I feel blessed to have you, this Screenagers community, to learn together how best to help our kids thrive in our complicated tech world.
One thing that is key in our work together is ensuring we include the voices of young people — something that, of course, is present in the Screenagers film series.
Their input is crucial, and that is why I have 2 important questions for us to ask them as they transition back to school.
As you know, I am particularly focused on improving our kids' mental health. One major lever is decreasing personal devices in schools.
The #1 question
“If you were the chief decision maker of the school you will be at this year, what cellphone policy would you put in place for classroom time?”
The #2 question
“If you were the chief decision maker of the school you will be at this year, what cellphone policy would you put in place for break and lunchtime?”
Why these questions?
Having your child explain their views will focus their attention on the topics as they begin their school journey.
It is wonderful that science shows us that these policies are an effective lever for improving the mental health of our children.
I spoke in the news this week about a school district in Arizona making great changes.
Meanwhile, UNESCO is talking about its concerns about phones.
This is such an important area for discussion. In 2017, our Screenagers team launched the Away For The Day campaign, and fortunately, there is a lot of movement happening around the country regarding schools and their cellphone policies. For instance, some schools have policies that require phones to be put in shoe pockets during class time in high schools or away in lockers in middle schools.
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
I feel blessed to have you, this Screenagers community, to learn together how best to help our kids thrive in our complicated tech world.
One thing that is key in our work together is ensuring we include the voices of young people — something that, of course, is present in the Screenagers film series.
Their input is crucial, and that is why I have 2 important questions for us to ask them as they transition back to school.
As you know, I am particularly focused on improving our kids' mental health. One major lever is decreasing personal devices in schools.
Should Students Use Phones During School Lockdowns? This emotional and critical question is explored in depth, featuring insights from a superintendent, police officer, principal, and safety expert. Discover why they advocate for phone bans, real-world consequences of phone use during emergencies, and survey results that might surprise you.
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We launched the Away For The Day movement in 2017 because we could see back then the detrimental impact of smartphone use in schools, not just on academics but also on the emotional wellbeing and social development of youth. The fact is research shows that Away For The Day is the way to go. This week we introduce our significantly updated Away For The Day campaign website to help you support cellphone bans at your schools or your kids’ schools.
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Last week, USA Today ran an outstanding article titled: “Schools don’t want kids on cellphones. Is banning them the solution?” Our team launched Away For The Day in December 2017 to provide science and tools to help more schools create policies in which phones are not with students during the school day, and we are pleased the USA Today article mentions the campaign. The moment of change is truly here. Unlike anything we have seen in the past, the rate at which schools and full districts are adopting away-for-the-day policies is outstanding! Read today’s blog for some highlights from the USA Today article.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
