Wait Until 8th

The national average age for when a child gets a personal phone is ten years old. “We can collectively say ‘not yet’ and put off smartphones,” said Brooke Shannon, who promotes a “slow tech, not no tech” approach to technology with children and teens.

Brooke spoke at our first Parenting with Purpose session, empowering parents to make informed decisions about smartphones, personal devices and social media. If you missed it, click here to listen to the session recording.

Who is Brooke Shannon?
Brooke works with parents and communities across the country to help families establish a healthy relationship with technology. She is a national speaker on how to parent in the digital arena and has given keynotes to the American Enterprise Institute, and numerous schools and churches. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC national news, NPR and CNN Headline News. 

Why does Brooke think it’s important to delay when children get smartphones? 
A national average indicated that students are spending 4 to 8 hours per day on personal electronic devices. “I want more time for my kids to be kids,” said Brooke. “I want them to read, explore, create and connect with others without a device in the way.” 

Phones are also a proven academic distraction. “Dr. Adrian Ward, a cognitive psychologist and associate professor of marketing at the [University of Texas] McCombs School of Business, co-authored a study that shows even the presence of smartphones in a study space can lower your learning, logical reasoning, abstract thinking, problem-solving and creative abilities,” (https://ugs.utexas.edu/news/smartphone-study).

What recommendations does Brooke share for families who choose to use personal devices?
Brooke emphasized, “We are the parents. We have the authority and we can put boundaries in place.” She shared several great ways to reign in smartphone use: removing the internet browser, prohibiting a child’s access to the app store and limiting social media use until age 16. “We are the gatekeepers,” explained Brooke. 

Monitoring is another important aspect to technology use in any household. Want to learn more about monitoring devices, technology and wifi in your home? Join us for our future Parenting with Purpose information session, Technology in the Home: Parental Controls and Monitoring, on November 6, 2023.

“Our ultimate goal is to teach our children how to interact with technology before they go to college - slowly and with guardrails in place to protect them,” summarized Brooke, who acknowledged that it’s challenging when students may feel “left out.”

However, “these students are also left out of things like cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, FOMO, lower self esteem and more,” emphasized Brooke. “We are the first generation of parents going through this,” and we must work together to connect with each other as a community of families to set impactful boundaries around technology.
 

What are helpful resources for parents wanting to learn more?
Wait Until 8th
Axis
Protect Young Eyes
Defend Young Minds

Books
God's Design for Sex
Books on parenting in a digital age

Things to Watch
The Social Dilemma 
Childhood 2.0
Cost of Beauty - Dove Self Esteem Project (only a few minutes long but super powerful)

Monitoring Services, Filters and Technology help
Gryphon Router
Bark technologies 
Canopy

Are you about to say yes to a phone?
Smartphone Alternatives
Good digital training guides to get your child ready

Does your kid have a phone already and you need help?
My kid just got an iPhone. Help!