Published 9 days ago • loading... • Updated 8 days ago

Tin Can phones help kids build relationships the old-fashioned way

Families in Western Howard County are using Tin Can phones, WiFi-connected devices that function like traditional landlines, to encourage children to talk instead of using screens.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children aged 8-12 spend four to six hours daily on screens, prompting parents to seek offline moments and meaningful connections.
Dr. Matt Edelstein, a clinical psychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, told WBAL-TV 11 News that "attention and relationship building are skills, and just like any skill, we need to practice them."
Parents like Ashley Alberi and Uhar view the phones as tools for independence, while children Evie and Gracie use them to coordinate bike rides and playdates instead of texting.
This initiative reflects a community-wide effort in Western Howard County to prioritize face-to-face interaction in a neighborhood where, residents say, childhood still moves a little slower.

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