There’s nothing better than seeing a child gain independence and confidence. But it can be intimidating when they go off to play and don’t have a way to communicate back home. Walkie talkies designed specifically for kids are a great way for young ones to get a hold of nearby parents while playing or exploring in the backyard or cul de sac. The right kids’ walkie talkie is fun and functional. The Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies are the perfect size for little hands, so we picked up a pair and let our kids get to testing. Read on for our thoughts on the walkie talkies’ design, age range, and entertainment level.
Design: A mini walkie talkie
The Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies have all of the design features of a full-size walkie talkie, including a push-to-talk (or PTT) button, 22 channels across widely-used frequencies, adequate transmitter power and receiver sensitivity, and auto squelch. Since they measure 6.2 x 2.1 x 1.1 inches each, they easily fit in little hands. Other kids’ walkie talkies have more colorful designs, but we prefer the tech-forward look of the Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies which are available in red, black, and silver colors. They have all of the features of a typical adult walkie talkie and because they don’t look childish, we know that our kids will enjoy them all the way through their teens. You will need to provide three of your own AA batteries before your kids can fire them up, but this is standard among both electronic toys and walkie talkies.
Entertainment Value: Great for travel
The most fun that we had with the Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies was when we took them around our neighborhood. We had a large group of family visiting, so instead of trying to keep track of everyone, we used the walkie talkies to communicate back and forth. One group went down to the beach and was able to radio back “home” for more sand toys. There was a knowledgeable adult in each group who had read through the manual ahead of time, which helped the kids (ages two to eleven) using the walkie talkies keep from getting frustrated if they couldn’t transmit or receive. The most common issue was accidentally holding down the PTT button, which prevents the other user from transmitting.
Age Range: Best for independent kids
The Retevis walkie talkies have a lot of the functionality of a normal walkie talkie, with 22 channels, an LCD display, a scanning function, and the ability to transmit and receive. The units themselves are slightly smaller and easily fit into a child’s hand. Even our 2 year-old was able to hold them comfortably, although he was not able to push the buttons to use the walkie talkie. Retevis recommends the RT628 Walkie Talkies for ages three and up but we found that our 3-year-old had trouble understanding when to push the PTT button and when to let go. He also inadvertently changed the channel multiple times before we tried the channel lock function. All we had to do was hold down the menu button for 3 seconds to lock in our settings, which we highly recommend if using this walkie talkie with preschool children. With the channel lock function enabled, he was still able to use the PTT button to call us on the right channel. Our niece, who is five, was able to quickly master all of the functions of the walkie talkies, even changing the channel when prompted. If you want to use all of the functionality of the walkie talkies, it’s best to use them with kids who are five or older. They would be perfect for a group of scouts just starting to go camping. If you plan to use the Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies with younger children, we recommend taking some time to help them learn all of the buttons and practice in your home. Our son loved talking into the walkie talkie, even when we were in the same room. Having that visual feedback of seeing us talk but not hearing it come through his walkie talkie helped him understand when to hold down the PTT button and when to let it go.
Price: Good for a pair
The Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies would make an excellent interactive gift without spending a ton of money on a fancy electronic gadget. Our favorite aspect of these units was how advanced they look. For just under $30, you can purchase an electronic toy that your kids will use for years without feeling that they look too babyish. The entertainment value and ease of use for the Retevis RT628 Kids Walkie Talkies make them well worth the price. Just make sure that you keep track of the walkie talkies. Because they are smaller and most likely being used by younger children, it may be easy to misplace one or both of the units. Unfortunately, having one walkie talkie is only useful as a paperweight. If you need to replace a unit, you will need to purchase another full set.
Competition: A range of functions and ages
Retevis RT30 FRS Owl Kids Walkie Talkie: Retevis has a variety of kid-friendly walkie talkies. The RT30 FRS Owl Kids Walkie Talkie (view on Retevis) is a single-channel option that is perfect for even younger users. With almost no settings to adjust, these are ideal for children who may be distracted by the buttons of a more advanced walkie talkie. Their simplicity may mean that they outgrow the set faster but for $32, these walkie talkies will still provide a lot of fun for the cost. The Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies are a great mix of functionality and kid-friendly features. If you have a child who is ready for a little bit more independence as they explore, you will be happy with this purchase.
