Grandparents abroad
A hello should not need matching calendars, time zones and a parent’s phone.
Looking for 10–20 beta families
Button Box
Let them say hello without borrowing your phone.
My kids press one giant button to send a WhatsApp voice note to family. Grandparents reply normally. No screen, no scheduled call and no new app.
See it working
The real prototype, currently living in our kids’ room.
One need, many families
Someone important lives somewhere else.
Button Box began with far-away grandparents, but the same little voice notes can keep many kinds of families close.
A parent in another home
Children can reach Mum or Dad in their own time, without another adult in the middle.
Cousins growing up apart
The family group can hold the funny, ordinary moments that help relationships grow.
The tiny messages
Sometimes they just want to say one little thing.
The ordinary things are often what make family feel close. Button Box gives those small, spontaneous moments somewhere to go.
“I drew something.”
“Goodnight, Grandma.”
“I miss you.”
“Listen to this!”
Child-led by design
Their message. Their moment.
No asking Mum or Dad. No unlocking a phone. No waiting until everyone is free. They press, talk and let go.
A direct line to someone they love—ready whenever they have something to say.
How it works
One button.
A whole family.
It connects to the WhatsApp groups our family already uses, while the kids only see a friendly box in their room.
Hold to talk
The kids hold the giant button, say what they want, and let go. Their voice note lands in the family’s WhatsApp.
Family replies normally
Grandparents reply with a WhatsApp voice note. They don’t need to install or learn anything new.
The box rings
The light turns on and the box rings. A quick press plays the messages. If the kids are asleep, they wait for morning.
Made for small hands
Simple enough for young children who can press a button and talk.
They do not need to read, type or navigate anything. The technology stays inside the box so the experience can stay wonderfully simple.
Built for our family
A tiny direct line to the people they love.
“The kids don’t need another tiny internet rectangle. Their grandparents don’t need another app.”
I built the first one so my kids could talk directly to family who live 4,000 miles away. Right now it is equal parts Raspberry Pi, big blue button, shoebox and optimism.
It works. The kids hear the ringtone and run to their room. Sometimes the button is so big they just use their feet—which is an excellent product decision.
Two ways to bring it home
Ready to use—or ready to build together.
Most families asked for a physical Button Box. Choose the version that sounds most like your family; neither choice commits you to buy.
Ready to use
A finished Button Box
For families who want a guided setup and then want to start exchanging voice notes.
Choose finished box ↑
Build it together
A family kit
Parts, enclosure and a clear guide for turning the Button Box into a project you make with your kids.
Choose the kit ↑
Prefer to make everything yourself? Join for the blueprint, repo and build notes ↑
Open source
Built to be shared.
We’re making Button Box open source to help make communication accessible to everyone. Families, makers and communities can build it, adapt it to their needs and help make it better for the next family.
Good questions
FAQ
This is still an early family-built prototype. Here is what works today—and what is still being figured out.
Does my child need a phone?
No. Children use only the physical box: hold the button, talk and let go.
Does Grandma need her own Button Box?
No. Family receives and replies to the voice notes in the WhatsApp they already use.
Is it a live call?
No. It exchanges voice notes, so nobody has to be available at the same time. When a reply arrives, the box lights up and rings; a press plays the waiting messages.
Can one box reach more than one person or group?
That is the plan. Instead of choosing from a screen or menu, each person or family group will have a small physical card or tile with their photo on it. The box recognizes it when a child places it on top and says the person’s name out loud. Place Grandma’s token, hear “Grandma,” then hold the big button, talk and let go—the voice note goes to Grandma’s WhatsApp. Swap in Dad’s or the cousins’ token for the next message. These are NFC tokens, using the same kind of tap technology found in contactless cards. The current prototype sends to one fixed family group while I build this recipient selector.
Who is allowed to send messages to the box?
Only the family contacts approved during setup. Messages from unknown senders are not added to the children’s queue.
Is the microphone always listening?
No. Recording starts when the child holds the button and stops when they let go.
What happens at bedtime?
Messages can wait quietly in the queue. The box can hold the ring until morning instead of waking the room.
How difficult is setup?
The exact beta setup is still being designed. The finished version is intended to be guided; the kit will be the more hands-on route.
Which countries can join the beta?
I want to ship internationally to as many families as possible. Availability will depend on each country’s regulations, certification requirements, carriers and import rules. Join from anywhere and share your country; I’ll confirm that I can ship to you before asking you to commit or pay.
What is included in the finished box and kit?
The exact contents are still being worked out. The aim is a ready-to-set-up finished box, or a kit with the parts, enclosure and a clear family build guide.
What will it cost?
Pricing is not set yet. Joining the list is free and does not commit you to buy anything. You will see the details before making any decision.
The first small batch
I’m looking for 10–20 beta families.
This is not a polished product yet. I’m looking for families who like the idea, are happy to try something early, and will tell me what is confusing, delightful, or broken.
Timing, pricing, setup and international shipping are not decided yet. Joining does not commit you to buy anything; I’ll share those details before asking you to decide.
- The simplest family setup
- Quiet hours and message playback
- Reaching more than one person
- What belongs in the kit and finished box
I’ll be in touch personally as we make progress.
Initial beta
10–20
families for the very first version
Interested?
Help shape the first Button Box.
Tell me whether you want a kit, a finished box, or just the blueprint and build notes. I’ll keep you close to the build.
Join the list ↑
Builder + dad
About us
Hi, I’m Dan.
I’m a dad of two, and I’m building Button Box in Lisbon so young kids can stay close to the people they love—without borrowing a phone or staring at another screen.
For the past 20 years, I’ve built products around social networks and the ways people connect online. I’ve also always loved tinkering—taking things apart, wiring them back together and seeing if a rough idea can become something real. Button Box began as something I wanted for our own family, and I’m now turning it into something other families can use too.
Get in touch
Want to ask me something?
Send me a note about the project, the beta, or anything else. It comes straight to me.