough to have proper headphones, although I'd go for over ear ones rather than in ear, and then just explain the need to keep them at a sensible volume.

DD has just turned 7 and had headphones for a couple of years now - never been an issue.

Nag at him every time you can hear it though, even if it's that irritating tinny hsssssing. If it's loud enough for you to hear, it's loud enough to damage his hearing.