How to make the Tin Can phone happen in your household

The Tin Can phone, a Wi-Fi enabled landline, has gained popularity in recent years. Danielle Berwick, a teacher, observed her three elementary school-aged children playing with the device to call friends instead of using her smartphone. She believes the phone helps her kids develop communication skills and provides them with the freedom to make their own plans. Berwick is also concerned about her children's exposure to social media and sees the Tin Can as a way to delay giving them a smartwatch or phone.

For parents hesitant about the Tin Can, joining an existing community of users can be a key factor in its success. Tin Can Communities offers bulk orders at a discounted price, which helped Berwick's family get their first Tin Can. She shared the product with her friends in an end-of-school year conversation about safer communication alternatives, leading to hundreds of parents signing up for the device through the Communities program.

Adopting a Tin Can doesn't have to be a large group effort. Mom-of-four Killian Mandel started with one phone for her kids and their cousins, which sparked interest among other parents in her children's parent-teacher organization. Within 10 days of promoting it, 48 parents signed up to purchase a Tin Can. While challenges may arise, such as differing phone usage among friends or connectivity issues due to home Wi-Fi, the Tin Can can be transformational for families, reviving a sense of socialization and independence that has been affected by smartphones.