Explorer adventures, play dates, bike rides and scavenger hunts keep my three young kids busy, active and outside. When we lived in Colorado, I wasn’t overly concerned with them playing in the neighborhood. I grew up there, they knew the area, the neighbors and the boundaries. When we moved to Michigan last summer, that all changed.
Being brand new to the area, we didn’t know a single person in our community. We weren’t familiar with the area, didn’t know anything about the neighbors and had no start on creating boundaries. My kids’ outdoor adventures were dwindling and unless I spent hours outside with them, they weren’t allowed to play anywhere but our property. No neighborhood walks, no bike rides out of my sight, no exploring the woods behind our house.
My ‘Mom-Fear’ was real and I was scared. How would I get a hold of them if I needed to? What if there was an emergency? What if they get lost? Stranger danger, rogue opossums, sloggy creaks… all of these fears were real - and rightfully so.
“We need to get them cell phones,” my husband said. Trying to justify adding three more lines to our (already expensive) plan, wondering which phones to pick, how to monitor and regulate… and of course, their ages - what does a 6, 8 and 9-year-old need with a smartphone? We debated, went back and forth, researched like crazy and then saw it.
Relay. The solution to our problems.
Relay’s mix of easy, screen-free communication and location tracking make it the perfect way for us to have peace of mind, while our kids regain (safe!) independence - and this mom couldn’t be happier. Especially as back to school approaches!
It’s as easy to use as a walkie talkie, but works everywhere because it’s powered by 4G LTE - just like a phone. So my kids can be down the street at a friends house or jumping on the bus in the morning and I can talk with them with the push of a button. Plus, Relay is safe. The device comes with built-in GPS tracking, so I can always know exactly where my children are. And, Relay has an SOS feature for emergency situations so their exploring adventures can commence without me hovering.
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One of my biggest concerns about getting them a smartphone was the screen time. What fun would it be if I gave them a phone but rarely allowed them to play on it - and why would I want to have the repeated conversation of, “Mom, can we please download some apps?” Another great selling point for Relay. The devices are 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. You know what, though? Relay has apps, too, called Channels, to make the product fun and engaging. Channels include Music, Translate, Joke of the Day, Echo (a voice change) and with more coming! My kids absolutely love the Joke of the Day!
So, how does it work? I can talk directly with the Relay from my smartphone. The free app works just like another Relay - so I don’t necessarily need one to keep in touch with my kids. In the case I don’t catch one live-time, Relay captures missed messages, kind of like voicemail, so I never miss an important message. With the simple push of a button, I’m in constant contact with my little noodles as they head off and explore the world around them.
What to know what else? Their family in Colorado can keep in touch, too. With a simple download of the app or by purchasing a Relay of their own, they can chat with Grandma and Grandpa, their cousins and friends as much as they want!
Relay is perfect for kids 5-11 years old. It's available for only $49.99 for the device plus $9.99/month for the monthly service plan (much easier of a spend than typical added lines!) and is sold at Target and on Amazon.com, Target.com and RelayGo.com - we purchased the accessories kit, too, so they have a belt clip and lanyard to make sure it’s on them at all times.
AND from now until September 14, 2019 - you can save at Target.com with a promotion of 40% off! THEN again from August 25 - September 14, 2019 at Target stores with 40% off there, too!
So, parents, if you’re looking for a safe, affordable, interactive and fun way to stay in touch and keep track of your kids, Relay is the perfect way to go.
Disclosure: Complimentary products and compensation were provided for this review. All opinions are my own.
