Technology Archives - Kids Ain't Cheap

12 Cool Toys in The 80’s

July 4, 2024 | Leave a Comment

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The 1980s was a golden era for toys, with many iconic and innovative playthings that have left a lasting impact. Here, we take a nostalgic look back at 12 cool toys that defined the decade and brought joy to countless children.

1. Rubik’s Cube

The Rubik’s Cube, invented in 1974 but gaining immense popularity in the 80s, became a global craze. This 3D combination puzzle challenged kids and adults alike, offering endless hours of entertainment. Its colorful, twistable squares made it a staple in toy collections worldwide.

2. Transformers

Transformers, the shape-shifting robots, captivated children’s imaginations in the 80s. These action figures could transform from vehicles into robots, adding a unique twist to traditional toys. The accompanying animated TV series and comic books further fueled their popularity.

3. Cabbage Patch Kids

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Cabbage Patch Kids were the must-have dolls of the 80s, with their unique, hand-stitched appearance. Each doll came with its own birth certificate and adoption papers, making them feel special and unique. The demand for these dolls was so high that it led to frenzied holiday shopping seasons.

4. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe action figures were among the most popular toys for boys in the 80s. These muscular heroes and villains, along with their fantastical accessories, allowed for epic battles and adventures. The accompanying animated series helped cement their place in pop culture.

5. My Little Pony

My Little Pony brought a world of colorful, magical horses to life for young children. These toys featured brushable manes and tails, encouraging imaginative play and care. The franchise expanded with TV shows and movies, making it a beloved brand.

6. Teddy Ruxpin

Teddy Ruxpin was an animatronic storytelling bear that captivated kids with its moving mouth and eyes. This interactive toy played stories through a cassette tape inserted in its back, bringing tales to life. It was one of the first toys to combine technology and traditional play.

7. G.I. Joe

G.I. Joe action figures were another staple of 80s toy collections, offering endless military adventures. These highly poseable figures came with detailed accessories and vehicles. The brand’s animated series and comic books added depth to the stories kids could create.

8. Care Bears Are Still Cool Toys

Care Bears were colorful, plush bears each with a unique symbol on their belly, representing their personality and duty. They promoted messages of caring and sharing, making them a hit with younger children. The franchise included an animated TV series and movies, further endearing them to fans.

9. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

The NES revolutionized home gaming in the 80s, bringing iconic characters like Mario and Zelda into households. This console offered a vast library of games that provided hours of entertainment. Its success helped revive the video game industry after the crash of 1983.

10. Pound Puppies

Pound Puppies were plush dogs that came with their own adoption certificate, encouraging nurturing play. These toys were designed to look like lovable, adoptable pets, appealing to children’s desire to care for animals. The accompanying animated series helped boost their popularity.

11. Simon

Simon was an electronic memory game that challenged players to repeat increasingly complex sequences of lights and sounds. Its simple yet addictive gameplay made it a favorite among both kids and adults. The game’s colorful design and flashing lights added to its appeal.

12. Masters of the Universe Castle Grayskull

The Castle Grayskull playset was a central piece for any He-Man collection, offering a backdrop for epic battles. This massive, detailed fortress included traps, secret doors, and accessories, enhancing imaginative play. It became a symbol of the Masters of the Universe franchise.

These Cool Toys Are Timeless Treasures of the 80s

The 1980s were a magical time for toys, with many innovative and beloved playthings that left a lasting legacy. From action figures to interactive dolls and groundbreaking gaming consoles, these toys provided endless joy and creativity. Looking back, it’s easy to see why these 12 cool toys remain iconic symbols of a treasured decade.

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Latrice Perez

Latrice is a dedicated professional with a rich background in social work, complemented by an Associate Degree in the field. Her journey has been uniquely shaped by the rewarding experience of being a stay-at-home mom to her two children, aged 13 and 5. This role has not only been a testament to her commitment to family but has also provided her with invaluable life lessons and insights.
As a mother, Latrice has embraced the opportunity to educate her children on essential life skills, with a special focus on financial literacy, the nuances of life, and the importance of inner peace.

18 Home Appliances Millennials Are Replacing With Smarter Gadgets

May 16, 2024 | Leave a Comment

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In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, millennials are the driving force behind the rapid adoption of smart gadgets in homes. As this tech-savvy generation settles into adulthood, they’re swapping out traditional home appliances for innovative devices that offer convenience, connectivity, and a touch of cool. Here’s a look at 18 home appliances that are getting a smart makeover, appealing to the millennial preference for technology that simplifies and enhances everyday life.

1. From Coffee Makers to Smart Brewers

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Morning routines are sacred, but millennials are making them smarter with Wi-Fi-enabled coffee makers. These devices can be programmed from your bed via a smartphone app, so your brew is ready by the time you hit the kitchen. They can even remember your favorite recipes and respond to voice commands through integration with home assistants.

2. Traditional Thermostats to Learning Thermostats

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Heating and cooling no longer require a manual dial or a standard programmable thermostat. Smart thermostats learn your habits and adjust temperatures based on your schedule and preferences, optimizing home comfort and energy usage. Remote adjustments are standard, allowing temperature control from anywhere, anytime.

3. Basic Blenders to Smart Kitchen Systems

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Millennials are upgrading their blenders to all-in-one kitchen systems that not only blend but cook, chop, and weigh ingredients. These smart blenders connect to apps providing recipes and nutritional information, making them a valuable tool for health-conscious individuals looking to streamline their kitchen duties.

4. Simple Slow Cookers to Multi-Cookers

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The slow cooker has seen a major upgrade with the rise of multi-cookers like the Instant Pot. These devices combine the functionality of a slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, and more into one smart appliance. With app integration, you can start dinner from your phone and have a meal ready as soon as you get home.

5. Old-Fashioned Ovens to Smart Ovens

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Smart ovens offer functions ranging from pre-programmed recipes to internal cameras, allowing you to monitor your food via your smartphone. Some even come with precision baking technology, ensuring perfect results every time. These ovens often feature self-cleaning technologies, making them a favorite among tech enthusiasts who love to cook.

6. Manual Light Switches to Smart Lighting

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Replacing traditional light switches with smart lights allows millennials to control lighting remotely, set timers, and create mood-based scenarios. Integration with virtual assistants means you can adjust lighting with simple voice commands, which is perfect for setting the ambiance without lifting a finger.

7. Conventional Doorbells to Video Doorbells

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Security is key, and smart video doorbells are replacing old models for an added layer of safety. These devices stream live video to your smartphone, so you can see and speak with visitors from anywhere. Motion sensors alert you to activity, providing peace of mind whether you’re home or away.

8. Standard Washing Machines to Smart Washers

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Smart washers come with a host of features like remote start, soil sensing, and energy-efficient cycles that are easily managed from an app. Some even integrate with smart home systems to run when energy costs are lowest, aligning with millennial values of efficiency and sustainability.

9. Bulky Vacuum Cleaners to Robotic Vacuums

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The manual vacuum cleaner is taking a back seat to robotic vacuums, which clean autonomously and can be controlled via smartphone. Features like mapping technology and voice control make these devices a popular choice for those looking to minimize household chores and maximize leisure time.

10. Static Security Systems to Integrated Smart Home Systems

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Millennials are enhancing home security with systems that integrate cameras, sensors, and alarms, all controllable from a single app. These systems provide real-time alerts and the ability to check in on your home remotely, ensuring safety and control like never before.

11. Rudimentary Refrigerators to Smart Fridges

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Today’s smart refrigerators go beyond just keeping food cold. Equipped with touchscreen interfaces, they can display family calendars, play music, or even let you see inside without opening the door. Shopping lists, spoilage alerts, and recipe suggestions are just a few taps away.

12. Basic Bathroom Scales to Smart Scales

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Gone are the simple weight scales; smart scales now measure body composition, tracking everything from body fat percentage to water weight and muscle mass. Syncing this data to health apps helps millennials stay informed about their health and fitness goals.

13. Traditional Toasters to Smart Toasters

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Smart toasters allow for precise control over browning levels and are programmable for different types of bread, ensuring the perfect toast every time. With features like “lift and look” and automatic adjustments, breakfast just got a lot easier—and more fun.

14. Clunky Irons to Smart Steamers

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The iron is being replaced by smart steamers that quickly and efficiently remove wrinkles from clothing without the risk of burning. These devices often come with app integration for optimal settings and maintenance alerts, making laundry less of a chore.

15. Regular Air Purifiers to Smart Air Quality Monitors

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Smart air purifiers not only clean the air but also monitor air quality in real time, sending alerts and recommendations via apps. These devices can adjust their settings automatically to maintain optimal air quality, a boon for health-conscious millennials.

16. Analog Clocks to Smart Alarm Clocks

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Smart alarm clocks do more than just wake you up. They simulate sunrise to wake you gently, play your favorite music, or even offer guided meditation sessions. Integration with smart home systems means they can trigger morning routines like turning on lights or starting the coffee maker.

17. Traditional Speakers to Smart Speakers

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Smart speakers are replacing conventional ones, offering not only music playback but also smart home control, voice assistants, and more. They serve as a hub for managing connected devices, making them an indispensable part of modern living.

18. Manual Locks to Smart Locks

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Smart locks are revolutionizing home security with features like keyless entry, remote locking/unlocking, and temporary access codes for guests. They can be managed via smartphone apps, providing flexibility and peace of mind for millennials who prioritize security and convenience.

Out With the Old, In With the New?

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In conclusion, millennials are at the forefront of adopting smart home technology, transforming the way we live and interact with our homes. These 18 smart gadgets not only offer enhanced functionality but also align with the millennial values of efficiency, convenience, and sustainability. The future of home living is undoubtedly smarter, and millennials are leading the charge.

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Vanessa Bermudez

Vanessa Bermudez is a content writer with over eight years of experience crafting compelling content across a diverse range of niches. Throughout her career, she has tackled an array of subjects, from technology and finance to entertainment and lifestyle. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids. She’s also a proud fur mom to four gentle giant dogs.

What Is the Greenlight Card for Kids?

November 5, 2020 | Leave a Comment

If you have kids that are in middle school and high school, you likely feel the need (as I do) to teach them financial common sense. The hope is that eventually they will be able to move out on their own and be financially responsible. However, this lesson isn’t quickly learned, and it requires a lot of parental oversight to do it right. One tool that can help you is the Greenlight Card for kids.

What Is the Greenlight Card for Kids?

The Greenlight Card for kids is a debit card your children can use, but it comes with some amazing parental controls so you can help guide and influence your children in their money habits.

Please note that if your kids have smartphones, there is an app they can use which will show them their balance and chores and allow them to make requests. However, the Greenlight Card for Kids can be used if kids don’t have smartphones, also.

Features of the Greenlight Card for Kids

This card makes allowances high tech.

Instantly Deposit Money

You can reward your children for chores well done by depositing money in their Greenlight Card. Within the card app, children can set up different categories such as spend, save, and give. They can also set up long-term goal categories such as saving for a car.

Parental Benefits

You can help your children manage their money with this helpful card. You’ll be given real time spending alerts.

Teach your children about interest by giving them interest payments on their savings. You decide how much you want to give them.

In addition, you can enable the feature that allows them to withdraw money from the ATM and set how much they’re allowed to withdraw. Or, you can make withdrawing money off limits.

Features for Older Kids

Photo by Stephen Phillips – Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash

If your teens have jobs, they can have their paycheck automatically deposited to the Greenlight Card for Kids. The card can also be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Safety Features

Each Greenlight Card is FDIC insured. In addition, the card blocks your children from spending money for gambling or buying lottery tickets. They also won’t be able to spend money at places like massage parlors and horse or dog races, and they cannot get cashback from a purchase. You’ll get an alert if they try.

In addition, parents have the ability to turn the debit card on or off, should they need to.

How Much Does the Greenlight Card Cost?

The first month is free. After that, you pay $4.99 for debit cards for up to five kids. Should you need replacement cards, the first replacement cards are free.

Final Thoughts

The Greenlight Card for Kids offers a way to give your children financial independence while also providing parental oversight so you can help guide your children into financial growth. This tool is an excellent way to exchange money between parents and kids while having features that let your children grow in responsibility as they grow up.

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Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

How to Create a Digital Vision Board

October 22, 2020 | Leave a Comment

Have you set goals for yourself? Would you like to utilize a strategy to make those goals reality more quickly? If so, a vision board may be just what you need. Since most Americans are on their electronics most of the day, a digital vision board may be even more helpful.

How to Create a Digital Vision Board

Creating a digital vision board should only take an hour or two, but its impact should influence you for the rest of the year.

Determine Your Goals

The first step is to determine your goals. What do you want to accomplish over the next 12 months? What is working successfully in your life that you want to maintain? What inspires you?

Make a list of seven to ten goals and items in your life that you want to maintain.

Then, it’s time for the fun—actually choosing the images for your vision board.

Choose Your Digital Vision Board Images

The next step is to find images that best visualize what you want to achieve in your life. For instance, if you want to graduate from college, you may have an image of a woman in a cap and gown posing with her children. If you want to cook at home more, you may have a picture of a luscious homemade meal or a woman cooking.

Pick at least one picture for each of your goals, though you can pick more if you’d like.

In addition, you may want to add in a few inspiring quotes to keep you motivated throughout the year.

Where to Find Images

When you’re looking for images, the best place to start is Pinterest. Because there are so many pictures there, you can really find one that speaks to you and is unique to your own goals. You can also find motivational quotes here.

While you’ll likely find all that you need on Pinterest, if you don’t, you can go to a place like Unsplash and find images there.

Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

Remember, you can also use your own personal photos. If one goal is, “take a family vacation,” use a picture of the family on your last vacation as motivation.

How to Put the Digital Vision Board Together

Finally, to put the digital vision board together, go to Canva. (It’s free!). Once you’re in Canva, click on “Create a Design” and choose “Desktop Wallpaper.”

Next, upload all of the photos and quotes that you have chosen.

Click on “Elements” in the side bar and type in “grid.” Then choose the grid pattern you would like and starting arranging your pictures.

Final Thoughts

For years, athletes have used visualization to help them perform better. When you visualize something repeatedly, you’re more likely to achieve that goal.

By placing a digital vision board somewhere you will see it repeatedly throughout the day, say on your desktop, you’re subconsciously reinforcing the vision of your future and your likelihood of making that vision a reality.

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Tips to Improve Eye Fatigue from Online School

September 16, 2020 | Leave a Comment

Since March, our kids have been spending MUCH more time in front of the computer. Some kids are taking synchronous learning via Zoom, which means they are in front of the computer for a full school day, five days a week. For most people, this is way too much screen time. If your child is complaining of eye issues, try these tips to improve eye fatigue.

Tips to Improve Eye Fatigue from Online School

My 10-year old is homeschooled, but she’s still on the computer much more than she used to be. She has eight hours of therapy a week online, she’s taking some Outschool classes, and she’s had a bit more screen time than normal thanks to the pandemic. After a few months of this, she started complaining about her eyes hurting. Taking these steps, we’ve remedied some of the problem.

Buy Blue Light Filtering Glasses

Probably the best thing we did was buy blue light filtering glasses. Anytime our daughter has to use the computer, she uses her glasses. She finds such relief from eye fatigue using these, that she won’t even use the computer if she can’t find them.

Turn Down the Brightness on the Computer

The other thing she did was turn down the brightness on her computer almost all the way. This helps reduce the amount of light she gets and also reduces eye squinting.

Limit Consecutive Computer Activities

She’s very firm now that she doesn’t want one computer activity after the other. She repeatedly asks me to schedule her Zoom sessions with at least an hour or two separation so that her eyes have time to rest. By doing this, along with using the blue light filtering glasses and turning down the brightness of the computer, she’s been able to resolve most of her eye fatigue.

Take Eye Breaks

Of course, we have the luxury of scheduling breaks for her computer activities. Kids in synchronous online classes don’t get that choice. If that’s the case for your child, teach them the rule of 20-20-20. For every 20 minutes staring at the screen, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives your eyes the chance to refocus and helps prevent eye fatigue.

Limit Computer Usage

Finally, if you’re able, limit your child’s computer usage. On the days our daughter uses the computer a lot for therapies and school, we limit her free time on the computer. (She actually asked to do this.) Rather than 30 minutes of free computer time, she has 15, or she foregoes it altogether.

See an Eye Doctor

Tips to Improve Eye Fatigue from Online School

Photo by Liam Welch on Unsplash

If you use all of these tips to improve eye fatigue and your child still has issues, consider seeing an eye doctor to make sure the discomfort is not caused by something more serious.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to the pandemic, our lives have changed in ways we couldn’t have imagined a year ago. Problems creep up like eye fatigue that need remedies. If your children’s vision is suffering, hopefully these tips to improve eye fatigue from online school will help reduce their discomfort.

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Melissa Batai

Is Gabb Wireless a Good First Cell Phone?

August 6, 2020 | 1 Comment

Though we put it off as long as we felt we could, this summer, we decided to get our child a cell phone for his birthday. We had specific requirements for a cell phone. Namely, we didn’t want it to have internet access, yet we wanted it to look like the phones his friends use. We did a lot of research before we finally bought a phone from Gabb Wireless.

Features of a Gabb Wireless Cell Phone

While a Gabb Wireless cell phone doesn’t have all the features a typical cell phone has, it does have several important ones:

A 5” display,
2 MP front and 5 MP rear camera,
5 mm Earphone Port for headphones,
Battery that lasts up to three days,
2GB RAM/16GB ROM,
Coverage on a nationwide 4G LTE network, and
12 essential apps including phone, messaging, contacts, camera, video, gallery, calendar, calculator, clock, voice recorder, FM radio, and file manager.

In addition, Gabb Wireless doesn’t require a long-term contract. You pay month by month (billed on the 15^th of the month with payment on the 17^th), and you can cancel at any time.

You can go to the Gabb Wireless website to see if coverage is available in your area.

Is Gabb Wireless a Good First Cell Phone?

Honestly, the answer depends on what you’re looking for. However, there are several reasons why Gabb Wireless is a good first cell phone for our child.

Unlimited Text and Calling

We use Ting for our own cell phone service, so we were pretty sure we didn’t want to add him to our plan. (With Ting you pay as you use, so you pay for each individual call and text, which we didn’t want to do with a teen.)

Our teen isn’t particularly chatty, but he uses his new Gabb Wireless cell phone a lot. He is working on a political campaign, and part of his work is calling registered voters for about six to eight hours a week. That translates to A LOT of cell phone calls. We’re so glad he has unlimited calling!

He also likes to text his friends, so he uses that feature frequently.

No Internet Access

We specifically wanted a phone that didn’t have internet access and all of the trouble that could potentially go with the internet such as viewing inappropriate content, spending too much time playing games or using social media, or just fueling a cell phone addiction, which is so easy to do.

We wanted our teen to have a cell phone, but we didn’t want to give him too much device that he wouldn’t handle responsibly. In a few years, he can upgrade to a regular smart phone.

Appearance

If you’ve spent any time looking for cell phones that don’t have internet access, you know that many of them look like relics from 15 years ago. We really appreciated that the Gabb Wireless cell phone looks like any other regular smart phone. That was an important feature for our teen.

Low Cost

Our child is forgetful and not the most gentle with his possessions, so we wanted a phone that was reasonably priced. We bought the cell phone from Gabb Wireless for $69 on sale. (Sometimes they have sales where the price of the phone goes as low as $49!)

Gabb Wireless has their own network, so we pay approximately $24 a month for the service, but as I mentioned, there is unlimited text and calling. So, the total outlay between buying the phone and paying for service for a year is $357 ($69 for the phone and $288 for a year of coverage).

Basic Apps

Is Gabb Wireless a Good First Cell Phone for Kids?

Photo by Lance Anderson on Unsplash

The phone does have basic apps and features that our teen enjoys. He listens to music on his phone when he takes walks, and he uses the alarm feature frequently.

Downsides to the Gabb Wireless as a Good First Cell Phone

If you’re a parent who wants a simpler phone for your kids that keeps away many of the dangers of a traditional smart phone, Gabb Wireless may be a good first cell phone for you. However, there are definitely some drawbacks to this phone.

No Ability to Track

The majority of smartphones give you the ability to track your child. You can quickly check and see exactly where they are. This gives parents reassurance that children are where they’re supposed to be when they say they are. In the unlikely chance that your child gets kidnapped (or if he simply gets lost), the tracking feature can also help the police find him.

Unfortunately, Gabb Wireless does not have this ability. For some parents, that alone is a reason to not buy this phone. I do hope that this is something Gabb Wireless is able to remedy in the future.

Can’t Send or Receive Images

While a Gabb Wireless phone does have a camera, you can’t use the camera to send photos in your texts. Texts can only send text messages.

I completely understand why Gabb Wireless did this, but still, sometimes this feature can be annoying. Within the first week of getting his phone, my son was chatting with his aunt who sent over some pictures of her dogs, but my son did not receive the images. He was a bit embarrassed to tell her that his new phone doesn’t let him view images.

No Way to Monitor Texts

Since there is no Internet on this phone, there is no way to install monitoring software to monitor your child’s texts. This seems to be a flaw in an otherwise extremely safe phone. I would hope in future models that Gabb Wireless could address this issue.

Final Thoughts

For our family, Gabb Wireless is a good first cell phone. It looks like other smart phones with more capabilities, and it offers basic features that are necessary for younger children. Yet, it takes away one of the greatest sources of addiction as well as mischief—the Internet.

There are some drawbacks to this phone, but overall, Gabb Wireless is the best “safe” cell phone we found on the market.

Melissa Batai

Choosing Your Kids’ First Cell Phone

June 5, 2019 | Leave a Comment

Cellphones are everywhere and it is common to see kids with their own phones. Since pay phones are obsolete, it can be a great idea to get your child a cellphone so that they can reach you at any time. Especially once they are active in extracurricular activities and building a social life outside the home. How do you choose one? Do you just opt for a smartphone to add to your plan? Before you go the simplest route you can think of, here are some things to consider and options to think about before purchasing a new line.

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