I banned smartphones for my 4 kids. They became obsessed with Walkmans instead.

Ali Hynek bought her kids screen-free old-school devices. Courtesy of Ali Hynek Ali Hynek is a 45-year-old mom of four in Utah whose children had been asking for smartphones. Instead of smartphones, Ali bought her kids a boom box, a recorder, a rotary-style phone, and a Walkman. Her 10-year-old son, Ethan, is particularly keen on the Walkman and spends hours listening to music. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ali Hynek. It has been edited for length and clarity. For a ...