For years, my 8-year-old son has been asking for a phone. I’m sure he likes the idea of being social and playing games, but he also loves talking. Copper FaceTimes with friends on my phone (calling their Mom’s phone) and regularly calls his grandparents to check in.
We wanted to give him an age-appropriate amount of freedom and stumbled across a landline-esque phone for kids, the Tin Can.
It runs off the internet and has parental controls, all with no screen. It’s a win-win: he can talk on a schedule that we allow, and he can only call/receive calls from pre-approved numbers.
He loves it. As a Mom, I love this baby step into phone ownership.
The landline has brought him so much joy
Meanwhile, there’s an added lesson of learning to dial actual numbers vs. just tapping on a name, which is all he’s ever done.
Over Christmas break, my husband called on his lunch break, and Copper was so proud of having his own line. He could speak without needing my interference. He smiled for an hour after his first received call.
Plus, I can keep possession of my phone, which means I can keep listening to my audiobook — my go-to for laundry/dishes — while he happily chats away.
The phone works from a generated number; the one he chose has an area code from central Michigan. So of course, one of the first things we did — after I put in numbers he could call — was start pranking. I taught him the old “is your refrigerator running” gig and called grandparents, aunts, and uncles with the schtick. When it was over, we laughed about it for hours — pure joy shared by multiple generations. It was another throwback I didn’t realize my kids had missed.
I didn’t realize that my kids would never experience the lack of a phone line. The ability to hold the phone and talk to their ear vs. speaking into a screen (the phone does have space for four pre-saved numbers on speed dial, another sweet throwback). Friends’ kids have also enjoyed testing it out. Honestly, we didn’t realize what a novelty it was until we visited and saw kids swooning over the idea of a phone with a cord.
I can control who can call
The app feature is also great because I can basically control every feature: who can call out/in, volume, and if he loses the privilege, I can easily turn it off. Meanwhile, I can view the call log feature to see who he spoke with and for how long.
Another lesson he’s learned the hard way — having a phone means you’re accessible. When we’re home, I can call his room to let him know when dinner is ready or if it’s time to shower. After fielding my schedule calls for one weekend, he determined, “Having a phone can actually be kind of annoying.”
Yes, yes, it can. I told him I agree with him. He learned the lesson that a phone isn’t just fun and freedom, it’s a way for people to reach you and potentially interrupt whatever you’re doing at the time. That was a bonus lesson I didn’t realize would take place, or that was needed. It’s one more way to turn the gift into accepting personal responsibility and understanding that things you want aren’t always as fun as you think they will be.
Overall, the internet phone line has been a great move for our family, adding freedom, but in a way that’s safe for our 8-year-old. Plus, he’s learning some life skills along the way.
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