In Greystones, Ireland, parents and schools came together around a simple idea: wait to give kids smartphones until they’re older. The results have been hard to ignore. Kids are making better grades, building stronger friendships, and enjoying closer relationships with their families. And parents here say there’s no reason the same approach couldn’t work back home.

For parents, saying “no” isn’t easy. Gavin Murphy, whose daughter is part of the program, explained why. “It is easier just to give the kids what they want and say…then you get peace and quiet. It’s much harder when you don’t give in like that.”

Many of us remember our parents sitting us in front of a television to get a break. But smartphones are far more powerful, and far more dangerous. Inappropriate content is only a couple of clicks away. That’s why Rachel Harper, principal of St. Patrick’s National School in Greystones, knew they had to get buy-in from every parent.

“It’s just that kind of ‘new norm’ is probably what we’ve noticed more,” Harper said. “The pressure’s been taken off and children are okay with it.”

At Temple Carrig Secondary School, chaplain Josh Barrington sees firsthand the difference in kids who’ve grown up without smartphones. “They know how it feels to spend 8 hours on the phone all day, but nobody’s helping them,” he said. “To me it’s like an addict. When you continue to give an addict the substance that they’re addicted to, what are they going to do? They’re gonna take it.”

One of the most effective pieces of the program was getting older students involved. Secondary students held workshops to warn younger kids about the pitfalls of social media.
“I warned him about scams and certain things that can popup on social media,” one student told me. Another added, “What’s the worst? Snapchat. TikTok or Snapchat. With TikTok you just scroll and scroll and the time goes by and it’s just so addicting.”

Teachers say kids listen more closely when the message comes from peers instead of adults. Surveys from these workshops show many students actually wish their friends didn’t have phones at all.

And the students themselves have advice for American kids. Eleven-year-old Jack suggested: “If they’re bringing their phones and they’re going to their friends’ houses, just don’t bring the phone because I think it would just be a distraction.”

For Harper, the message to parents and schools is simple: don’t be afraid to start. “If you’re starting out small, it will grow. But start somewhere. If we all work together it’s going to have huge benefits.”

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