Seattle Parents Design Screen-Free Tin Can Phone for Children's Safe Communication
Three fathers from Seattle—Chet Kittleson, Max Blumen, and Graeme Davies—developed Tin Can, a traditional landline phone tailored for kids. Dissatisfied with current alternatives, they crafted Tin Can to facilitate only voice calls and eliminate screens, minimizing distractions. Its design and name draw inspiration from classic tin can telephones, and it comes in colors such as pink, white, yellow, or mint green. The device operates on wall power and does not use batteries, encouraging meaningful conversations. Parents can control it through a companion app, allowing them to set approved contacts and quiet hours. Originally a local project, it has grown into a national initiative, joining the ranks of other child-friendly devices like the revamped Karri phone, which offers voice notes and location tracking.
Key facts
- Tin Can is a landline-style phone designed for children by parents Chet Kittleson, Max Blumen, and Graeme Davies.
- The device has no screen and can only make calls, preventing access to texting, apps, or the internet.
- It is named after and shaped like a tin-can-and-string childhood toy, coming in pink, white, yellow, or mint green.
- The phone requires a wall plug, has no batteries, and aims to keep users anchored and focused during conversations.
- Parents control Tin Can through a companion app that sets approved contacts and quiet hours via built-in WiFi.
- The designers are Seattle-based fathers who created it due to dissatisfaction with existing children's phone options.
- The project started locally and has expanded to a national community of children using it for communication.
- It joins other kid-focused devices like the Karri phone, updated in late 2025 by Karri and Pentagram.
Entities
Artists
- Chet Kittleson
- Max Blumen
- Graeme Davies
Institutions
- Dezeen
- Karri
- Pentagram
Locations
- Seattle
- United States