Pinwheel phone: Five reasons why we love this safe cell phone for kids

You can put it off for a while, but eventually, your child or teenager is going to need and REALLY want a cell phone. But with all of the options out there, how do you know which one is the safest and best option for your child? Well, here’s five reasons why we chose a Pinwheel phone for our teenager. Check it out.

My 13-year-old holding his brand new Pinwheel phone.

As a mom of five kids, the reality of the electronic dangers that are available at the fingertips of these young kids is super scary. So, I really researched cell phone options for my oldest son before taking the plunge. I wanted to make sure he had the freedom of his own phone while maintaining the boundaries that any parent would be comfortable with. Here’s five reasons why I love Pinwheel:

What is a Pinwheel phone?

Pinwheel approaches cellphone ownership as a phased process that expands and changes as your child grows. Basically, you buy a Pinwheel phone (use coupon code Marie2022 for 10% discount) that has built-in software that allows the parent to manage the phone remotely from an app on their own phone. So, the parent is in control and but the child or teenager can take on more freedoms based on their age and maturity.

#5: It offers easy-to-use remote management

The entire process–from setup to maintenance–is super streamlined. Basically, I can see and control everything from my own phone using the Pinwheel Caregiver App. I’m not the best at computer stuff, but it was easy to navigate, even for me. Here’s some of the features that the app allows you to control:

Contact safelist
Custom daily routine reminders (I like to leave inspirational quotes on these throughout the day)
Remote text history access
No addictive games
No web browser
GPS location
Custom modes (so certain features turn off during different times of day)
No social media
App downloads and restrictions

*A screenshot of the Pinwheel caregiver portal.*

The feature that I like the most is that I can set up different “Modes” throughout the day. So, I can create a “School mode” during which time my son can only text or call his emergency contacts and can only use specific apps. During “All Mode” for when he gets home from school, I can enable his music apps and he can text anyone on his contacts list.

Pinwheel cell phone timeline — *My son reviewing his personalized timeline for the day on his Pinwheel*.

#4: It’s high-quality and affordable

A Pinwheel phone is a high-quality Smartphone. It has tons of storage and nice camera and does everything that my Smartphone can do. You also get to choose the cell phone carrier. We chose Mint mobile because it’s only $15 per month. So, here’s the breakdown of what we have spent on my son’s cell phone thus far:

$164.99 (Full year Pinwheel subscription)
$45 (6 months of Mint Mobile service)
$199 (Pinwheel Slim Smartphone, enter code Marie2022 for 10% off your first order)
$9.99 (Phone case)
$9.99 (Screen protector)
Grand total: $428.97 (plus taxes and fees)

This might seem like a lot but this covers the cost of the phone, accessories and coverage for an entire year! After the cost of the phone, that ends up being only $21 per month. That’s a pretty good deal if you ask me. Plus, if you enter the coupon code Marie2022, you will get 10% your first order of $100 or more! This is an exclusive coupon only offered on my website.

#3: It provides age-based levels of functionality

Depending on how old your child is, you can allow access to different apps and functionalities on their phone. Here’s a breakdown that is suggested but you can set it up however you want:

Parent leads decision (ages 8-11)

Parent-created safe list for texting and calling
No group or image texts
Add some safe apps like kids music
School + night schedules

Parent and child joint decisions (ages 11-14)

Child-managed contact list (parent approves)
Image texts
Parent can monitor calls and texts
Add more apps (safety rating provided for each app)
Use schedules to guide appropriate app usage times

Child-led decisions (ages 14+)

Disable safe list
Monitor texts less often
Consider readiness for red-level apps
Try “All Mode” setting to practice health screen time habits

Unboxing of new Pinwheel cell phone — *Unboxing my son’s new cell phone from Pinwheel.*

#2: It teaches healthy digital habits

I encourage my son to have between 2 – 3 hours of screen time on his phone per day. Throughout the day, his phone will remind him to get outside, do something creative or serve someone. Also, as soon as it’s 9 p.m., he can’t text or use any of his apps. It forces him to basically create good habits when he’s younger so it won’t be as hard when he gets older.

#1: It’s safe

Out of all the things that a Pinwheel phone has to offer, this is what I like the best. I have the peace of mind knowing that my son doesn’t have a web browser or the YouTube app to access inappropriate material. And although Pinwheel doesn’t protect kids and teenagers from everything, it provides the tools necessary to teach your child in a healthy way. I love it so much and I would recommend it to everyone who wants a safe cell phone for their kids.

I hope this blog post was helpful as you are looking for a safe cell phone for your child or teenager. Let me know what you thought in the comments below.