Could you tell us a bit about your family and your children's names and age?
I have a son named Ben, who’s six, and a daughter named Lilly, who’s nine. They haven’t lived with me for the past six years since the divorce, and that’s why the KARRI device has been incredibly helpful for us to keep in touch.
Before KARRI, how did you usually keep in touch with your children when you weren’t together, and what challenges did you face?
Before KARRI, we mostly used an iPad for FaceTime calls a few times a week at set times, which could be tricky because it depended on their mother to set it up. Sometimes she’d forget or refuse, and my daughter had no way to reach me between calls, which made her feel more distant. Lilly in particular had no way of communicating with me privately outside of the weekend visits every other weekend. This was particularly difficult for her when her new step dad moved in.
How has KARRI changed the way you and your children communicate day-to-day?
KARRI has completely changed that. Now my daughter can reach out to me anytime during the day, which has been amazing. The first time she sent me a spontaneous message, it felt like a whole new gateway opened up between us. For the first time since she was 3 I had a near real time awareness of what she was doing. It’s definitely strengthened our bond because we’re in touch so much more often and in a much more natural, everyday way.
Do you feel KARRI has helped strengthen your bond, even when you’re not physically together?
Yes, absolutely. Before, we only had these set calls every few days (if even) and now we can have near real-time conversations back and forth. It’s given me a huge window into her day-to-day life, and I really get to know what she’s doing almost hour by hour, rather than just in fragments.
What is your favourite type of message to receive from your children on KARRI?
I love the spontaneous little messages my daughter sends, like sudden ideas, something funny she just experienced, or even just asking how her pet cockatiel is doing (lives at my house). Those off-the-cuff moments are the best because they’d be lost if she had to wait days to tell me. Just a simple good night message is something I’d never had before.
From your perspective, how easy has it been for your childreb to use the device on their own?
Once it’s set up, it’s very easy for them both to use. The colour coded chats are helpful, although at first they can be a little confusing for the adults setting them up as you can allocate colours to a device and a chat group but once you get your head around an individual KARRI being a “channel” as it where it makes sense. With the new version having a matrix screen I think it will be clearer.
What would you say to other separated parents who want to maintain regular, meaningful contact with their children?
I’d highly recommend it, especially for younger kids. There’s no screen-time issue, you stay in full control of who can contact them, and it’s far cheaper and simpler than a phone plan. It really encourages quick, spontaneous communication, helping you stay connected in a natural way.
In fact, I think I receive more messages because it’s purely voice-based rather than something that has to be typed. One important part for me was managing my daughter’s expectations if I couldn’t reply straight away. She understands that a voice message might not be returned immediately, whereas an unanswered phone call would be harder for her to accept.
As a parent who doesn’t live with them full-time, I’d feel awful if I couldn’t answer a live call. Voice messaging removes that pressure, making it a perfect solution. It’s one of the key reasons I think KARRI is such a brilliant product for smaller kids.
Want to see the full list of benefits for your kids using a KARRI device? Then visit here.
Are you unsure if your child is ready for a device? We have prepared a checklist that can help you understanding if it's time for your child to own one.