The Wait Until 8th Pledge encourages parents to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade, letting kids be kids a little longer. Smartphones are distracting and potentially dangerous for children, yet they are widely spread through elementary and middle schools. These devices have changed childhood. Activities like playing outside, spending time with friends, reading books, and hanging out with family get pushed to the side to make room for Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube.
Top 5 Reasons to Delay Giving Your Child a Smartphone
Smartphones are changing childhood. Kids are spending anywhere from 3-7 hours daily in front of screens, pushing many childhood essentials to the side.
Smartphones are addictive. Research shows dependence on your smartphone may produce some of the same addictive brain responses similar to alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions.
Smartphones are an academic distraction. Elementary and middle school years are important to establish the foundation of your child’s academic success. Children learn how to manage time, projects, and homework. A smartphone will be a constant distraction and will take away from a child’s academic success.
Smartphones put your child at risk for cyberbullying. Bullying is no longer limited to the playground or school halls. Bullies can now reach children through social media and texts making retreat impossible for the victim. Almost 1 in every 4 children has experienced cyberbullying and only 1 in 10 victims will tell a parent or trusted adult.
Smartphones expose children to sexual content. Smartphones have enabled children to view pornography anywhere. Youth are intentionally targeted to lure them to dangerous images and videos. Not only are children viewing sexual content, but they are also creating it as well. More and more children are sending sexual texts and/or explicit images (“sexting”). Some apps also open the doors to dangerous sexual predators seeking to track, groom, and harm children.
The Wait Until 8th Pledge is encouraging parents to delay smartphones, if you need to get in touch before 8th grade, there are many basic phones that will just text and call. These options help children to avoid the distractions and dangers of the smartphone.
Childhood is too short to waste on a smartphone. Take the Pledge today!
For more information about the Wait Until 8th Pledge visit: https://www.waituntil8th.org/.
