Not too long ago, nearly every house had a landline. One phone number the whole family knew and shared, and everyone made and received calls this way. Then cell phones came along, and for many families, the home phone disappeared.
Now, some parents are reconsidering the idea, especially as they look for ways to keep kids connected without giving them a smartphone too soon.
Today, Sprout’s home phone service uses modern fiber internet technology instead of an old copper landline, but the idea behind it is surprisingly relevant for today’s families.
Why are families bringing back the home phone?
For some parents, a home phone fills the gap between having no phone and giving a child their own smartphone.
A shared home phone gives kids a way to call parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors, or emergency services without also giving them constant access to apps, social media, games, and the internet.
It isn’t necessarily a replacement for the cell phones already in your household. Instead, it provides another simple way for everyone at home to stay connected.
Is a home phone a good option for kids without smartphones?
A home phone can be a practical option for families who aren’t ready to give their children cell phones.
Kids can check-in when they get home from school, chat with a grandparent, and actually talk to their friends. Parents also have one familiar number they can call when the kids are home alone, with a sibling, babysitter, or other caregiver.
And unlike a cell phone, the home phone belongs to the household, not just one person.
A phone without all the extras
Giving a child a smartphone usually means giving them much more than the ability to make a phone call. Apps, social media, games, notifications, videos, and internet access all come along with it.
A home phone keeps the purpose simple: making and receiving calls.
It can give kids a little more independence while parents decide when they’re ready for the responsibilities that come with their own smartphone.
A phone that’s always in the same place
Cell phones have an uncanny ability to disappear exactly when you need them. They’re left in backpacks, buried under couch cushions, forgotten in another room, or sitting somewhere with a dead battery.
A wired home phone has one simple advantage: everyone knows where it is.
Having a dedicated phone in a familiar location gives everyone in the household another way to make a call when they need one. An, isn’t there something nostalgic about a phone mounted to the wall in the kitchen?
Home phones can help kids learn important phone skills
For a generation growing up with texts, apps, and video chats, making an actual phone call is a skill worth practicing.
A shared family phone gives kids an opportunity to learn how to answer a call, introduce themselves, take a message, call a family member, and memorize important phone numbers.
It can also be incorporated into your family’s emergency plan. Children should know their home address, who to contact when they need help, and how and when to call 911.
Is a home phone the same as a traditional landline?
Not necessarily.
Traditional landline service was typically delivered over copper telephone lines. Many modern home phone services, including Sprout’s fiber-powered home phone service, use an internet connection to make and receive calls instead. This is called VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol.
For the person using the phone, however, the experience can still be comfortably familiar. Simply pick up the receiver, dial a number, and talk.
Everything old is new again
We’re not suggesting you bring back the busy signal, the phone book, or the 20-foot curly cord stretched across the kitchen, even though that would be cool!
But the idea behind the family phone still makes a lot of sense: one simple way for everyone at home to stay connected.
For families looking for a phone option for kids without jumping straight to a smartphone, the old-fashioned home phone may be a surprisingly low-tech yet modern solution.