When Hailey received her first cell phone in 6th grade, my then 3rd grader, Lila, was insanely jealous, but we stood firm that she, too, has to wait until she is in 6th grade, just like her sister, before she can have that form of communication. Until then, she has no need for one; her sister only uses it to text or call when she needs to be picked up or when her after-school plans change. It’s not a toy. After a few days, Lila realized that we were serious, and she let the topic go. Every once in a while, though, she laments that Hailey has a phone, and she doesn’t. But, there’s just no other choice, right?
WRONG! Now there’s Relay! Relay is the SMARTER “phone” for kids ages 5-11. 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. Or, in our case, when Lila is on the bus, which causes her extreme anxiety, she can chat with me and feel secure in knowing that I am right on the other end waiting for her at home. GAME CHANGER! Not only can I now give Lila a sense of security without giving in and giving her a smartphone, she has a newfound sense of independence and responsibility. Plus, she finally has something that her sister doesn’t have. Win-win!
My favorite part of Relay is that I can operate my end of the communication from a free app on my smartphone. The app acts just like another Relay, but without having to have a separate device. Another great feature is that Relay captures missed messages, kind of like voicemail, so parents and kids will never miss an important message. Or maybe you just want to leave an “I love you” on the device for when your kiddo takes it off “Do Not Disturb” at the end of the school day--that's becoming a new cherished ritual of ours.
Whatever your favorite aspect is, you can’t deny that Relay’s safety features, kid-first design, easy communication and affordability will make it the perfect holiday gift for parents AND kids. Parents will get peace of mind and kids will gain more independence.
Relay Safety Features
- SCREEN FREE--eliminates distractions and the threat of screen addiction, cyberbullying or connections to strangers, as well as ensures no exposure to inappropriate Internet content
- Built-in GPS tracking--always know where your kiddo is!
- SOS emergency alerts--I sure hope we never have to use this, but I am grateful it’s available
- Geofencing available--be able to set up a radius around a specific point and receive app alerts when your Relay enters or leaves that location
Kid-First Design
- Single button for ease of connection
- Rugged design made for play
- Water-resistant
- Easy-to-carry accessories available
- Loop case with lanyard and carabiner to wear OR clip to a backpack or belt loop
- Loop case with neoprene armband to wear on arm or wrist
Easy Communication
- Push-to-talk communication with powerful nationwide 4G LTE range
- Free Relay companion app for iPhone and Android
- Receive notifications when someone is talking or left a message
- Group Chats
- Channels
- Music
- Joke of the Day
- Weather
- Translate
Affordability
- Devices are $49.99 at Target, Amazon.com, Target.com and RelayGo.com, plus $9.99/month for each device to operate using cellular service
- Holiday season promotions continue:
- 15% off December 8-December 14
- $20 off December 15-December 24
- Holiday season promotions continue:
- Now that’s a price families can feel good about versus the escalating costs of most smartphones and plans!
Oh, and one more thing--Relay’s customer service team is top-notch. Not being a very tech-savvy person myself, I was struggling a bit to figure out the app (it really is simple, but I just always need extra help with these things) and Tim and Adrian at Relay talked me right through the whole app, feature by feature, testing out each as we went along. And then, as if that wasn’t enough priority care, I received follow-up emails every time I had spoken with a Relay rep, reiterating what we went through and providing detailed, written outlines of how to use those features again. Talk about being there for your customers!
I am thrilled to have been able to give Lila a Relay device and to explore all of its features together. We’re still learning and will be sure to ask for help when we need it, but it’s already given her a huge boost in confidence and it’s a complete game changer for us. I can’t wait to talk with her during her upcoming sleepovers with grandparents and friends, and I am looking forward to more chats while she is on her way home on the bus. Not only will she continue to feel more independent and confident the more we use Relay, I will have a greater sense of peace knowing her separation anxiety is lessened. And did I mention she really loves having something her sister doesn’t have? She won’t let her forget that one!
For more information about Relay, visit relaygo.fun/kim-f.
All ready to go to school tomorrow with her Relay! Give your child the same gift of independence this holiday season.
Macaroni Kid Portland Publisher Note: I was given Relay product for the sake of this promotional review. All opinions are my own.
