Two Catholic Arkansas moms are leading a call for parents to “let kids be kids a little longer” by withholding smartphones from them until they’re about ready for high school. Called “Wait Until 8th,” this program arose in Kansas City and is starting to spread as many parents are becoming more cautious about allowing kids in their tween and early teen years too much screen time.
Arkansas Catholic reports that the newest chapter of “Wait Until 8th” at Our Lady of the Holy Souls School in Little Rock comes largely thanks to Tricia Wilson and Grace Squires. Wilson and Squires, both mothers of three, explained that it all started with a conversation in which they recalled how simple things were when they were kids – spending all day out in the neighborhood playing with other kids in person with no electronic devices in sight.
Now, their growing movement has drawn in 250 parents who have pledged not to give their kids smartphones until 8th grade, with several Catholic schools in Arkansas taking part, by banning smartphones outright. Squires noted that it’s not just about seeing groups of kids engaging with each other rather than their phones, but it also protects kids from dealing with online bullying and the pressures of social media:
“I want better for my children, especially my daughter,” Squires said. “I know as a young girl how much pressure there is to fit in, how you can get wrapped up in the bullying or miscommunication that can go along with growing up. In high school, I was on the receiving end of bullying, and I remember how low I was at that point in my life.”
Online drama
The report pointed to data from the National Center for Education Statistics estimating that 20% of middle school kids have experienced cyberbullying, which can increase the risk for mental health issues. Further data from a 2018 Pew Research Center survey found that 45% of teens feel overwhelmed by drama that occurs on social media.
A 2018 study by Common Sense Media could explain why so many kids’ faces seem to be glued to their phones, as 47% of kids aged 8 to 12 felt they must respond to messages immediately. Even the kids have identified that this is a problem, however, as 54% reported that their friendships are impacted by the presence of phones.
Along with being a detriment to their social lives and development, there have been found several negative health effects associated with prolonged use of smartphones as well. Children who used devices for two hours or more each day have been found to be at greater risk of digital eye strain symptoms, such as headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. Furthermore, the use of smartphones right before bed can make it take longer to fall asleep, causing kids to lose out on an average of one hour of sleep per night.
Educators have noticed a difference when their students are not using smartphones too. A large majority of teachers, 72%, have reported students' reduced ability to focus and retain lessons when smartphones are used in class. This can be seen in test scores, where students who use smartphones average six points lower than those who do not use smartphones.
Steve Straessle, head of school at Catholic High School in Little Rock, commented to Arkansas Catholic that smartphones sounded like a great idea for kids at first, as it gives them an endless well of knowledge in their pockets at all times. In practice, however, the students are more interested in using their phones for entertainment than education:
“Now we see the results of extreme youth smartphone use: sleep deprivation, social deprivation, attention fragmentation, and addictions. Moderation is the key, as it is in most things. And, telling a child they must wait until they’re more mature to receive a smartphone is just plain ol’ good parenting,” Straessle said.
