Smartphone Primary School Ban Approved

We’re all prisoners here, of our own device…

atest press release from It Takes A Village committee, issued on Friday, May 26th 2023…

In a commitment to prioritise the well-being of primary school children, the Parents Associations of all eight primary schools in the Greystones and Delgany catchment area of Co. Wicklow have joined forces to introduce a No Smart Device Voluntary Code.

This initiative encourages parents and guardians to collectively agree to postpone the purchase of smart devices for their children until they go to secondary school. This includes smartphones, smart pads, and access to age-inappropriate apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Discord.

Deep-rooted concerns regarding the impact of smart devices on the well-being of primary school children have sparked a community-wide initiative in Greystones and Delgany.  It Takes A Village is a positive well-being initiative aimed at addressing the escalating levels of anxiety among children attending primary schools in the catchment area. The initiative has the support from all eight primary school principals in the area.

The No Smart Device Voluntary Code will work hand in hand with existing policies that ban the use of mobile phones and tablet devices in schools. By implementing this code, principals and parents are working together to create a safer environment for children during their primary school years.

“As Principals from all eight schools, we firmly believe that this initiative is pivotal in safeguarding the children within our community,” expressed the participating principals. “We have witnessed the resounding success of a similar model implemented by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in Delgany N.S., and we urge parents and guardians to actively engage with their respective PTAs to discuss and support this voluntary code.”

There’s no question that childhood experiences are evolving at an unprecedented pace, and many primary school children may not yet possess the emotional readiness to navigate the challenges associated with smart devices. By collectively embracing the voluntary code, parents and guardians in the eight primary schools can eliminate this potential obstacle and establish a new, safer environment for their children.

It Takes A Village aims to build a comprehensive support system that benefits children, families, and teachers who require assistance with anxiety-related issues in young children.

The initiative strives to foster a strong sense of community, ensuring the well-being and healthy development of children within the catchment area.