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Retro-Tech Parenting

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Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#141

Post by ale42 »

jewel wrote: post #100
TimTheTinker wrote: post #18

Some of the things my wife and I have provided for our kids: - lots of bookcases with probably >1500 books (including lots of kids/picture books) - what we've collected over the years - a family laptop (2012 MacBook Pro) with no internet connection, pre-loaded with Pages, Sheets, Affinity Photo/Designer, a few small games, and some coding tools (Python, Ruby, VSCode, Scratch, etc.). - Lego Spike and Spike Prime robot…

As an alternative to the VoIP phone: Redpocket has a $2.67/mo plan. We loaded that SIM into a small android phone (Unihertz Jelly phone). It works great as a home phone but has the additional advantage of being able to wander if a pre-cellularized needs to go somewhere. For example, my 13-year-old takes it when going on a long bike-ride with his friends. We keep it in our closet and only comes out when needed. They a…

Well, the point of the landline phone (at least to some parents) is also that it has no screen, and has actual buttons, and stays home... for cell phone, we have prepaid SIM cards that are actually usable (in many EU countries credit doesn't expire and you must just use it every few months to keep them active, not sure about US).

Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#142

Post by ale42 »

The VoIP landline seems a way better solution than the proprietary Tin Can phone: while it looks nice, it apparently needs a subscription to call regular numbers... and AFAIK you can't call it from a normal phone (please correct me if I'm wrong!)

Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#143

Post by doctorpangloss »

pendenthistory wrote: post #80
sghiassy wrote: post #52

In 30 years, won’t today’s tech be retro tech Did the parents of 30 years ago, think the tech you’re giving today had gone too far?

Yeah, the double standard... We are here on hacker news probably because our parents let us freely explore computers and the internet. "Screen time" wasn't even a concept. Most friends I talked to had really off-hands parents as well, parents were rarely involved or interested in what the kids were doing. Glad I didn't have overbearing parents who limited my technology use to the radio and LPs.

Well a lot of people, which must include many parents, cannot limit their screen time so is it any wonder they fixate on this with their kids?

Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#144

Post by a1o »

I am looking for recommendations for a boombox that is kid friendly and can play CDs. Something not too big but also a bit more resistant. If it can be colorful that is a plus!

Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#145

Post by tedggh »

My kids are still too young but I constantly worry about how the world will look like in 8-10 years. On a recent trip to Europe we had to rush inside a bar during a storm. The place was packed and the only table available was next to a large party of loud teenagers on some sort of celebration, maybe a birthday. We had no choice but to sit next to them. After a while, probably over an hour, my wife asks me if I have noticed the kids. Obviously I have. But she insisted, “do you see”?. I have no idea what she’s talking about. So I watch them interact for a bit and I get it. Not one single kid had a phone on them. They are all eating, drinking, talking and laughing like if it’s the 90s. That was pretty amazing to see and gave me lots of hope.

Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#146

Post by techblueberry »

themanmaran wrote: post #19

As someone who grew up in the 90's, I think seeing the live progression of tech was really helpful for my own understanding. For instance we saw: - CDs moving to Mp3s moving to the ipod and finally streaming - Games moving from 8bit to early 3d graphics to where they are today - Family computer moving to laptops and eventually to ipads - Landlines to early cell phones to the iphone today All of these experiences help…

I'm starting to lean into something similar - While I understand the danger of nostalgia, and I don't think you can go back. The great thing about living in the current time should be that like, eveything is available. There are people who still choose to be blacksmiths in 2026. My kids and I have been watching the 70s television series "Land of the Lost" and the 70s had some really bonkers childrens programming.

In a weird way, I think the thing the tech companies fear more than abstenance - which kids may ultimately rebel from - is kids who grow up to use these technologies in a healthy way. Kids who grow up without FOMO.

Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#147

Post by nkrisc »

TimTheTinker wrote: post #101
nkrisc wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> an old-school landline phone connected to a VoIP box, served by UniFi Talk ($10/month). That sounds interesting, going to look into it. My son is old enough to be home alone but I don’t want to get him a cell phone yet, but I don’t want to leave him alone without a phone in case of an emergency. Traditional home phone plans from the usual telecoms are way more expensive than I thought they’d be. What should I be lo…

> What should I be looking for with regards to a VoIP box? I just bought the one from Ubiquiti. No fuss, works out of the box: https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/managed-voip/products/ut... , though you do need a separate piece of hardware on which to run the UniFi talk app. For me, that was my UniFi gateway (UXG-Max) - I have a lot of UniFi equipment. There are others that could work - you can look up UniFi Talk su…

Thanks, that makes sense and is simpler than I was thinking. I’ve already got some Unifi gear so should be easy.

Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#148

Post by keybored »

tedggh wrote: post #145

My kids are still too young but I constantly worry about how the world will look like in 8-10 years. On a recent trip to Europe we had to rush inside a bar during a storm. The place was packed and the only table available was next to a large party of loud teenagers on some sort of celebration, maybe a birthday. We had no choice but to sit next to them. After a while, probably over an hour, my wife asks me if I have n…

Europe. Straight out of the 90s’s.

Re: Retro-Tech Parenting

#150

Post by cogogo »

I have been dying for a landline and making a “booth” with a corded phone in a weird nook of our tiny house. Still have not pulled the trigger because I keep going down a rabbit hole of old payphones vs crazy expensive industrial phones. I am weird about this issue but it is entirely so the kids can be home alone and call us or 911. The thing is out absolutely amazing neighbor tends to fill this gap. She does not babysit but is willing to be “around” just in case. Community matters so much.

Also super happy with the switch ii on our only tv. We know what they are doing and can play with them.

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