This is the time of the year when youngsters remind parents that all of their friends have phones, the latest model is out, and everyone is getting one! Some parents ask if there is an alternative. Yes.

If you want to be able to reach them when they are off playing around the neighborhood, or stay in contact when you all go to holiday festivities, the amusement parks, or about anywhere else, consider the wonderful radios that can be purchased for a fraction of the price of phones.

The FCC set aside frequencies for family radio service (FRS) for free, and for a FCC registration fee, members of the same household can use the more powerful GMRS radios.

Someone loses, or breaks, a radio? Easy to replace. No monthly fees.

We keep several radios right next to the front door. Someone leaves to go play? Grab a radio. The whole family headed for an indoor or outdoor adventure, grab all the radios. The range isn’t unlimited, but we can reach each other easily within a two-mile radius, and usually, since our family travels, and howls, in packs, it is more than enough. Need more range? That’s an option too.

If you want more details, please ask.