I don’t know about you, but life seems to move a warp speed these days. When I was a kid, the lazy days of summer were just that. They felt like the summer would never end because the days were so long and full of fun – whatever fun we made. Our parents weren’t shuttling us between a million play dates and various camps and relatives and vacations. Life was simpler and slower. I think parents are looking back on those days and wondering if we weren’t on to something. Do we need to make life a little simpler and slower?
As we get kids back in school, some of the policies have changed in support of this theory. Katy ISD recently invoked a new policy.
The new program prohibits students from using their personal devices, such as cell phones, in the classroom beginning next year.
A spokesperson from the district told ABC13 this is part of the Class 1:1 program made possible by a 2023 bond.
Every student in third through 12th grade will receive a Chromebook from the district in August. Students will no longer be able to use their phone or tablet in class as a result. Many parents are outraged, I personally would love if we went back to using books, pencils and paper!
Make a pledge
The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. Let’s protect the elementary and middle school years from the distractions and the dangers of a smartphone. Banding together helps decrease the pressure to have a phone at an early age. Ten years old is the average age children get their first smartphone. You can change this!
More than 65,000 parents have said yes to waiting on the smartphone for their families. This is making a tremendous difference in communities across the country!
Smartphones are distracting and potentially dangerous for children yet are widespread in elementary and middle school because of unrealistic social pressure and expectations to have one.
These devices are quickly changing childhood for children. Playing outdoors, spending time with friends, reading books and hanging out with family is happening a lot less to make room for hours of snap chatting, instagramming, and catching up on YouTube.
Parents feel powerless in this uphill battle and need community support to help delay the ever-evolving presence of the smartphone in the classroom, social arena and family dinner table. Link arms with other parents to wait until at least the end of eighth grade for a smartphone!
By signing the online pledge, you promise not to give your child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade as long as at least 10 families total from your child’s grade and school pledge. Once 10 families have pledged to delay the smartphone, you will be notified that the pledge is active! You will receive a list of families who are delaying from your child’s grade and emails for the parents. It is helpful to be connected with other families waiting in your child’s grade. Check out our list of schools with active pledges here!
Surgeon General Warnings
When Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, visits college campuses—which he does a lot—he talks to young people about loneliness, technology use, and their hopes for the future. What he’s seeing and hearing worries him.
“The problem is that these platforms are not designed for balance,” Murthy states. “They are built for maximum engagement.”
And people like Murthy are using their perches to take on Big Tech. In May 2023, he issued a public health advisory warning around social media use and children.
“The most common question parents ask me is, ‘is social media safe for my kids?’ The answer is that we don’t have enough evidence to say it’s safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health,” he said at the time.
Parents Have a Choice
More and more parents are considering waiting or looking at alternatives to keep their kids safe and healthy.
Of course, you want to be able to communicate with your kids, especially in an emergency. And you probably want to know where they are at all times. Those two issues might seem hard to fix together but there is a solution that tackles both: a GPS-tracking device made just for kids. One such device is the multiple award-winning option from Japan called BoT Talk, a GPS with voice messaging functionality designed with kids in mind. BoT Talk allows you to communicate with your child without them having to use a screen.
BoT Talk is for parents who want the location of their children along with automatic notifications for safety’s sake and peace of mind. This screen-free GPS device with two-way voice messaging features advanced “monitoring AI” offering accurate and consistent location tracking and anomaly detection. This child-friendly GPS is lightweight, durable, and simple for kids to use. If you value simplicity and affordability, BoT Talk is designed to meet the needs of modern parents and families and could be the right choice for you.
Whatever direction you choose to go, obviously there is support out there for parents to make the best decision for their family. Morale of the story – do your research and make the choice that’s right for your child. Don’t worry about keeping up with the Jones.
