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This space has been created by a sub-group of the Saint John the Baptist Parent Council, whose goal is to support parents/carers to improve their children's mental and social wellbeing and create a smartphone free environment. Here you’ll find useful resources, updates, and opportunities to share your thoughts.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our padlet.

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St John the Baptist Primary School Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact

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This Parent Pact should only take a couple of minutes to complete and we would like to thank you for your support in signing it. Our hope is that by taking this collective action, we can protect our children from the harms of smartphones and social media. If you have more than one child at St John the Baptist Primary School, we would be grateful if you could provide details for all of your children in this form.

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Benefits of delaying smartphone ownership

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Benefits of delaying smartphone ownership

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Source: National Smartphone Free Childhood Campaign (email 2/4/25):

1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 ⏳
The average 12-15 year-old in the UK now spends 35 hours a week on their smartphone, according to a 2025 Uni of Birmingham study. If they’re smartphone-free, they have equivalent to a full time job of extra time to play, chat, mess about and explore the world in real life.

2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 ✊
Kids without smartphones aren’t influenced by toxic social media pressures or digital validation. They have space to explore who they really are, free from the constant stress of online likes and status.

3. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 🗣️
Without a smartphone acting as a middleman, kids focus on socialising in real life. Relationships are built on real human connection, and strengthening these essential life skills enables them to forge deeper friendships.

4. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 😊
Teens who are addicted to their smartphones are 2x as likely to have anxiety and 3x as likely to have depression, according to a study by Kings College London. The less time they spend online and the more time they spend with friends and family in the real world, the better their overall wellbeing.

5. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 🤖
Being tech-savvy isn’t about getting good at TikTok – it’s about knowing how to use technology productively. The less time spent passively scrolling, the more time they have to develop the critical thinking, focus, and creative problem solving that will set them up for success in an AI-fuelled future.

6. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 📚
Without the constant distraction of a smartphone, kids can fully engage in learning and schoolwork. They can develop their interests free from addictive algorithms, which results in better concentration and grades.

7. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 💤
Teenagers need 8-10 hours per night to support their physical and mental development. Kids without smartphones get longer and deeper sleep which results in improved brain function and emotional regulation.

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children playing outside in uddingston playpark  in 2025- aged 10-14 years, mainly white ethnicity but with some other ethnic groups

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On 9 Oct 2024 we launched the voluntary parent pact: 'Acting in the best interests of my child and their community, I pledge to wait to give a smartphone to my child at least until they have left St John the Baptist Primary School for Secondary School'.

We have the following uptake (on 10/11/25):

Year group / No. children whose parent/carer has signed pact

P1 -15 (37%)

P2 - 26 (59%)

P3 - 30 (65%)

P4 - 22 (38%)

P5 - 25 (45%)

P6 - 17 (43%)

P7 - less than 5

If you would like to be taken off the pact list, please email: uddsmartphonefree@gmail.com

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Here are some alternative phones compiled by the National Smartphone Free Childhood Campaign.

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Thinking about getting a phone - here are some great smartphone alternatives 

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Thinking about getting a phone - here are some great smartphone alternatives 

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Smartphone free childhood The movement for a smartphone free childhood

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Smartphone Free Childhood is a grassroots movement on a mission to keep childhood smartphone free. We want to connect parents in their local communities so that together they can make a pact not to give their children smartphones until at least 14, or social media before the age of 16.

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Click here for a link to the national pact

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Click here for a link to the national pact

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The national pact is ‘Acting in the best interests of my child and our community, I will wait until they are at least 14 before getting them a smartphone’

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Smartphone Free Childhood Sign the Parent Pact

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Sign our Parent Pact to join the movement - it takes 30 seconds.

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Tips & Tricks for Keeping Children Safe Online

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Source: National Smartphone Free Childhood Campaign: The Smartphone Dilemma – and how to solve it

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Considering delaying? - the smartphone dilemma solved

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Considering delaying? - the smartphone dilemma solved

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Great video from the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, helpful if you are considering whether you should delay giving your child a smartphone.

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The Smartphone Dilemma – and how to solve it

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A parent within SJB who started the SJB Smartphone Free Schools Campaign discuss:

-The reasoning behind the campaign

-The journey and how to setup the campaign

-The hurdles and positives of the journey

-Provides some top tips for setting up the campaign within a school

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SJB Smartphone Free Campaign Full Report

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SJB Smartphone Free Campaign Full Report

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Smartphone free schools full report - final version 2024_10_8

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Click here to find out more about the national smartphone free childhood campaign

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Works for the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) discusses:

- some of the data related to, the increase in adults and children seeking help due to what they are experiencing online

-Shares the lack of protection children have online and highlights some of the things children are exposed to online

-Gives an overview of the concerns which are impacting children's wellbeing online

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Please contact us on the email address below if you would like to know more.

uddsmartphonefree@gmail.com

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On the 11th of February 2025, the SJB Smartphone Free Childhood Campaign Group hosted a parental information session.

Please see the three green tiles with the 'play' buttons on them, to hear what the panel discussed

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Class Teacher/ Acting DHT in St John the Baptist:

-Shares the impact Smartphones and Internet has on children's mental wellbeing

-Highlights the resources and learning experiences utilised to teach children about Safer Internet use

-Shares the school aim to equip children for the future and foster skills for life.

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Activities you enjoy without your phone - fete responses

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Activities you enjoy without your phone - fete responses

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At the fete (June 25) people were invited to fill in a 'flower' and write an activity they enjoy without their phone - here are their responses

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activty you enjoy without phone - 7 June 25

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Super fun at the fete:

1. throw a ball at the dinosaur with the smartphone

2. fill in a leaf &/ flower on the smartphone reflection tree

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Relationship with your phone - fete responses

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Relationship with your phone - fete responses

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At the fete (June 25), people were invited to fill in a 'leaf' and write/draw write or draw  '3 words that describe you/your parents relationship with your phone' - here are there responses.

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relationship with your phone - 7 June 25

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Thinking about the transition to secondary school?

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Thinking about the transition to secondary school?

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At Holy Cross High School - classrooms and corridors are mobile phone free - pupils are to 'bag it or box it' - but can use phones responsibly at break &lunch.

If you are thinking about getting your child a phone, there are lots of great alternative devices suggested at the national Smartphone Free Childhood website – see link elsewhere on this padlet.

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Moble Device Policy Document February 2025.pdf

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If your kid keeps asking for a phone, show them this - video for 10-13 year olds 

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If your kid keeps asking for a phone, show them this - video for 10-13 year olds 

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If your children keep asking you for a smartphone, you might like to show them this video created by the national Smartphone Free Childhood campaign.

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This made my kids stop begging for a phone

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steps to find out how much time you spend on your phone in a year

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How much time are you really spending on your phone?

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How much time are you really spending on your phone?

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As parents sometimes we don't realise how much time we are spending on our phones... take the digital reality check and see if you are surprised by your time spent on your phone, and if that is what you would want to spend... step 1 shows you how to find out your time, then look at the table in the next image to see how much that equates to in a year... then consider step 3, considering what you would do, if you reclaimed some of your time...

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St John the Baptist - Mobile Phone Policy

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St John the Baptist - Mobile Phone Policy

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Here is our schools mobile phone policy

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Summer fete - concentration challenge buzz game - highlighting impact on concentration of smartphones...

"Most American teenagers who have smartphones report getting:

more than 230 notifications a day

and nearly 25% of them arrive when they’re at school"

source: ‘The Amazing Generation’ by Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price