I have a reputation for being a touch overprotective. If it were up to me, I would still be wearing my six-year old in a baby carrier. But, despite my feelings, I really, really try to give my kids appropriate latitude and freedom to grow. When I was given the opportunity to try Relay with my son, I was pumped because I knew it would help us navigate his growing desire for more freedom, and my need to keep him safe (and myself sane!).
Relay is a screen free, push-to-talk phone with 4G LTE and WiFi coverage. It’s as easy to use as a walkie talkie, but has the coverage of a cell phone. Relays can talk to each other, or parents can download the free app to turn their smartphone into a Relay. I can chat with my son while he is at the park, on the bus, or even if he went on vacation with his grandparents! With GPS tracking, I can also just take a quick peak from my app to doublecheck that he is where is he supposed to be.
When my son started kindergarten, I was absolutely committed to sticking a smartphone in his backpack. I went so far as to price out different models and cellphone plans at the mall. Lucky for me, my husband pulled me back a bit. Even the cheapest phones were still pricey, and the last thing we wanted was for him to sit on the bus and get extra, unsupervised screen time. So, we finished kindergarten with no cellphone. It felt like the right decision, but I didn’t like the notion of him not being able to contact me in the event of an emergency or some kind of mix-up with school pickup.
Now as a first grader, my son loves having his Relay tucked into his backpack, and I LOVE being able to check his location and know that I could call him if I ever needed to reach him. We are brand new to the area, and definitely still adjusting to some Florida things. The FIRST day that I sent my son to school with his new Relay, there was a tornado warning. TORNADO. As you can imagine, my first inclination was to irrationally panic. They held the kids at school until the warning passed. Thankfully, I could check the GPS location of my son’s Relay. I could tell that he was not only still at school, but also that he was safe in the interior part of the building. It made me feel about a thousand times better. I could even tell when he was on the bus, and when the buses were finally allowed to leave the school. I could show the other neighborhood moms where the bus was so we all stayed in the loop. It’s even amazing on a non-tornado afternoon, because I use the GPS to track the bus and let the baby sleep as long as possible before I head out to the bus stop.
While I don’t let my son go too far on his own now, I will let him head to the park ahead of me if he takes the Relay. I can take my time with the baby and get myself to the park without rushing. As my son gets older, I can (almost!) envision myself letting him go to friends’ houses and other places by himself. I love that the Relay will allow us to stay in touch, allow me to monitor his location, and will not result in another battle over screen time.
The device is just $49.99 with a $9.99 monthly service charge. It is definitely the SMARTER phone for kids. Super easy to use, and they even have accessories for your kids to wear their Relay so they can’t lose it. We have enjoyed ours immensely so far, and I haven’t even had time to explore all of the fun bonus features, like music, jokes, voice changes, and more. The device is tough and made for play (or someone like me who shatters a phone screen at least once a year), and even water resistant to survive my son’s backpack.
Relays will make a super fun holiday gift for your kids, and will be a great gift of peace of mind for yourself. You can find Relays at Target, Amazon, and RelayGo.com. I’d encourage you to check out this link to learn more: https://relaygo.fun/kate-s
The holiday promotional schedule is below. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Nov. 24-Dec. 7-50% off
Dec. 8-Dec. 14-15% off
Dec. 15-Dec. 24-$20 off
