As a parent, why would you leave your young kids at home without a phone? What if there’s an emergency and they can’t get a hold of their parents? How do you get a hold of your kids if you need to talk to them and you’re gone but they’re home? You can get a cheap, free phone without data and add a line to your cell plan for between 15 and $20. Pretty simple. I agree that landline days are gone, but that’s no excuse not to have a family phone unless your family is all old enough that each person has their own cell phone.