Why I Chose a "Dumb" Phone for My Daughter (And Why You Might Want To, Too)
Aug 28, 2026
The Hunt for Digital "Training Wheels"
Back in 2018, I was doing research to find a good phone option to purchase for our oldest daughter when we felt she was old enough. Even though she was much more mature than I was at that age, I had no interest in getting her a phone with internet access. My wife, Jenn, and I, wanted something that would allow her to make calls and send text messages.
We recognized the burdens and even dangers that are placed on a child when given a fully loaded piece of technology. So, we were looking for something basic that could essentially serve as a starter phone for our daughter. We have 6 children, and our long term goal for each of them is to be successful with technology and not have to hide from it. Because we feel that it’s a gradual process of learning and growth that needs to take place as they’re given technology with more capacity and access. It’s in the home, with the guidance of caring adults, that is the best training ground for our children to learn from mistakes. We all recognize, and it’s inevitable, that all sorts of digital seizures are going to occur along the way. But, they can be reduced and hopefully some of the heavier ones can be avoided altogether. So you can see with this approach of teaching our kids to handle technology, it was discouraging when after searching online as well as visiting a local Verizon store, I couldn’t find a single phone that would simply be able to function as a standard phone with no internet access.
The closest thing I could find was on a completely different continent! I happened to find an article describing a phone that had been released for college students in South Korea. It was intended for those who did not want to be distracted in their studies by all the social media and other apps available on a smart device. It was for those who simply wanted a basic phone for making calls, sending texts and taking pictures. It was exactly what I was looking for! So why couldn’t I find the same option for my daughter? The gap between what we wanted for communication and the U.S. market’s emphasis on full-feature smartphones was huge.
An Unexpected Answer to Prayer
Seeing this gap, Jenn and I actually talked a lot about the market potential for introducing a phone of this type. After all, there had to be other parents in our same boat. We entertained the idea of seeing what we could do to start a company that could introduce this basic “dumb phone” model here in the United States.
We obviously didn’t act on it. But luckily for us, a school teacher in Utah did! He experienced the same frustration in not being able to find a good phone option for his son, so he took the initiative to do something about it. And a short time later the Gabb phone was born; a digital device that had the essential features for a mobile phone to make calls and send text messages; along with other handy tools such as a camera and calculator. And just as I was hoping, it had no internet access. It was an answer to a prayer for both me and Jenn. And Kailey was thrilled to get a phone she could use to communicate with family and friends along with a camera for taking photos.
Fast forward to today, these tools have become more complex making active parenting even more crucial. Luckily, companies like Gabb & Pinwheel (we’ve tried both of these and I’m sure there are other great options out there) continue to provide solutions to help families have tools that can still be empowering in today’s world filled Digital Seizures.
Today’s Action Step
Today, take ten minutes to visit the websites of Gabb Wireless and Pinwheel. Unlike standard smartphones, these devices are built with the 'training wheels' mindset we’ve discussed—providing the essential connectivity you need for safety and school tasks, without the distraction-heavy apps designed to seize your child’s attention. Compare their feature sets against your family’s current needs. Your goal isn't just to restrict; it's to select a tool that serves your family’s vision rather than distracting from it.