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If you’ve been looking for a practical way to delay the smartphone without shutting down your child’s growing independence, there’s one solution hiding in plain sight - the humble landline.
Yes, landlines still exist in Australia. Yes, they’re incredibly easy to set up. And yes, they might be one of the most underrated tools for modern families trying to hold the line on healthy tech boundaries.
At Wait Mate, we hear from parents every week who feel stuck between wanting their child to stay connected… and not wanting to open the door to addictive apps, cyberbullying, group chats, notifications, and the whole digital world that comes bundled with a smartphone.
A landline offers the best of both worlds: connection without the risks.
Here’s how simple it really is.
1. Landlines in Australia: Simpler Than You Think
Many parents assume landlines are “old tech,” complicated, or no longer available. In reality, they’re very much alive - just delivered differently.
In most Australian homes, a landline today works through:
✔ Your existing NBN connection
You don’t need a separate copper phone line anymore. The “phone port” on your modem acts as your landline socket. Plug in a handset… and you're done.
✔ A low-cost, no-fuss monthly add-on
Most major providers - Telstra, Optus, iiNet, TPG, Aussie Broadband - offer a home phone add-on that can be activated instantly. Think: $5–$10 a month for unlimited local and national calls.
✔ Plug-and-play setup
There’s no technician visit. No rewiring. No waiting. If your modem is already running for WiFi, you can have a landline up and working in under 5 minutes.
Most families simply:
- Order or activate a “home phone” add-on.
- Plug a cordless phone into the modem’s “Phone 1” port.
- Pick up the receiver - dial tone!
That’s it.
2. Why This Small Step Makes a Big Difference
A landline may feel nostalgic, but its benefits are extremely current - especially if you’re trying to delay smartphones.
✔ Gives kids independence without the internet
Kids can call friends, grandparents, sports clubs, or you - without being exposed to TikTok, Snapchat, group chat drama, or late-night scrolling.
✔ Reduces cyberbullying and online pressure
No apps. No messages that disappear. No algorithm learning their behaviour. Just a safe communication tool with none of the digital downsides.
✔ Makes contact easy when kids are home alone
If your child is walking home, staying after school, or starting short periods of unsupervised time, a landline guarantees they can reach you.
✔ Encourages healthy boundaries
A landline stays at home. Kids develop independence without being tethered to a device.
✔ Works beautifully alongside feature phones
For families who choose a “dumb phone” for true out-and-about emergencies, the landline becomes the hub for longer chats and social calls.
3. Bonus: It Teaches Kids Phone Etiquette
A landline naturally encourages skills that smartphones erode:
- polite greetings
- asking for their friend and speaking to parents
- leaving clear messages
- taking turns
- respecting shared family space
These are underrated life skills - and modern kids rarely learn them unless parents intentionally create opportunities.
4. Landline + Boundaries = A Strong Smartphone Delay Strategy
Parents often think delaying a smartphone requires constant battles. But when you provide better alternatives, everything gets easier.
A landline gives your child:
- a way to reach you
- a way to stay social
- a sense of growing independence
- while you protect them from addictive design, cyberbullying, exposure to adult content, and the opportunity cost of spending less time outdoors, less time reading, less time engaging in the real world.
This is what Wait Mate is all about: giving families practical tools to delay smartphones without cutting kids off from connection.
A landline does exactly that - and setting one up is easier than organising school lunchboxes.
If you’re wondering what the next step is, here’s the simple truth
You don’t need to book a service, compare complex plans, or overhaul your home setup. To get a landline working, parents simply:
- Call or log in to their NBN provider (Telstra, Optus, iiNet, TPG, Aussie Broadband, etc.).
- Ask to activate a “home phone” or “voice” add-on. Most providers activate it instantly or within the same day.
- Plug a cordless or corded phone into the “Phone 1” port on your NBN modem.
- Pick up the handset - you’ll hear a dial tone once the service is active.
That’s the entire process.There’s no technician visit, no waiting around, and no need for a separate copper line.
For many families, this tiny bit of setup unlocks a communication tool that supports independence without opening the door to addictive apps, social media pressure, late-night messaging, or the cyberbullying risks that come with smartphones.
Delaying a smartphone doesn’t have to feel like a battle. Sometimes the simplest technology - a home phone on the kitchen bench - is the most powerful tool you have.