Ben by Daniel Shelton for April 05, 2022

I remember roaming as far as the library at that age, but then I was a free range child.

At ten, school was a mile away and we walked it. (only uphill coming home).

Note, in the winter it was down-hill both ways. Down hill to school, then slipping back down multiple times trying to come home.

In a discussion we realized that kids pre cell phone had more access to their friends. They could use the land line to call them and make plans for the day etc. Now without a cell phone they need to ask their parents to call the friends parents in order to make contact.

Walkie-talkies are a good first step. That first pair helped lead me to Ham radio.

I’m surprised a modern kid like him would even know about tin can phones.

I completely understand the kid’s request. When I was his age, a friend and I made tin can phones but we could never get enough string to far enough away from each other. We could always just hear each other through the air.

I too remember Tin Can phones. Aw what fun! We felt so grown up using them. Nowadays like sallyseckman said, I doubt kids today would even know what tin can phones are, or for some a tin can in general.

He can’t increase his range of operation without a leash.

At that age, the most dangerous travelling I did was the walk to and from school and out on the playground. (mainly bullies) Other risks: We were put out completely unsupervised in weather you could be charged for putting a dog out in, today. I recall coming in from a lunch break at -20º F (about -29º C) with a frost bite mark on my wrist where my watch was. That lasted for days.

small town… 1,000 people. all the moms told us kids to be home when the 6pm whistle blew or when the street lights came on. we also have (still do) a 7am whistle and a noon whistle.

Get the kid a $20 set of “walkie talkies”.( Like the ones I spent all one summer trying to get to work)