Join our Tin Can Phone Community

August 13, 2026

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At MacLaren, we believe in the power of real conversation and deep connection. We recently became aware of an organization attempting to help children build friendships and independence without the distraction of modern screens, and we wanted to pass this information along to you.

From Tin Can:

Tin Can phones act as a bridge to connection before kids are ready for cell phones. They operate over Wi-Fi but have no screens, no apps, no texting, and no algorithms. It's a secure landline with total parental control. It gives your children a safe, voice-to-voice way to stay in touch, encouraging genuine conversation and confidence.

Families can choose the plan that best fits their home, and both options fully support 911 calling for safety:

The Can2Can Plan (Free): Designed for calling between Tin Can phones. There is no subscription required, making it perfect for neighborhood and school friends to chat.
The Party Line Plan ($9.99/month): Allows your child to call standard, non-Tin Can numbers (like grandparents or parents/guardians).

All contacts and active operating times are easily managed by you through a secure parent app.

By sharing this with our school community, we hope to make it easier for our students to connect with each other after hours and to support parents who are hoping to minimize screen time and online access.

Tin Can has provided us with a special group discount: If at least 20 MacLaren families purchase a device by November 30, the price drops from $100 to $80 per phone. MacLaren does not receive any funds from this transaction and has no relationship with Tin Can other than coordinating with them to provide this discount to interested families. Please contact Tin Can directly for all customer care and support needs.

You can read or listen to a news article about how these tools work and explore the details by clicking the button below:

More Information and Sign Up!

Sincerely,

Nicolás Alvarado

Head of Lower School

Benjamin LaBadie

Head of Upper School

Thomas MacLaren School | MacLarenSchool.org