Empowering Parents to Support Phone-Free Schools
Practical steps to inspire change, whether a policy is in place or not.
Throughout the past month, we have been talking a lot about the importance of Phone-Free Schools and how administrators can practically implement this policy change using our new Phone-Free Schools Guide. We have been blown away by the messages we’ve received in response, especially from parents looking to support or even spearhead these efforts in their school community.
After nearly a decade of helping families prevent and reverse screen addiction and helping schools with new policies, we know first-hand that powerful, community-wide change is possible when parents, teachers, and administrators band together.
If you are a parent looking to inspire change in your community, this post is for you.
5 Ways You Can Support a Phone-Free School Culture
Creating a phone-free school culture is a collaborative effort that requires positivity, community support, and proactive steps from everyone: parents, students, and educators. Whether your school is already phone-free or considering the change, here’s how all parents can make a difference:
Share our Phone-Free Schools Guide.
If your school hasn’t yet implemented a phone-free policy, encourage your administrators to go to the Schools tab on our site and download and read our Phone-Free Schools Guide. This guide is one of our latest free resources, and while it is perfect for teachers and administrators, it is also great for parents. It covers the benefits of choosing phone-free school days and how to write and enforce an effective policy. It even comes with a slide deck for administrators to use at school assemblies and previews our new awareness posters for school hallways to get students on board with the changes being made. You can read more about all our guide has to offer in our Substack post here.
If you do reach out to your administrators, remember to be positive and offer to help. School administrators have a lot on their plates, so approach any suggestion with a helpful attitude.
Build a community by starting a parent book club.
Don't get discouraged if your school has not yet officially gone phone-free. The truth is that most schools have wanted to remove smartphones from classrooms for years, but they struggle with pushback from parents due to a lack of education on the topic of kids and screens.
Be a part of the solution by gathering a group of like-minded parents to meet and discuss our Kids’ Brains & Screens Student Edition. This textbook breaks down the latest neuroscience and explains the effects of screens on the developing brain. When you’ve finished, write a positive letter to your school expressing your support for the school curriculum and the policy changes. Remember, education and a supportive community are always needed for change.
If your school recently became phone-free, offering parent book clubs is a great idea to help educate parents who are experiencing screen problems with their children. This education will also prevent pushback during the initial roll-out of the policy.
If you are unsure how to lead a book club or want support, please contact us or reach out to a ScreenStrong Ambassador in your area.
Encourage your child to leave their phone at home or in their car during school.
You don’t have to wait for a school policy to reduce phone distractions. Just because your school isn’t phone-free doesn’t mean your child can’t be! Your child can leave their phone at home (or in their car if they drive to school) so they can get more out of their school day. Share with them the scientific reasoning behind this request. Education on screen time matters just as much with students as it does with parents. Our Kids’ Brains & Screens textbook is a great way to share this information with them, as is this episode of the ScreenStrong Families podcast.
For schools with phone-free policies, encourage your child to go one step further by leaving their phone at home entirely. This minimizes temptation and lightens the load on teachers who enforce the rules. And don’t forget, now may be the perfect time to upgrade to a basic (talk/text only) phone.
Become a Phone-Free Champion at your school.
Support your school by fostering a positive environment around a phone-free culture.
It is important to be a part of the solution at your school and make the job of already overworked school administrators easier. If your school is newly phone-free, you can help establish a team of Phone-Free Champions who help organize class-wide screen-free events for the students in your school. These events will highlight the social, emotional, and community benefits of this new policy. By having more in-person fun together, students will realize this policy is not a punishment but a chance to connect with their peers more meaningfully.
If your school is not phone-free, you can still look into organizing a group of Phone-Free Champions to foster more face-to-face student connections, or you can partner with the PTO to organize screen-free events. You can also ask for permission to hang the posters available in our Phone-Free Guide and here in your school’s hallway. Even if your school is not yet phone-free, these posters educate kids about the harmful effects of screens to encourage better habits and educate them.
For more information on organizing a team of Phone-Free Champions in your school, download our free guide at the bottom of this page.
Eliminate toxic tech at home.
“Wait,” you might be thinking, “I thought this was about schools?” Yes, it is, but a phone-free school culture starts at home.
As much as we would like to see every school go phone-free, the truth is that we, as parents, can give our children the benefits of a distraction-free childhood at home by eliminating unnecessary toxic technology from our daily lives.
We know the thought of taking away your child’s smartphone or video games can feel daunting, but we feel confident that if you try it for 30 days, you won’t go back. Our 7-Day Challenge can get you started, and it’s available for free when you join our Connect group (which is also free!). Once on Connect, you can chat with other like-minded families and get the support you need to stay strong. Upgrade to Connect Plus and get the 30-Day Detox and so much more.
Together, we can create lasting change.
Support your school’s efforts to build a focused, thriving learning environment for your kids. Whether through sharing resources, building community, or making changes at home, your involvement makes a difference. Let’s guide our students toward healthier habits, stronger relationships, and more meaningful school days.
You’ll never regret hitting the pause button on your teens’ smartphone—it’s time to reclaim your kids and reconnect your family!
ScreenStrong Resources
Melanie Hempe, BSN, is the founder of ScreenStrong, a nonprofit organization, and the author of the Kid’s Brains and Screens Series for students and parents. She is dedicated to preventing and reversing childhood screen addictions by providing scientific evidence and community for families around the globe. Her educational material is filled with everything she wished she had known before her oldest child suffered from a screen addiction. ScreenStrong has created what every family needs—education and the community—to skip toxic screens through adolescence so teens can reach their full potential.
Visit here for family resource materials and here for our Phone-Free Schools Guide, and visit ScreenStrong.org to learn more and join the community that is saving childhood.
Schools should indeed be phone-free. For EVERYONE, including teachers, staff, and administrators as well. After all, we wouldn't want them to be flaming hypocrites, right?