In St Albans, a proactive initiative led by head teacher Matthew Tavender and executive head Justine Elbourne-Cload is addressing the detrimental effects of smartphones on children. They informed parents via a letter urging them to delay smartphone access for children until age 14. This movement gained national and international attention. A year later, a survey indicated a dramatic decrease in smartphone ownership among year 6 pupils, exemplifying a shift towards healthier childhood experiences free from technology's overarching influence.
In December 2023, when Tavender did a survey of his year 6 pupils (aged 10-11), 45 of 60 pupils already had smartphones 75%. A year later, this has dropped to just seven 12%.
The highly addictive nature of smartphones was having a lasting effect on children's brains. The devices were robbing children of their childhood.
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