A boarding school in Massachusetts recently banned all smartphones from their premises during the school week. This unprecedented move was initially met with a lot of pushback from students and teachers. However, after the ban went into effect, students saw many benefits. They were able to better focus in class, less distracted by the endless draw of devices and their grades improved as a result. Students were not only spending less time on devices at school, but they also reported that they use their phones less when they are home on the weekends.
It is important to model healthy relationships for our children, including a healthy relationship with smartphones and other technology. We can model the joy that comes with freedom from addiction to smartphones and leave a lasting impact on the next generation.