The holidays are coming in fast and there’s no stopping them at this point. The ever-popular discussion among parents has also begun … do we get our younger kids a cell phone as a gift? The Facebook Mom Groups are blowing up right now with this very issue almost daily. So, what is the answer? The Pros and Cons lists are long …
- You want to be able to give your kiddos a little more freedom, but they’re not quite old enough for that much internet access.
- You would really like to let me them spend the night at a friend’s house or their grandparents, but they/you aren’t sure if they want to be away from you that long with no contact.
- They really want to walk to the bus or back home from school by themselves, but you aren’t comfortable with them doing it by themselves quite yet.
- You want to let them go shopping or a trampoline park with a friend, but with the big crowds (especially at this time of year), you’re not comfortable letting them be out amongst so many strangers without you.
- You want something that is easy enough for them to use, but not sacrifice quality and options.
And the list goes on and on and on and on. Well, Relay is the answer you are looking for and #theperfectway to make you and the kiddos happy. But wait there’s more … right now during the height of holiday shopping season, Relay is having some awesome sales that help make the decision even easier for us parents.
So, what is Relay you may ask?
- Relay is the SMARTER smart phone for kids. It is screen-free so it eliminates the distractions and unwanted side effects and risks of screen time on kids without sacrificing the safety of easy communication that allows parents to feel comfortable letting their kids go off on their own.
- It’s as easy to use as a walkie talkie, but works everywhere because it’s powered by 4G LTE – just like a phone. You could be in New York talking to your family in California with the push of a button. Relay is also becoming popular with grandparents/seniors, too, because it’s so easy to use for your not so tech-savvy older friends and family (more on this below).
- Relay is safe -- the device comes with built-in GPS tracking, so parents can always know where their child is. Relay also has an SOS feature for emergency situations. One of my favorite safety features is the GeoFencing. You can set a parameter and if the device (i.e. child) leaves that boundary you are alerted immediately. As a foster mom with kiddos that have had to go to not so desirable locations to see people with not so desirable issues, the safety features are a biggie for me.
- You can talk directly with the Relay from a smartphone. The FREE app works just like another Relay - so mom/dad doesn’t necessarily need one to keep in touch with their kids. And, it has Channels - just like apps - to make the product fun and engaging. Channels include Music, Translate, Joke of the Day, Echo (a voice changer) and more are being introduced all the time.
- Relay devices are made for rugged play, are water resistant, and have some great easy to carry accessories as well. Our girls like the loop case with lanyard that they can just throw over their heads and go, but have recently discovered how easy it is to use the new armband case.
- Relay is very affordable at $49.99 for the device, plus $9.99/month for the monthly service plan and is sold at Target and on Amazon.com, Target.com and RelayGo.com. It even has accessories so your kiddos can wear Relay and lose it! Bonus: For the holiday shopping season, Relay is offering some really good deals on the devices. As you can see by the discount schedule below, it’s a win, win!
- 50% off - Until Dec. 7th
- 15% off - Dec. 8th - Dec. 14th
- $20 off - Dec. 15th - Dec. 24th
My family personally started using Relay this past summer and could not be happier. Relay has allowed our girls (6 and 7 yrs. old) a little more freedom, while keeping my mommy nerves at a minimum. We've used them for school trips, play dates, swim lessons (when dad has to take them and is not able to go in the locker rooms with them), and even on Halloween. Our girls also like to use them to stay connected while they are not together.
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Our family recently found another use for Relay while on vacation and I have now been telling everyone about it as well. You might even be able to mark-off some other people from that holiday shopping list, too. This fall we met my in-laws at a resort for vacation and quickly realized that we needed a way to check on my 80-year old mother-in-law who is not very mobile (and was staying in her own room), especially in unfamiliar locations. The first night was a little nerve-wrecking for us and her. That’s when it hit me that we had the girls’ Relays with us. We gave one to her and my sister-in-law kept the other one. If my mother-in-law needed anything or help of any sort while by herself, she could simply push the button and my sister-in-law could get to her in seconds. We all felt a lot better knowing we could help her still enjoy the trip, while still feeling safe and cared for. She ended up wearing it the whole stay and enjoyed her time without worry. Now you have a gift idea for your aging friends and families that could end up helping them and you.
To find out more about what Relay has to offer for your family, click HERE! Relay even has a little gift for you right now - besides those awesome discounts. They are giving you a chance to win an accessories prize pack for that new Relay you are undoubtedly going to order after reading this article. 😉
To enter to win: click on the image below!
(Relay is a sponsor of Macaroni Kid. Compensation and/or product was provided for the writing of this article. All thoughts and opinions are that of the author.)
