#1
#1 out of 1
technology3h ago
I gave my 8-year-old a landline. It has parental controls, but gives him the freedom he craved.
- A parent gave an 8-year-old a Tin Can, an internet phone with no screen and parental controls.
- Calls are limited to pre-approved numbers, and the parent can monitor the call log and adjust permissions.
- The device teaches responsibility by balancing independence with parental oversight.
- The child learns to dial real numbers, not just tap saved names, a throwback to earlier phone use.
- The Tin Can offers a fixed number and an area code from Michigan, adding a local touch.
- Family joy and intergenerational connection emerge as relatives join the testing and pranks.
- The mom can still listen to audiobooks while the child chats, preserving the parent’s routine.
- The device brands itself as a safe, stepwise path to first ownership before smartphones.
- The story emphasizes that being reachable has its own responsibilities for kids.
- The article underscores a parental choice to curb screen time while enabling social contact.
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