By Dan Sokell

A local Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) community has formed, comprised of 300+ parents of children at St Lawrence and Downlands schools. In this nonjudgemental space, parents and carers can discuss the issues, share information and form strategies to delay and manage the use of smartphones by children.
To reduce peer pressure and reach a point where children using smartphones is no longer considered the ‘norm’, we need more parents to consider delaying the use of smartphones. SFC WhatsApp communities have been set up for both St Lawrence and Downlands schools and we have already engaged with the head teachers of both. Please use the QR codes to request access if you are interested in joining.

A representative of the group said: “The evidence is becoming clear – smartphones are damaging to our children’s wellbeing. Laws help to protect our children from things like alcohol and tobacco but regulation on smartphones is well behind the curve. SFC helps parents to understand the risks and take back control.” Anna, a local parent added: “We’re already in contact with headteachers at St Lawrence and Downlands, who have both been supportive. We are working with both schools to build and implement strategies that will help to denormalise the use of smartphones both in and out of school. We’re also liaising with the SFC parent groups of other schools which feed into Downlands, like Ditchling, Albourne and Windmills.”

When children first started getting smartphones a decade ago, there was no research about their impact. Now there is, and it’s overwhelming. Exposing children to things their brains aren’t yet developed enough to deal with can cause a host of problems including anxiety and cyberbullying, according to the latest research.