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Relay - An Alternative to Smartphones - A Must Have for Halloween!

A little independence for the kids while keeping your mind at ease this Halloween

By Karen D'Agostino - Publisher Macaroni Kid Wilkes-Barre wilkesbarre.macaronikid.com October 16, 2019


One of my biggest worries as a parent is letting my kids out of sight.  I hate that feeling you get in your stomach when you scan a crowd for your child and you don't immediately see them.  Or when they go around the block on their bike and it takes a little longer than it usually does.  I have thought about getting a smartphone for them so I can track the GPS or call them to check-in. However, smartphones come with a whole other set of problems that I do not think they are old enough to deal with just yet.  So what solution is there?  Relay by Republic to the rescue!  




Why Do We Love Relay?


1.  Screen-Free Communication and Location Tracking - Relay is a modern-day walkie talkie that's the anti-smart phone.  You communicate with your kids over WiFi or 4G LTE.   You get unlimited messages so there is no worry about your kids sending hundreds of goofy messages.  And they will trust me!  No matter where they go to send those goofy messages (playground, sports field, friend's house, school, grandma's house, pumpkin patch, grocery store, around the block on their bike), you will always know exactly where they are with the bult-in GPS tracker that you can monitor from an app on your phone.   There is even an SOS feature so they can alert you to an emergency situation.  

2.  Multiple Channels to Talk and Enjoy - Do you have more than one child?  No problem!  Each one of them can have a Relay and talk to each other one on one, two at a time, more than two, or everyone all at once.  And if a friend with a Relay is nearby and they want to use them as walkie talkies as they play, they can simply tap them together and it gives them a temporary connection. And you as the parent don't need a relay to communicate with your child.  You can talk through the Relay app on your phone. 

   There are also channels the kids can enjoy on their own.  

  • Music - Load music through a USB cord to enjoy while on the go.  There is a headphone jack so they won't disturb others.  
  • Joke of the Day - One press of a button and you'll be able to laugh your way through some super cute family-friendly jokes.  My boys are memorizing some for when we go trick-or-treating on Halloween!
  • Echo - Talk into the Relay and it distorts your voice with sounds effects.  As if saying poop in their regular voice wasn't funny enough! 
  • Translator - Relay will translate your words into more than a dozen different languages!  Do you know how to say poop in Chinese?  My kids do! 

   Other channels such as trivia are also planned for the future. 

3. Fun, Durable and Easy to Use - Relays come in a choice of colors and each one comes with stickers that can be applied for personalization.  There are only three multi-functional buttons to talk, adjust the volume, change channels, check missed messages, and even ask about today's weather or battery status.  The Relay is made of a soft touch rubber material making it lightweight, durable, and water-resistant.  The speaker and microphone are built-in under the rubbery material.  They are small enough to fit in your pockets and accessories can be purchased to clip to their backpack or a lanyard. The app on your phone is so easy to use and makes it easy to set up and activate your Relay as well as monitor and adjust settings.  



6 Ways We Have Used Our Relays


  1. At Home - My boys love going to different rooms/levels of the house and saying silly things or telling each other secrets.  Every morning they check the weather before going to school to know how to dress.  They also have downloaded some music to listen to on their own.  
  2. At the Grocery Store - My two older boys ran into the store to grab a few things we needed for dinner while I stayed in the car with my youngest.  They took the Relay in with them and were able to communicate with me about the items they were choosing. I had some peace of mind knowing they were safe.  
  3. School - My son takes the Relay to school and checks in with me during lunch or recess.  He also lets me know when he and his brother are on their way out so I can meet them at the door.
  4. Football Practice - There is a playground not far from the field.  While I am watching my youngest practice, I can still keep tabs on his brother at the playground. 
  5. Sleepovers - It was so nice to be able to check-in with my son and wish him sweet dreams while he was staying at a friend's house for the night.   
  6. Family Outings - Going to the pumpkin patch?  I was able to let my kids split up to look for the perfect pumpkins while they let us all know about the pumpkins they found without having to yell across the field.  


Relay is a great way to give a little independence without the dangers of screen time. They make kids feel more confident and help parents feel at ease. There are so many ways they can be used and enjoyed.  I plan on using our Relays when we go trick-or-treating this year. We can let the kids run ahead with their friends and keep in touch with them constantly along the way.  Relays would also be great for senior citizens that don't want to learn how to use smartphones but can still keep in touch to let you know they are just fine.  Save 15% and get one today to set your mind at ease. 


Relay by Republic provided product and compensation for the purpose of this review.  However, all opinions are my own.