As you all may already know, we are a very busy household! We are always out and about--- be it daily sports activities with my 3 boys, weekend tournaments, or travelling for fun and leisure whenever there’s a chance. 😊
Communicating with my 3 boys, since both their Dad and I made a pact to hold-off on buying them a cell phone as late as we could, has been a struggle! We wanted to limit the boys' screen time by holding-off on getting them smart phones, but as parents, we know the struggle of staying in touch with them when needed the most--- if we were running late picking them up from school, when they're out with their friends, or just to check up on them while we are at work. It was hard. So yeah, my family was excited to try the Relay out!
What is Relay?
Relay is an excellent smartphone-free solution for kids! Made by Republic Wireless, Relay is a screen-free walkie talkie system that allows parents to stay in touch with their kids at the push of a button. Voice messages can be sent from device to device, or from cell phone to device via the Relay app. One or multiple devices connect to parents’ cell phone that makes group communication easy and convenient. Each Relay unit costs $49.99, and service for it is only $9.99/month.
We found the system not only worked as advertised, but was also fun to use. The device plays music and games. It also talks to Alexa. My 8-year old is obsessed with the Daily Joke feature. My 11-year old uses the Language Translate feature and has actually picked up quite a few Spanish words. What’s my favorite? I can quickly track the kids wherever, whenever! The Relay app on my phone tracks the exact location of each device connected with the account and can also set “geo fences” or “safe zones” we set for each device. I get notified when one of the devices enter or leave its set “safe zone.” That gives me the peace of mind that my kids are where and when they are, as expected.
Understandably, Relay has been designed with the kids and parents in mind specifically. But I think it can serve others greatly. We brought it to a wrestling tournament one day and our Coach used it to track the location of each wrestler in our team. It made it so easy for any wrestler to buzz in and let everyone in the group chat know exactly what mat number they’re at and when to have the coach and his teammates come watch their match. No more wrestlers and parents running around frantically trying to find each other in the crowded room!
We also used the devices on our recent trip to San Francisco and boy did it relieved me from the stress of travelling with kids! With each kid equipped with the handy device, there's less worrying of loosing a kid in a heavily crowded tourist area. Plus, the boys love the feeling of being independent as they walk steps ahead of mom and dad, at their own pace. Watch our Pier 39 adventure...
We love having them so much now that my kids have asked if they can get an extra device to send their Grandpa for Christmas, so they can check up on him whenever, wherever.
So, you’d ask, would I recommend it to my friends and family? Absolutely! Here’s a link where you learn more about the devices and service: http://bit.ly/relay_mackidelkgrove. Note the special discount --- $20 off devices now thru December 25th at Target and Amazon!
Relay by Republic ’s not only the perfect way to communicate with your loved ones, but is also the perfect holiday gift!
*This is a paid advertisement in exchange for a product review. But as always, I stay true with my opinions and recommendations as your trusted publisher. :)
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