My kids would love to have their own cell phones, but at 7 and 9 I still think they’re too young. I’d like to delay getting them a cell phone — along with the bills and the bad habits sure to follow — as long as possible.
But over the past six months or so, my husband and I have said to each other a few times that it would be nice if we had a way to reach them since they’re starting to exert their independence a bit. My daughter wants to go on rides alone at Waldameer, for instance. And for the first time this summer, they're taking walks around the block without me (gulp!).
Taking these steps toward independence is fine and natural at their ages, but these little forays “into the wild” makes a mama worry. So my husband and I had reluctantly started considering at least a “burner” phone for my daughter when I heard about the Relay.
This screen-free device allows us to communicate with our kids at the push of a button. It acts as a sort of walkie talkie, but instead of needing a separate device for the adults, the Relay connects directly to our cell phones via 4G LTE so my kids can talk to me (or I can talk to them!) whenever I want, wherever we are.
Plus, and this was a big one for me, the Relay includes a GPS tracker which means I can look to see where my kids are anytime — are they taking so long on their walk because they stopped at a friend’s house to play?
I don’t consider myself a “helicopter parent,” but the Relay certainly offers peace of mind knowing where my kids are — even while I’m allowing them to explore their independence.
It also allows for easy communication between us — no matter where I am. My daughter left me a sweet message when I was 1,400 miles away on a girls trip in Cancun recently.
When I heard it, I called through on their Relays to say hello, and just a few seconds later got an answer. It was great to have a way to let them know I was thinking of them, and for me to know they were doing well.
Relay will be a nice benefit this school year, for those days when the bus is running late and I’m wondering where the kids are, for instance. There’s also an SOS feature for emergency situations when they need to reach me.
Thanks to Relay, I think we can continue putting off the talk of a cell phone for the foreseeable future!
Relay's key features:
- Screen-free
- GPS tracking
- SOS emergency alerts to others on the account
- Ability to leave messages
- Kid-friendly design
- Single-button use (so it’s easy for kids to use)
- Rugged, water-resistant design
- Accessories like a loop case with lanyard and cabinet to wear around the neck or clip to a book bag
- Channel capability so you can talk to different people in your network.
- Translation capability — speak English into your Relay and it will translate into a dozen languages for you!
- Fun channels (like the joke of the day, music playlists and more) and a voicechanger.
How much it costs:
The retail price of Relays is $49.99 each, plus $9 a month for connectivity. But...
🚨Awesome Deal Alert!🚨
You can get the Relay now from Target.com for 40% off now through Sept. 14!
It's also available at 40 percent off in Target stores through Sept. 14!
Thanks to Relay for providing me with their products for the purposes of this review! All opinions are my own.
