What Parents Can Do With Their Family's Used Devices

From smartphones and tablets to laptops and cameras, your home is probably full of different types of tech and it’s surprising how quickly you accumulate more. 

Yet, over time just as your kids get older, so do the devices you own with some becoming obsolete, unreliable or less desirable as newer models appear on the market. With children of school-age and up, you might share a family computer or stress over how often your teenager’s mobile gets replaced. 

Whether you’re trying to declutter your house or be an eco-conscious role model to your kids, that growing pile of unused tech can be a fantastic opportunity to teach your family about sustainability. 

For a positive impact on your community and your kid’s eco-friendly future, this article explores ways to donate, reuse and sell high-quality used tech responsibly.

Give Tech a Second Chance

The average US household is estimated to generate about 21 kg of electronic waste (e-waste) each year. Some US families have between 21 and 30 electronic devices and it’s likely that, per year, a good proportion are discarded without any thought. 

Rather than allowing old devices to gather dust in drawers or contribute to e-waste, there are great ways to give your unwanted devices away for others to use. The idea of extending a device's lifecycle is an important decision that you can use to explain what sustainability involves to youngsters. 

Whatever age your kids are, it’s always a good time to teach them about overconsumption, waste reduction, and the circular economy. Actively encourage them to look after devices better, value how much they’re worth, and eliminate that throw-away culture attitude. Explaining the importance of giving tech a second life will help you and every member of your family appreciate reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling are the better and more sustainable paths to choose.

Buy, Sell and Reuse Online Platforms

The marketplace for used electronics is healthy with 58% of consumers now preferring affordable, pre-owned devices over expensive new ones. Platforms specializing in refurbished technology ensure devices find new homes where they'll be appreciated and utilized.

Companies like MPB, with their sustainable approach to buying and selling used camera and photography gear,  are leading the way in the circular economy. Their platform focuses on quality pre-owned equipment, preventing countless models and lenses from becoming e-waste. In recent years, multiple online sites have followed suit, trading in used smartphones, laptops, iPads, gaming consoles and other devices. 

Donate to Charities and Educational Programs

One of the most impactful ways to repurpose family technology is through donations to educational institutions and charities. Colleges, community centers, libraries, and nonprofit organizations all operate on limited budgets and welcome working tech that can support their programs.

If you’re looking to donate unwanted tech, there are several well-known charities, including PC for People or human-i-t, that turn unwanted devices into refurbished ones to give to those in need. These nonprofits accept a wide range of used computers and also provide affordable internet and digital skills training. Similarly, Goodwill operates e-cycle programs in multiple locations, where donated tech is either safely recycled or resold to support their community initiatives, making it a widely accessible option.

Likewise, if your children are teenagers and off to college, many community colleges in the U.S. benefit from donated laptops for students who lack access to computers for coursework. Alternatively, your family might prefer to donate unwanted tech to programs supporting older people. Check if your area has centers that run tech literacy programs for seniors learning to navigate digital devices. 

Check Devices are Fit for Purpose

Educating your children and encouraging them to give away unwanted tech is a perfect way for them to support your local community. Prior to donating, it’s wise to do some research to see if the center, charity or organization has any specific requirements regarding the age of your device, functionality, and software. 

However, before you donate anything, you’ll want to protect your family’s privacy and wipe personal data from devices thoroughly. This simple checklist ensures your photos, passwords, and personal information won't end up in the wrong hands:

• Remove all personal data by backing up what you want to keep

• Sign out of every account (email, social media, apps, cloud storage) 

• Remove the device from your family's connected devices list

• Do a factory reset

Repurpose Tech Creatively as a Family

Old devices can become incredible tools for creative play and educational tools in your home. For instance, you can transform outdated tablets into dedicated art platforms complete with drawing apps, music creation software, or educational games. 

Consider converting old smartphones into specialized tools: a weather station, digital photo frame, or dedicated music player for a child's room. Laptops can become family gaming systems, digital recipe displays for the kitchen, or research platforms for school projects, while creating videos together is an incredible way to enjoy memorable events for years to come.

As it’s unlikely you’ll ever rehome every device, the next best plan is learning how to reuse, gift, and sell those old devices and teach little ones eco-friendly habits for the future. Whether you choose to donate, sell or creatively repurpose, you’ll still be making a positive impact on both your community and the planet, and instilling valuable eco-conscious lessons for the next generation to continue.