Must see powerful presentation that sums it up.
UK alternatives to smartphones (We love the lightphone!)
Jonathan Haidts research collection and his must read book The Anxious Generation and Data from Jonathan Haidts book collated
https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/about
Why Parental Controls are not enough
and addition to parental control presentation
______________________________________________
The below is borrowed from Take the Pledge movement in Notting Hill:
Recommended books & documentaries (scroll halfway down page)
Managing Your Child's Phone Use & Digital Wellbeing
ReConnect - Informative US based blog with practical advice on smartphone management / safety from digital wellness expert Julia Storm. (🔥 highly recommended)
Safe On Social - Global leaders in e-safety eduction. Download free guides on; Omegle, Roblox, Age recommendations, AI chatGPT, online consent, cyber bullying & instagram (requires sign-up).
Common Sense Media - Helps families make choices based on films, apps and games which their children want to use. It offers the largest library of independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for films, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music. Their Parent Concerns section and Parent Blog help families understand and navigate the problems and possibilities facing children in the digital age.
Ask About Games - A site focusing on supporting families with gaming at home. It answers questions which parents and players may have about video games’ age ratings and provides advice on how to play games safely and responsibly. There are helpful tips to ensure families get the most out of the games they enjoy together.
The Social Dilemma website - Provides information for parents and carers to help educate themselves about the potential impacts of social media and technology use on the mental health of young people.
🔗 Further Reading
A miscellaneous list of interesting content:
We feel phone lockers in school are not enough. Education quality and kids wellbeing are still being impacted when kids are back on the smartphone outside the school gates.
What do we want the schools to do?
Come out with a strong recommendation to parents not to give children a smartphone or social media account untll at least 14-16 years old. Adopt an acceptable use of screens policy similar to this school so homework doesn't depend on having a smartphone. Wimbledon schools to come out with a statement similar to Southwark.
Please refer to guides below where you can find exemplary policies from other schools.