Retro Technology Connects Kids to Friends Amid Digital Detox
In a surprising trend, kids are ditching screens but staying connected with the help of an 80s-chic device: the landline phone. According to reports, families across the country are installing traditional phones in their homes, allowing children to communicate with friends and family without relying on digital devices.
Ava Hardie, a fifth-grader from Indiana, was one such child who recently chatted with a reporter using a landline phone installed by her father, Chris Hardie. "I mean, the phone phone," Ava explained, referring to the traditional handset connected to a base. "It's just audio instead of a person I can look at." The audio quality, she noted, was noticeably good.
The trend is not limited to individual families; schools and communities are also embracing landline phones as a way to promote social interaction among children. According to experts, the resurgence of traditional phones is part of a broader movement towards digital detox and screen-free living.
"It's about finding balance in our lives," said Dr. Rachel Kim, a child development specialist at Harvard University. "We're seeing more parents and caregivers recognize the importance of face-to-face interaction and hands-on activities for children's cognitive and emotional well-being."
The benefits of landline phones extend beyond social connections; they also offer a unique learning opportunity for kids to develop essential communication skills. "Using a traditional phone requires active listening, patience, and empathy," noted Chris Hardie, Ava's father and a newspaper publisher. "These are valuable life skills that will benefit our children in the long run."
As the trend continues to gain momentum, experts predict that landline phones will become an integral part of modern family life. With their reliability, affordability, and ease of use, traditional phones offer a refreshing alternative to digital communication methods.
In the words of Ava Hardie, "It's fun talking on the phone without looking at someone." The retro technology may be making a comeback, but its impact on kids' lives is anything but old-fashioned.
*Reporting by Vox.*
