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Growing up in the 90s and 2000s meant dancing to Hannah Montana, crushing on Zac Efron, and flipping through organizers of Backstreet Boys CDs in the car. But one 90s memory stands out more than most: setting different ringtones on all three landlines in our house. Every time someone called, all three phones would go off at once, completely out of sync and wildly annoying… and my sister and I loved it. So with everyone trying to give their kids a “90s childhood” on social media, I figured, why not actually bring back the landline in our house?
What we love
The not so good parts
All About the Tin Can
Stick with me here – I know the word “landline” sounds about as sexy as dial-up internet. And honestly, the landlines of decades past… well, they weren’t sexy at all. Luckily, Tin Can has reimagined it with their signature phone ($100), the cutest, most updated phone for your home, designed with kids in mind. It actually looks like a tiny tin can and comes in four fun colorways to bring a little fun to your space. Beyond the looks, it’s WiFi-enabled, so there's no need to hook it up to a phone line. TBH, that would’ve been a deal-breaker for me. I couldn’t tell you where that is in our house… if there is one.
I personally love that it doesn’t have any apps, texting, or games. It only makes and receives calls. My kids know they’re not getting cell phones for a long, long time for this reason! Since it’s designed for kids, the team took it a step further with regards to safety. No one except those on your approved list can reach your phone – so your kids are safe from strangers or scammers.
App Features & Plans
The Tin Can has two subscription plans. The Can 2 Can Plan is free and lets you call other Tin Cans or 911. The Party Line Plan is $9.99/month and lets you call anyone you want, like Grandma or friends, while keeping things private because you approve all the contacts. I personally am leaning towards the Party Line Plan, since my kids are a little younger and their friends aren’t quite to the phone stage yet. I really want my kids to be able to talk to grandparents and to call 911 easily in the event of an emergency.
There is an accompanying app, which is where you can approve contacts, manage your subscription, and put folks on speed dial (up to 4 people). I’ll admit… the app is a little bit buggy. I had a bit of a hard time with importing contacts and saving them with new names, but with a little persistence, it was alright. I can’t imagine this’ll be the case for long though, given how quickly they’re growing. My favorite feature in the app is the call log, so you can know exactly who made what call and when. It’s just so clear that safety is top-of-mind. I also really love the quiet hours you can set in the app, so there’s no surprise calls in the middle of the night – in or out!
The Kid Verdict
My kids are absolutely obsessed with their “new phone.” We have mom, dad, and both grandmas on speed dial, so they can easily ring them whenever they need (without assistance). We’ve started talking to my 4-year-old about 9-1-1 and when it’s appropriate to call, which has been an exercise in trust for me. They enjoy chatting with people on the phone and have learned how to hang up, put it on speaker, check voicemails, and even how to dial numbers they know well. I have seen other parents report that you have to dial phone numbers quickly in order for the call to go through, so be mindful of that with your little fingers.
Mom’s Verdict
Even though my preschoolers are a bit young for all of the features, it’s been such a fun way for them to learn something new and get a break from constantly wanting mommy and daddy’s devices. Watching them dial people they love on their own, hold the little phone up, and practice conversation has been really rewarding. There are a few small bugs, but I’m confident they’ll be worked out soon — Tin Can is doing crushing it. Who else is getting one that my kids can call?!
Try Tin Can as a simpler, safer phone option for your kids!
