While my kids are still young and in elementary school, my husband and I have been talking about how we can foster more independence in all three.
We both long for the type of childhood we had, without cellphones, iPads, and social media.
Earlier this year, we decided to buy an old-school phone and set up a landline for our 7, 5, and 5-year-olds to be able to interact with their friends without needing our supervision.
Yesterday showed me what a great idea that was.
There was an initial lift from my end
After getting the phone and setting it up, which we chose to do through TinCan, there was a bit of lift from my end to collect phone numbers from friends and neighbors. It was a collective effort since I had to also nudge others to get a landline for themselves.
At first, we had to explain to the kids how calling on a landline works. They practiced (and failed often) dialing phone numbers, asking to speak to their friends, and learned general etiquette about being on the phone. The conversations were short and led nowhere.
Courtesy of the author
With time, though, they all began to become more confident. On Halloween, my oldest called our neighbors and asked what time they’d be ready to meet to go trick-or-treating together. I was starting to see signals of what I had envisioned — setting up playdates without me needing to text another parent.
I was hopeful we were on the right track.
We had a snow day, and the phone rang nonstop
Recently, we had our first snow day of the school year, and by 9 a.m., our phone had been ringing nonstop.
By mid-morning, my kids had invited about a dozen friends to come over and play in the snow with them. This triggered texts from other parents asking if it was OK. Given that they are all so young, they still require some parental assistance, especially since some had to be driven over.
By lunchtime, we had seven kids squealing together, playing in the snow, and having a great time. They required little parental supervision, so my husband did chores outside while they all took turns shoveling snow and riding snowboards.
Everyone got picked up by dinnertime, and my kids shared how this had been the best snow day ever. My cellphone was also full of texts from parents thanking me for taking their kids so they could work.
The landline was a success, and when I posted about it online, it resonated with others — it seems my family isn’t the only one that’s been missing them. Not only is it starting to give my kids the type of 90s childhood I want to recreate for them, but it is also allowing me to provide that longed-for village parents nowadays need.
Next up, I’m gifting my kids my old Game Boy.
