This new school year, join dozens of Subiaco Primary School families in signing the WaitMate pledge and be part of the movement that’s empowering parents to hit pause on smartphones until at least Year 9. Let’s give our children their childhoods back and help to change the disturbing mental health trends for our future teens.
It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of technology, and the intensity of peer pressure to use and own a smartphone. Through signing the WaitMate pledge, you will be connected with like-minded Subiaco Primary School parents in your year group. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by children and parents alike over having a smartphone.
Many parents say “yes” to the smartphone early, because so many other families have said “yes”. What if together we choose to say “not yet”? What difference would it make if our children had a few more years smartphone free? There are so many good reasons to wait before giving your child a smartphone: https://www.waitmate.org.au/why-wait
Many WA Primary Schools, especially those around Subiaco have already launched this initiative, and we’re excited to be joining them. Through our connections to the surrounding High Schools, we know that they are reporting increasing numbers of students starting year 7 without smartphones.
The pledge is for smartphones only. If you would like your child to have a basic phone that just calls and texts, you can still sign the pledge! The basic phone avoids many of the distractions and potential dangers of the smartphone. There are examples of several basic phones here: https://www.waitmate.org.au/resources/alternatives-to-smartphones-in-australia-safer-smarter-choices-for-kids
What you can do:
1. Sign the pledge: https://www.waitmate.org.au
2. Let other families know about this initiative.
3. When 10 families in your year group have signed, the page unlocks.
4. You will then receive an email to connect you with the other like-minded families who have signed in your year group, so that you can stand stronger, together. As more families join, you will be updated monthly.
This initiative is supported by our School Staff, and the P&C. It is part of our ongoing activities to provide you with information and help in all aspects of your cyber safety and security.
Reference:
WaitMate is a not-for-profit Australian movement that was formed by a group of primary school parents. There are similar initiatives in other countries, such as “Smartphone Free Childhood” in the UK and “Wait Until 8th” in the US: https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk and https://www.waituntil8th.org