Does your child need a smartphone?

NO!

Children are spending increasing amounts of time online through the use of smartphones. This can have lots of negative effects on them:

Impact on Learning and Focus  

• Distraction:Phones distract from learning, with studies showing a link between digital device use in class and lower academic performance. 
• Reduced Cognitive Capacity:Even the mere presence of a smartphone can occupy cognitive resources, hindering performance on other tasks. 
• Difficulty Refocusing:It can take students up to 20 minutes to re-engage with learning after engaging in non-academic phone-related activities. 

Online Harms and Safety Risks  

• Cyberbullying:Children are vulnerable to being targeted in cyberbullying, which can have serious psychological effects. 
• Inappropriate Content:Mobile phones can expose children to violent, sexual, and pornographic material. 
• Misinformation and Extremism:Children can be exposed to inaccurate information and extremist views online. 
• Over-sharing Personal Information:Children may share too much personal information online, making them vulnerable. 

Mental and Physical Health  

• Screen Addiction:Excessive use of apps and social media can lead to addiction, contributing to anxiety and depression. 
• Sleep Disturbances:Mobile phone use, especially before bed, can disrupt sleep patterns, affecting mental well-being. 
• Lowered Self-Esteem:Social media use can lead to negative self-comparisons and decreased self-esteem due to exposure to idealized lives. 
• Reduced Physical Activity:Increased screen time can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, contributing to physical and mental health issues. 

These videos offer some helpful advice if your child is online:

P1-P4
https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/parents/jessie-and-friends-videos/

P5-P7
https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/parents/playlikeshare/ 

This image below is not social interaction- imagine the skills our children are losing!

Children of primary school  age do not need smartphones! If they must have a phone we would suggest a basic phone for just making phone calls and texts.