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- October 12, 202619°
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- October 12, 202619°
Mother of Four Keeps Children Away from Screens with Walkman and Cassettes
Ali Hynek, a mother of four, said her children have long wanted smartphones, but they will not get phones until at least age 17. The family is trying to instill an analog habit in the children using old-fashioned music devices and cassettes instead of screens.
Ali Hynek, a mother of four, said her children have wanted smartphones for some time, but they will not be given phones until they are at least 17 years old. She explained that she and her husband made this decision because they are concerned about the negative effects of technology on both children and adults.
Hynek said they discussed openly with their children why they chose this approach instead of imposing a ban. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the children sometimes feel left out because many of their friends at school have phones.
The family uses a system that allows the children to make calls via watches to communicate with family and friends. Hynek also mentioned that since they do not have a home phone, they might consider getting a small keypad phone in the future.
Interest in Old Devices Began with Thrift Shopping
Just over a year ago, Hynek was inspired by her sister’s interest in VHS tapes and started visiting second-hand stores. Her goal was to show the children how music was enjoyed before smartphones and digital platforms.
During these shopping trips, she found a music set that plays CDs and cassettes, an old rotary phone, and a radio with channel buttons. When these devices arrived home, all the children were curious because many of these were new to them.
At first, the cassettes and CDs did not capture the children’s interest much. So Hynek suggested, as she did in her own childhood, that the children create their own mixtapes.
She bought blank cassettes and a recorder from the 1990s and taught the children how to select and record their favorite songs from the radio. Eventually, the children made personal tapes with their chosen tracks.
Walkman Fascination Became a Lasting Family Interest
During this process, her 10-year-old son Ethan developed a particular interest in old devices. After seeing a character carrying a Walkman in a movie he watched, he wanted one too.
Hynek said they couldn’t find a Walkman in second-hand shops and that prices were high online. Finally, she bought one on Amazon for about $30 and found cassettes related to the movie and Aerosmith for her son to listen to.
Shortly after the Walkman arrived, the family went on a long trip. Hynek described how Ethan spent hours looking out the window while listening to music, reminding her of how trips were in the 1990s.
At home, Ethan often carried his Walkman, wearing headphones and listening to music. She even said he sometimes lay on the floor staring at the ceiling while continuing to listen.
Over time, the other three children also got their own Walkmans and headphones and started listening to music the same way. The family now visits second-hand stores together to find more cassettes.
Hynek said they recently found a Madonna cassette and ordered a Billie Eilish cassette online. She believes the children’s interest is not a passing fad; like learning to ride a bike, once started, it becomes a lasting habit.
Hynek shared that she enjoys seeing her children appreciate music and that this activity has become a new family hobby. She expressed happiness that they are engaged in something other than screens and that it brings back memories of her own childhood.
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