Click for simple, affordable ways to make the most of what's left of summer. 4 new-school landline phones that help kids chat safely without screens If your kid wants their first phone, these new options offer 90s nostalgia in spades. We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy. If you fondly recall twirling the phone cord around your fingers while sharing the hottest 4th grade gossip, you can now give your kid the very same experience.
Fueled by Millennial nostalgia for our screen-free childhoods and concerns about online safety, parents are turning to a new-school twist on an old-school concept: the landline phone. For kids who are craving connection to their classmates but may not be ready for access to the world wide web, these so-called ‘dumb phones’ are a pretty smart alternative. That’s because smartphones and iPads can be a great way to chat with classmates, but they require a much higher degree of parental oversight.
Not to mention, it’s a pain to pry a kid away from an iPad when their FaceTime call is complete. The new batch of landline phones eliminate those concerns, since they are strictly for talking, and they work via WiFi, with a much lower monthly bill than a traditional landline connection. (And calls between models are free for some of the brands below.) If your child is asking for their first phone, here are four of our favorite landline phones for kids to consider: The 90s are back, baby, and so are the era’s iconic see-through phones, thanks to the latest limited-edition colorway from Tincan. The company has almost cornered the market on smartphone alternatives, due to its clever concept: The phone’s design is an homage to the days when kids connected tin cans together via string to stay in touch.
Nowadays, the phones connect via WiFi, and calls between cans, as they’re called, are free. (So are calls to emergency services.) For $9.99/month, your kid can call any number on an approved contact list. Just like on landlines of old, the cans come with speed dial, voicemail and speakerphone, and you can even set calling hours, so your social butterfly doesn’t chat all night. The newest entrant on the market, Waffle Home phones are similar to Tin Cans, with a couple more features: The cord is removable, so your kid isn’t tethered to one spot to chat. (A plus or a minus depending on how much supervision you prefer!) Waffle Home phones also have caller ID, giving kids a heads-up before they answer.
Similar to voicemail, kids can send voice notes when their friends aren’t free to talk. Like Tin Cans, calls to emergency services and between Waffles are free, but Waffle’s free plan also includes one non-Waffle connection (say, to your cell phone). Unlimited calling to non-Waffle numbers (including international calls to 50+ countries) is $9.99/month.
Ooma is a longstanding, publicly traded telecommunications provider, and its newly-released MyPhone is a great option for parents who want screen-free nostalgia paired with proven reliability. The phone looks exactly like the model every Millennial had growing up, and offers many of the same features as Tin Can and Waffle Home, but at a lower price point. (Calls between Ooma lines are free, and it’s only $7.99/month for a service plan that offers unlimited calls in North America.) Like the Tin Can and Waffle, parents can limit who can call, and kids can receive voicemail messages. There’s even a “party-line” feature for three-way calling when your kid’s gotta dish with more than one friend.
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