# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
John S Kiernan, Managing EditorJan 6, 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Should Kids Have Cell Phones? Experts Pick Sides

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By the time they're toddlers, most children are excited about phones. They know how to play games, watch videos, take pictures, and Facetime their grandparents. In idle moments they beg for - or grab for - mom or dad's phone.

But when are kids old enough - and responsible enough - to have their own phone? And what should they be able to do with it?

"The question has flipped from when to get your kid a phone, to how do you make it so the introduction of the phone is in line with their developmental stage?" explains Dave Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. "It may be helpful for a fourth grader to have a phone to be in touch with you when they need to be picked up or are on a sleepover, but most parents don't want their late elementary or early middle school kids diving into the internet and social media apps."

Pressure on parents

By the time kids are in middle school, the pressure from kids can be intense, and parents worry that their child will feel isolated if other kids have phones and they don't. According to Common Sense Media, 42 percent of kids have a phone by age 10. By age 12, it's 71 percent. By 14, it's 91 percent.

Max Stossel, the founder and CEO of Social Awakening, a group that promotes healthy use of technology and social media, recommends that parents hold the line on giving kids smartphones until at least eighth grade. A parent group called Wait Until 8th aims to help parents in a school community band together by taking a pledge that they won't give their kids smartphones until they're reached eighth grade. The parents who sign this pledge are put in touch with one another for support.

One strategy to avoid the risky and addictive features of smart phones, Stossel notes, is to start kids off on a phone that can't be used for social media, gaming, or surfing the web. A Gabb Phone, for instance, can be used for calling and texting. It also has a camera, calendar, FM radio, and GPS, so it enables you to monitor where your child is. But there is no app store, picture messages or group texts.

Smartphones themselves also offer parents the ability to use the phone's controls to set limits. "This is where cell phone companies have matured in the past couple years," notes Dr. Anderson. "Parents can set safeguards on what apps can be downloaded onto the phone."

Smartphones allow you to limit not only apps kids have access to, but the types of movies and TV shows they can watch. And you can set time limits on things like gaming, entertainment, and social media, and keep tabs on what they're doing during screen time. (For details on how to set limits on smart phones, check out this piece in Consumer Reports.)

The most potentially dangerous elements of this are social media and the unfiltered internet. Stossel recalls a colleague who when speaking to groups of students, would ask for a volunteer to come up and show the class how to get around a school's firewall. Each time a student would do so easily, explaining which apps to use to reach blocked websites.

"So the kids are always going to be a step ahead of their parents," Stossel adds. "And trying to monitor everything they have access to can be a full-time job."

He recommends the parental control tool Bark, which monitors a child's activity on social networks, YouTube, email and text messages. It filters for signs of harmful content, including sexual material, threats of violence, depression, suicidal ideation, and bullying. Parents get email and text alerts if there is something concerning in the child's online activity. It can also be used to limit screen time and to block individual websites.

Screen Time is another tool that allows you to set time limits on daily screen time, block out periods when screens are not to be used, and includes categories of sites and individual URLS.

Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, says he is often asked what's the right age to give a kid a phone. "I tell parents that it's not so much about a particular age as it is about a kid's social awareness and understanding of what the technology means," Dr. Bubrick explains. When you're considering whether to get a phone, and how much kids should be allowed to do on it, he recommends considering these issues:

How often does your child lose things, especially expensive things? If you tell them something is extra important, do they take special care of it, or leave it on the bus after a few days?

How well does your child handle money? Will they be in the middle of a game and impulsively buy more lives without considering their cost?

How savvy is your child about technology? Do they truly understand that future college admissions staff, employers, and colleagues could conceivably see anything they post now?

How well does your child do with limits to screen time? If they are constantly glued to the computer or game console, they will probably have difficulty putting down the phone as well.

The constant stimulation cell phones can provide can be especially distracting for kids with ADHD. "Phones are made to be as reinforcing as possible," explains Dr. Anderson. "If you're not getting an email, you're getting a social media update, or you're checking a news feed, or you're checking a sports score."

Children with ADHD find it more difficult to resist all that stimulation, and to stay tuned in to activities that are less reinforcing but more important, like homework or dinner table conversation.

Their impulsivity could also make them more likely to post or send something they may regret later on. In a world where everything you create is recorded in cyberspace, they are at risk for making long-lasting mistakes.

If you're ready to take the plunge

If you're getting your child a phone, experts recommend setting clear guidelines in a conversation before they receive the device. Here are some sample rules that parents can apply to their kids' cell phone use:

Agree on limits to how much money is available to cover the data plan and any game or app expenses.

Get them a good case, and determine what the consequences will be if the phone is lost or broken. Will it be replaced? And, if so, who will pay for it?

Specify times of the day when using the phone is not allowed, such as late at night or during family activities.

When your kids start using social media sites, monitor them and make them aware that you are doing so.

While you may choose to enforce different rules, make sure they are clear from the very beginning, the experts say, and establish consequences if these guidelines are not followed.

"You're training your kids to make good decisions over time," explains Dr. Bubrick, "so that eventually, when they leave you, you can trust that they will make those good decisions on their own."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
When Should You Get Your Kid a Phone? - Child Mind Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What age should a child get a phone? Child Mind Institute explains it's not always about age when it comes to phones for kids. It's more about maturity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I know a man with three kids, all older than his brother's kids. I overheard him saying with a touch of disdain, "I can't believe Dacota doesn't even have a smartphone." Dacota was 11. All of his kids had smartphones well before age 11.

Dacota's father probably doesn't want his daughter exposed to cyberbullying or online stalking, but on the other hand - a smartphone could be a lifesaver for her if she were to ever be abducted. Parents often ask me, "should kids have cell phones?" There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to giving your children cell phones - especially at a young age.

Advantages of Banning Smartphones For Kids

A cell phone shouldn't be a babysitter. It forces the old-fashioned way of communicating face-to-face and encourages family participation.

Forces non-anonymous communication. No strangers, less dangers.

Eliminates being tricked by an online predator into meeting that predator.

Eliminates cyberbullying and questionable online behavior that's more easily done anonymously.

Frees parents from worrying that their child will download an inappropriate app.

Prevents kids from video-chatting with strangers and sharing explicit images.

Parents won't worry about electronic communication stunting social development leading to addiction.

Advantages of Allowing Kids to Have Smartphones

Can be a godsend to socially awkward, shy kids who do poor with face-to-face interaction, always worrying about their impression, their body language, if their smile looks forced or laugh sounds fake.

The child who lacks the nerve to assert himself in person can do so online-without coming off as a bully. This may even prime them for developing more assertive skills in person.

A child in danger can press a button and instantly summon help, whether they've been abducted, are lost, or injured.

Parents can monitor the child in realtime.

Parents can instantly connect with the child instead of wondering where they are.

Allows kids to keep up with technology.

Social Skills Development

This is a big issue. But don't we all know that before the invention of smartphones, many children were already struggling with these issues? And conversely, many kids who have a mobile device at their hip have excellent face-to-face social skills.

Practice with in-person communication doesn't always make perfect. A geeky awkward child can practice speaking before several people in person a thousand times and still not be very good at it. It's like being pricked with a needle: the thousandth prick hurts just as much as the first prick.

Should Kids Have Cell Phones? Sure, With a Few Important Restrictions.

A compromise is in order. Kids as young as 11 may benefit from a smartphone simply because it will allow their parents to track their location. The child can also summon for help if in danger.

Consider filtering software to prevent access to inappropriate sites.

Get a feature phone (a "dumb phone") that allows for direct communications without the worry of accessing the internet.

Rules should be enforced, such as no cell phones at the dinner table, and the downloading of apps should be approved by the parents.

Parents should have passwords to their child's accounts-or there will be no accounts!

Kids should be encouraged to report bullying or suspicious online behavior.

Frankly, I think it's a bit risky to give a kid full blown access to the internet under the age of 16. You wouldn't give them the keys to the car if they weren't safe, and the internet is no different. There are plenty of sites that are just a click away that can damage their young minds. As parents, we control the information flow. If they've seen something they shouldn't have, it's because we allowed it or, at the very least, didn't do enough to prevent it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Should Kids Have Cell Phones? How Young is "Too Young?"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I know a man with three kids, all older than his brother's kids. I overheard him saying with a touch of disdain, "I can't believe Dacota doesn't even have a smartphone." Dacota was 11. All of his kids had smartphones well before age 11.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
At what age should kids have cell phones? That's something all parents are wondering today!

Are there guidelines that will make your decision easier? Or ingenious new products that can give your child the ability to call you without granting them total access to the internet?

Yes!

We asked members of our Facebook Parent Discussion group: "What age do you let your children get a cell phone? And why?"

The responses were brilliant! In fact, one of the parents recommended the discussion be included in a parenting manual. For now, let's start with an information-packed blog post!

Should kids have cell phones? Many parents have good reasons

1. Safety and a parent's peace of mind

One parent was going back to work and wanted her child to have a phone to be able to call at any time. Another parent wanted her child to have a cell phone for safety while they were riding the bus to and from school, explaining, "We needed the sense and security that she could get a hold of us if she needed anything." Another mom felt her daughter should have a phone when she went babysitting, since fewer and fewer people have landlines anymore.

2. To use at school for class work

Apparently some teachers are asking kids to use their personal devices to do in-class research. However, a teacher in our Facebook group pointed out that kids should not be required to use their personal devices in class. If students in your child's class are being asked to look up information on their personal devices:

"You should feel free to address this with the principal, as that is certainly not school policy to have students using their personal devices to do significant amounts of research . . . It sounds like their teacher has let things slip a bit and just needs a reminder to be more on the ball with booking the tech, or to plan lessons that make use of books or the smartboard instead of students' phones."

Linking cell phones with responsibility

Several parents have a policy that their children need to be old enough to pay for their own phone and monthly service. "I think it is very easy to be trained to take certain conveniences for granted and this one is costly in up-front and month-to-month costs . . ." Another mom commented, "If he [her son] wants a smartphone, he'll have to wait until he can pay for it on his own."

A few parents tied the use of a smartphone to certain milestones and conditions:

"16, if they are driving and have a job and have good grades."

"None of our kids got phones before 16. Only then if they kept good grades and a job so they could pay for their phone. We paid the basic plan fees so the phone still belonged to us and they were renting it to use each month. If poor grades or behavior get their phone taken away, they do not get a refund."

Other parents require a signed contract and enforce consequences for not keeping the rules. "When we gave phones to our boys, we had them sign an acceptable usage contract and we made sure they understood it. They both have had infractions that caused them to lose their phones 1x each."

Several parents brought up the Wait Until 8th initiative to address the big decision parents are considering: should kids have cell phones? "The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over the kids having a smartphone." Even Bill Gates did not allow his kids to have phones until they were 14!

Some kids are actually grateful to not have a smartphone

Although many kids beg for smartphones at early ages, they might just be grateful that their parents said, "Not yet." One mom shared that her teens were glad they didn't have smartphones.

"They did complain that all their friends have their own smartphone, but mostly because they do not like to 'be different' by not having a smartphone. My oldest one told me that she actually is grateful not to have a smartphone because she thinks she would waste so much time on it and it would be a shame . . . My 16- and 14-year-olds recently went to a birthday party where half of the time the other teenagers were on their phones. They came back home and told me that they were grateful to not have one!"

This mom also made sure she modeled appropriate phone use herself by using it deliberately and not letting it interfere with her family relationships.

"They also see how I use mine, meaning I am not attached to it, when I'm home my cell phone is usually in 'his place' and stays there . . . We also have this rule that the electronics are used for a purpose, not because we are bored."

Here's a sad story from a second-grade student whose mom is always on her phone. (Originally posted on Facebook.)

Cell Phone Alternatives

It's clear that many parents in the group are not comfortable granting kids a pocket portal to the internet. Happily, there are alternatives! Here are some hardware and software solutions suggested by our Facebook Parent Discusson group members:

Gizmo Gadget ($149) by LG through Verizon. "I got my kids these GPS watches from Verizon called GizmoGadget. $149 each but only $5 a month on your cell plan." It allows up to 10 contacts to call and receive calls. You can send short texts and locate it via GPS, and monitor it from an app on your phone. It has options for simple fitness tracking. Waterproof, too! Available in Red or Navy.

GizmoPal 2 ($79) by LG through Verizon. "My kids (9 and 10) have them and I love them. They can only call 4 programed numbers and only those 4 numbers can call them. They have a GPS tracker on them too!" Available in Pink or Blue. It sends notifications if your child crosses set GPS boundaries. Waterproof.

Relay by Republic Wireless ($149 for 2 devices, $199 for 3 devices, $99 for an add-on device). A screen-free "walkie talkie" device that kids can carry in their pocket. Durable and water resistant, single button communication, nation wide range. Kids can also speak messages to text to your phone. Comes in several colors. $6.99 a month service charge per device. More functionality coming (music, games, Google assistant, etc.).

Mobile Phone Tech Solutions

If you decide your child is ready for a cell phone, there are lots of great tech options to help! These go hand-in-hand with ongoing conversations about how kids are using their phones.

Flip phones (aka voice phones): Yes, they are still available and can be a great option to allow kids to call and text without internet access. Some teens find they prefer them!

Pre-paid phones: When it's the right time to get a phone, you can start with a less-expensive pre-paid phone that will limit the amount of data and minutes your child can use. Search online for "prepaid phones" and you'll find several affordable options. Be sure you also set up some parental controls with these phones!

iPhone Parental Controls: If your kids have an iPhone, be sure to set up the iPhone parental controls that are already on the phone. You can restrict apps, content types, privacy settings, cellular data use, and more.

Android Parental Controls: With the free Google Family Link app, you can restrict apps, manage SafeSearch, control app permissions, set screen time limits, see the phone location, and more.

and Circle Go: Circle manages all the devices using Wi-Fi in your home, while Circle Go adds protection to mobile phones when kids use 4G LTE and Wi-Fi networks away from home. Both services include filters, time limits and even a feature to reward kids! (Circle is a one-time cost of $99, add on Circle Go for $4.99 per month for 10 devices)

Covenant Eyes: For some teens, accountability software is a valuable tool. Covenant Eyes doesn't filter the content on phones, but sends a report of internet activity to a parent or other accountability partner so that they can talk about it with their child. ($15.99 per month for everyone in your family).

A Purposeful 4-Level Plan

One parent shared how her kids get increasing access to technology as they grow:

1. The Verizon Gizmo Gadget watch at around age 5.

2. A flip phone that allows them to call and text at age 8.

3. A smartphone without data so they can call, text and use it at home for games and filtered internet at age 12.

4. A smartphone at age 14 (or freshman year in high school) with filtering like Circle by Disney.

Should kids have cell phones at the right age and with the right tools? Devising a graduated plan like this for your family is smart parenting. You may want to change the ages and products, but mentoring children with increased responsibility over time is the way to go!

Talking to kids about cell phones

While deciding when kids should have mobile phones and then setting up parental controls is important, setting clear rules and starting out with regular check-ups about using phones is just as critical, if not more so.

Make the rules very clear from the start:

Remember that you are the parent. The phone is your property, and you have the responsibility to take it back if needed.

Let them know you will regularly take a look at their pictures, texts, apps, and messages.

Talk about when it is ok to use the phone - such as rules for school, during dinner, homework time, and bedtime.

Many parents have all mobile devices charge overnight in their bedroom or another safe place.

An easy-access camera is a major feature of cell phones. Talk about taking and sharing photos appropriately and respecting people's privacy.

When kids are old enough for access to a smart phone, they are old enough to have open conversations about sharing nudes (sexting) and other sexual behaviors that go on via mobile phone. Exposure to pornography is possible, as well as sexualized bullying, sexually suggestive conversations with other kids, body image issues from social media, and contact with predators.

There are lots of positive benefits to mobile phones too! Let kids share why they are excited to have a phone and frequently talk about good things they can do with this amazing tool. How can they brighten someone's day with a kind call or text? How can they share photos that inspire and encourage others? Be sure to praise kids for good behavior with their phones!

Do your kids have a clear action plan for when they see pornography? Help them build their internet defense skills by reading Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today's Young Kids together!

Your Family Phone Contract

There are lots of great resources to help parents with this big responsibility. With these ideas and more from this super list of cell phone rules and these ideas for a social media contract, you are ready to set some clear phone safety boundaries with your kids. Define your rules in a written agreement, have kids sign to make it official, and keep it visible so you can review it regularly together.

As you know, your own children are also affected by the way their friends use mobile phones. We're all in this together, so please share this post with your friends and family!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
When Should Kids Have Cell Phones? Savvy Parents Reveal Best Strategies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
At what age should kids have cell phones? That's something all parents are wondering today! Are there guidelines that will make your decision easier? Or ingenious new products that can give your child the ability to call you without granting them total access to the internet? Yes!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Are you texters or yellers? Many families turn to texting at home to "talk"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Goodbye lonely video gaming, multiplayer games are the new thing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The gaming world has come a long way, with players these days forming on-screen bonds.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Video games: Can they make people more empathetic in real life?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Anna Anthropy, the creator of "Dys4ia," believes that empathy games can offer an initial step into understanding marginalized communities. However, the games are not meant to represent their entire experience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Children who play video games for up to an hour a day are less hyperactive, more social and happier than those who don't play at all, according to an Oxford University study.

The results contradict widespread concerns that video game use by kids is harmful.

The study, appearing in the journal Pediatrics, looked at boys and girls between 10 and 15 years old and found that playing for as much as an hour a day could actually be beneficial.

The study focused on almost 5,000 kids and compared those who didn't play at all with those who indulged in console games such as Nintendo Wii and Sony Play Stations, or computer-based games.

"Young people who indulged in a little video game-playing were associated with being better adjusted than those who had never played or those who were on video games for three hours or more," the study concluded.

"Those who played video games for less than an hour ... were associated with the highest levels of sociability and were most likely to say they were satisfied with their lives. They also appeared to have fewer friendship and emotional problems, and reported less hyperactivity than the other groups."

Those who played such games for up to three hours a day seemed to show no effects, positive or negative.

But those who played for more than three hours a day did see some harmful effects.

"Games provide a wide range of novel cognitive challenges, opportunities for exploration, relaxation and socialization with peers," the reseachers observed. "Like non-digitally mediated forms of child play, games may encourage child well-being and healthy social adjustment."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Video games can be good for kids, study finds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Children who play video games for up to an hour a day are less hyperactive, more social and happier than those who don't play at all, according to an Oxford University study. The results contradict widespread concerns that video game use by kids is harmful.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Video games: We hear a lot about the downsides, but there can be benefits for kids, too. Here are six possible benefits of playing video games.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Like many aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Can Playing Video Games Be Good for Kids?

Some games might improve kids' hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Video games that require kids to move or manipulate the game through their own physical movement can get sedentary kids moving - but not as much as if they actually played outside or did sports. Other games don't have such benefits, and violent video games have been shown to increase kids' aggressive behavior.

What Limits Should We Set?

For kids and teens 5 to 18 years old, experts recommend that parents think about how much their child uses any media. This includes playing video games on gaming consoles, tablets, or smartphones.

Using media should not take the place of getting enough sleep or being physically active. So consider setting limits to keep game-playing from interfering with schoolwork, household chores, and the physical activity your kids need every day.

Kids should only play games suitable for their age group. All video games are rated and labeled by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Steer clear of any rated "M" for "mature" (for ages 17 and older) or "AO" for "adults only." (for ages 18 and older). These can contain heavy-duty violence, strong language, and sexual content. Playing games with your kids is a good way to see what they're doing.

Keep the video game set-up in a common area of the house, not a child's bedroom. This will let you catch any inappropriate content, and kids will be in a position to interact with others. Also pay attention to time spent playing games on smartphones and tablets.

Look for age-appropriate multi-player games that let kids socialize with friends. Interactive games in which players collaborate can teach kids to work together in both online and offline settings.

Make sure your kids have other appealing choices: sports, activities, chances to socialize with friends, and downtime to be creative.

What Else Can Help?

Online, you can check out:

the AAP's family media plan tool, which lets parents create a media plan for their family

Common Sense Media, which has information about age and content appropriateness of video games and other media

If you have concerns about your kids' video game activity, talk with your doctor.

Date reviewed: August 2022

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You love your video games, but how much is too much? Find out in this article for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Articles, interviews, and announcements on topics related to the intersection of neuroscience and society.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We live in a world full of technology and, for many of us, our children understand it better than we do. Parents may feel pressured by their children to provide them with a cell phone at an early age, but aren't sure when children are actually ready for this responsibility.

When is the right time for your child to get their first cell phone?

In short, there is no good answer to that question. Many parents will begin to think about providing their child with a phone during the middle school years, when kids are more likely to be involved in after school activities and more likely to be home alone. According to a Nielsen report released in February 2017, approximately 45 percent of U.S. children between the ages of 10-12 had their own smartphone with a service plan.

Consider the Benefits

The ability to communicate in emergency situations. Many families don't have home phones and public pay phones are a thing of the past.

Opportunities for social contact with peers - texting, use of social media and (less likely) actually talking on the phone.

Ability to gain immediate knowledge for personal or academic use - even in elementary school it's hard to do school work without electronic access to apps, web research and Google docs.

Entertainment - What kid doesn't want to spend hours watching people do silly things on YouTube?

Explore the Risks
Is your child responsible enough to carry a cell phone? If they often can't find their shoes or homework, should you really provide them with an expensive phone?

What about the impact on health? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released information about exposure to radiation from cell phone usage. Risks of media in general include obesity (due to sedentary screen time), decreased sleep and distractibility contributing to poorer academic performance (because YouTube is more interesting than math).

What can go wrong socially? Thinking about your child's maturity level and ability to recognize social cues is important.

Do they understand that repeatedly texting a friend with no response from the friend could be considered annoying?

Are they aware that anything they post on social media accounts can be used against them in the future (see many examples from athletes, politicians and celebrities who thought their past was behind them)?

Research has suggested that children in the third through fifth grade who owned a cell phone were particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying and that they had been cyberbullies themselves.

According to the AAP it is estimated that 12 percent of 10-19 year old youth have sent a sexual photo to someone else.

The Bottom Line
In general, setting guidelines and limits up front is their (and our) best opportunity for success. Here are some ideas:

Limit the amount of time spent on the phone.

Experts suggest no screens for at least one hour before bedtime, so consider having your child turn in their phone in the evening. Remove your child's phone from their room at night so the temptation of a late night "hello" or, worse, with friends, is not there.

Create a distraction-free homework time where cell phones are put away.

Consider "phone free" meals or family times during the day (yes, that means you too, parents!) to promote communication and relationship building.

Require children provide parents with cell phone, email and social media passwords.

Do random checks of text messages and other phone content.

Consider using parental controls on the phone and apps.

Be your child's social media friend to keep tabs on what they are posting.

Educate yourself on the latest apps.

Be honest and let them know you will be holding them accountable from the beginning so that there are no surprises.

Communicate openly with your child about the risks of cell phone usage.

Help them understand safe websites, recognize cyberbullying and the risks of chat rooms and communication with "friends" you've never met before.

Promote open communication and questions by actively listening, withholding judgement and corrections and allowing them autonomy to problem solve when appropriate.

Consider developing a Family Media Use Plan. Use the tool www.HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan as a starting point.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children and Cell Phones: Weighing the Risks and Benefits

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We live in a world full of technology and, for many of us, our children understand it better than we do. Parents may feel pressured by their children to provide them with a cell phone at an early age, but aren't sure when children are actually ready for this responsibility.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Important things you should know Terms, conditions and waiting periods apply. Medibank Pet Insurance is general insurance issued by the insurer The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd (ACN 090 584 473; AFSL 241436) (Hollard), is promoted by Medibank Private Limited (ACN 080 890 259; AR 286089) (Medibank) and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (ACN 075 949 923; AFSL 420183) (PetSure). Medibank acts as an authorised representative of PetSure. Medibank will receive a commission which is a percentage of the premium paid to Hollard and PetSure may receive a portion of the underwriting profit, if any - ask PetSure for more details. Any advice provided is general only, has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be right for you. Consequently, before acting on this information, you should consider the appropriateness of this information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. You should obtain and consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) in deciding whether to acquire, or continue to hold, Medibank Pet Insurance. PetSure can be contacted by telephone: 132 331 or by mail: Locked Bag 9021, Castle Hill, NSW 1765.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Reasons Why Dogs are the Best Pets | Live Better

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Important things you should know Terms, conditions and waiting periods apply. Medibank Pet Insurance is general insurance issued by the insurer The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd (ACN 090 584 473; AFSL 241436) (Hollard), is promoted by Medibank Private Limited (ACN 080 890 259; AR 286089) (Medibank) and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (ACN 075 949 923; AFSL 420183) (PetSure).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As a furry pup lover, there is no doubt in my mind that having a dog brings many upsides to my life. I mean, how can I NOT live happily waking up to a smiley face and wagging tail? For those of you who do not yet have a furry friend, or who are planning on adding one to your family, you'll be glad to hear that there are scientifically proven benefits that dogs bring to each of our lives! So if you're looking for reasons to get a dog, here's 17!

1. Dogs increase your mood dramatically!

Spending just 15-30 minutes with your dog can help you feel more calm and relaxed, reducing stress and increasing happiness. Playing with your pup increases your brain's levels of dopamine and serotonin, both of which are neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and tranquility. So the next time you're feeling down, grab the newest toy from your BarkBox and spend some time with your pup! That wagging tail will be sure to put a smile on your face.

2. Having a dog may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Studies show that talking to and petting your pooches are often accompanied by lower blood pressure, and that means a lowered risk for a myriad of different illnesses.

3. Step aside, kitties! Dogs protect children from skin conditions and allergies.

Children who grow up with dogs have a lower risk of developing eczema than those who have cats or no dogs at all. Yes, it's true! In addition, children also develop fewer pet allergies if they grow up with a dog.

4. Having a dog improves your physical wellbeing and encourages a healthy fitness routine.

Of course! Your dog requires daily exercise, and so do you! Dog owners carry the responsibility of playing with and working their dogs, so it only makes sense that dog people tend to be more active.

5. Humans with dogs recover more quickly from illnesses.

Dog owners have a much higher rate of recovery from being sick than non-dog owners. In fact, humans with pooches who suffered from heart attacks were twice as likely to fully recover than those without!

6. Dogs make excellent service and alert animals.

Canines make excellent service companions when trained properly for people with disabilities. They can be trained to bring medication, alleviate a stressful situation for their human, and even detect an approaching epileptic seizure.

7. Children with dogs in their household miss less school.

Yes, it's true. We all know that children absolutely adore pups, but research has shown that children from dog-owning families have better school attendance due to better overall health and less sickness from having a pup at home.

8. But wait, there's more (for your kids)!

Having dogs has actually been shown to improve a child's self-esteem, and makes issues that cause stress easier to handle.

9. Simply put, they are a human's best friend.

Because of their heightened sense of smell, sight, and hearing, dogs are extremely intelligent creatures with a loyalty to their humans that is unexpectedly strong. Those with dogs will know-your pups can sense human body language, emotions, and feelings, and this paves the way for an unbreakable bond.

10. They will go to great lengths-2,800 miles to be exact-to find their humans.

Have you guys heard the story of Bobbie the Wonderdog? Well, he traveled a whopping 2,800 miles to return to his family after accidentally being abandoned across the country.

11. They make excellent watchdogs.

From puppyhood, dogs innately learn to watch and be aware of anything rotten coming your way. Potential burglars are put off by a barking or watching dog in the window. Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Scottish Terriers are among the top watchdog breeds, but even my fluffy American Eskimo dog is known to be great at alerting families of anything odd or suspicious!

12. Dogs help increase social interactions.

Yes, not only do dogs need care and playtime with their humans, but they need time to socialize with other pups too! This means that their humans will have a chance to socialize while they oversee the puppy playdates. Those of you with pups know that even going on a walk in the neighborhood can bring many friends and start many conversations!

13. There's never a dull or boring moment.

Have you ever found yourself sitting at home, wondering what to do today? There are so many things you can do with your dog, whether that be taking a trip to the park, training, playing, running, or just watching them chew a toy. It's all fun, for both of you.

14. Dogs may save your life.

Our lovely canine friends seem to be able to detect the smell of cancer in human bodies. There have been stories of pups who continued to lick and sniff at moles or lumps on their human's bodies, who eventually found out that those skin conditions were cancerous. In fact, since humans made this discovery, dogs have even been trained in just 3 hours to detect cancer!

15. Stressed at work? Let me prescribe you one adorable puppy.

Notice the increasing trend in workplaces allowing dogs to come to work with their humans? There's a reason for that! Studies have shown that people who take their dogs to work have lower stress levels during the workday.

16. Having a dog makes YOU more awesome!

The responsibility, patience, selflessness, and commitment that comes with having a dog makes us stronger, all-around better people.

The dog-human relationship is a two-way street. We've heard the phrase, "Who rescued who?" and it's certainly something to consider. Dogs have proven that they improve our physical and mental health, as well as the health of those around us.

17. Need I say more?

Featured image via @kongkwan.chihuahua

Those magical, euphoric feelings sweeping over you while bonding with your dog are not just in your imagination. Locking eyes with your furry friend and gazing lovingly into that adorable face triggers the release of oxytocin, the "feel good" drug into your system.

Addicting, yes, but harmful? No! This calm and happy high is 100% natural, and available to you right now at your neighborhood shelter or animal rescue.

For more, check out these articles!
The Science Behind Why Dogs Are Man's Best Friend 21 Etsy Gifts For People Who Like Dogs More Than Humans What Dog Breeds Are The Best Watch Dogs? What's The Difference Between Emotional Support, Therapy, And Service Dogs? Why Dogs Make The Best Roomies A Human Could Ask For

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
17 Ways Your Dog Will Improve Your Quality Of Life

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As a furry pup lover, there is no doubt in my mind that having a dog brings many upsides to my life. I mean, how can I NOT live happily waking up to a smiley face and wagging tail?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Hero Dogs program enlists pups to help those who served

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hero Dogs can shut doors, turn lights on and off and do other tasks to help people who served in the military.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | If you live alone, owning a dog can reduce the risk of a heart attack

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Service dogs, patients bond through health care partnership

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Highly trained service dogs are a special breed. A Texas health care company has partnered with a service dog group to find patients who will benefit from everyday help, and companionship.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | The scoop on how your cat's sandpapery tongue deep cleans

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Account required

Log in to your Newsela account (or sign up for free) to access reading content, videos, and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela - Paw choice? Cats show right and left-hand preferences

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new study shows that male cats generally prefer their left paw and females their right.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Cats and dogs living together is not necessarily a sign of the end of times. These two species can actually get along quite well despite their significant differences. But how might those differences impact your relationship with your pet or your decision to adopt a companion if you can choose only one? Here's the scoop on the cat vs. dog dilemma to help you answer the question, "Which is the best pet for me?"

Dogs Are Pack Animals

In the wild, dogs form packs in which each member cooperates to find food and provide protection, says Veterinarians.com. The pack usually has an "alpha dog" that the other dogs look to for leadership. Domestic pups are hardwired with this pack instinct that generally makes them social, friendly, and all too happy to belong to a family or even a single person who can provide him with food and leadership. Dogs instinctively go wherever their pack goes, which makes them more readily accepting of experiences, such as travel or moving. This pack mentality also makes it really hard on dogs to be left alone, especially for long periods of time. Dogs crave closeness and attention. Having a dog may be comparable to having a young child.

Cats Are Lone Hunters

By contrast, with the exception of lions, most cats in the wild are solitary nocturnal hunters. Unlike dogs, cats are able to jump and climb, which aids them in hunting and makes it easier to flee from danger. Their sharp, retractable claws provide a distinct advantage when it comes to catching prey and defending themselves from bigger predators. Because of this, cats have no need to work together to care for themselves. It also makes them territorial.

For domestic cats, these instincts make them much more independent than dogs. This independence may make them seem aloof. They often sleep during the day and like to roam the house at night. Cats not only like their space, but they might be prone to marking their territory by spraying outside their litter box, especially prior to getting spayed or neutered. This territoriality makes big changes like moving or simply rearranging the furniture a source of stress. While a cat's independent nature generally helps them deal better than dogs with being left alone, it's important to remember that all cats are different. Some breeds are more sociable than others. Cats are capable of developing extremely strong bonds with their people. When a cat's favorite person disappears, she may develop separation anxiety, especially if she is passed from owner to owner. Cats are also highly intelligent creatures, and while they have a hunter's mentality encoded in their DNA they also know who feeds them and provides them with play. While cats might not be as affectionate as dogs at first, overtime cats can develop quite the liking to their human parent fully equipped with a snuggling purr machine movie night. Cats also tend to live longer than dogs, which is sometimes a consideration when searching for a lifelong furry companion.

Pet Training: Cat vs. Dog

When it comes to cat vs. dog training, dogs are generally the easier of the two to train. A dog's pack mentality makes him ready to follow a leader and makes him generally more obedient by nature. Typically, dog training is a process of teaching and reinforcing commands that help you communicate your desires to your dog. Dogs are so eager to please that they're happy to meet those desires. However every dog is different, and some breeds have temperaments and learning aptitudes that take more readily to training than others.

Cats can be trained, but not as thoroughly as dogs. It requires a lot of patience and consistent practice to get past their willful nature. With cats, it's best to focus training on establishing boundaries.

When it comes to house training, cats have the advantage over dogs. Cats use the litter box instinctively. It may only take showing them where the box is one time. If a cat is slow to catch on to using the litter box or appears to forget later on, this is often a sign of an underlying health issue, and you should consult your veterinarian.

Dogs, on the other hand, can be a lot tougher to potty train, especially puppies. Teaching them where it is and isn't acceptable to go usually takes a lot of repetition and positive reinforcement.

Consider Space

While dogs can be perfectly happy living in a small apartment, they still need their outdoor exercise. If you lead an active lifestyle and can take your dog on walks or let him out in the backyard to run around and play a dog can be a great fit. However, if you live in a small apartment a cat can be an excellent companion. Cats generally get their exercise through play (an excellent bonding opportunity between you and your cat) and through their general hunting nature where they will stalk prey (toys in this case) and leap up high in trees (cat trees that is). Because of this, cats don't usually need as much area to roam around. In fact, in a large house you might lose your cat for a while as they can be excellent hide-and-seek players.

Costs

It's true that cost should be considered when choosing to adopt a pet. Dogs often tend to be more expensive to care for than a cat between food, toys, training classes, daycare, and vet bills. Because cats are independent by nature they have learned to care for themselves and generally only rely on their human for food. Even play stimulation can be as simple and cost effective as a flashlight or a feather tied to a stick.

Which Is the Best Pet for Me?

Cats and dogs aren't the only ones with different temperament and personality traits. According to Psychology Today, cat parents and dog parents also differ significantly in these areas. The majority of people who keep cats exclusively tend to be more introverted, less sociable, and more self-contained, whereas dog parents are more social, interactive, and open to new experiences.

Whether your personality more closely aligns with that of the typical dog person or the typical cat person, the main thing to keep in mind is that a dog will likely require quite a bit more of your time and attention than a cat. If you're looking for a companion that will sit by your side, then a dog might be your best bet. Cats can be quite affectionate and attentive, but only up to a point. They tend to become bored or overstimulated much more easily than dogs, and at that point they want to escape for a while. So, if you prefer a pet to keep you company but isn't especially needy, consider a cat.

Again, these are all generalities. Remember that cats and dogs are not only different species, but they're individuals within each of their species and some of these generalities might not apply to individual pets. Factors such as genetics, breed, breed temperament, and the animal's history all play a part as to how friendly, sociable, and teachable he will be. Wherever you side on the cat vs. dog debate, it's important to research your choice of pet before welcoming him to his forever home. Consider dog or cat sitting for a friend or family member to see if you prefer the companionship of one over the other. Then, make sure to go spend some time at your local animal shelter before you make the ultimate decision to adopt. You might find out that it is not the species that helps you make up your mind, but rather the bond you form with one of the animals. No matter which species you choose to adopt, with enough love and affection, you will surely find a forever friend.

Contributor Bio
Jean Marie Bauhaus
Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of furbabies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cats vs. Dogs: Which Is the Best Pet for Me? | Hill's Pet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about important differences between dogs and cats, such as cost & space considerations. These factors can help you decide which pet is best for you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Rats are extremely social and personable animals that bond strongly to their owners. They are smart enough to learn their names and will come when you call them. They beg to come out of their cage to play and interact with their owners.

Rats love to be petted. They enjoy being rubbed behind their ears or scratched on their shoulders. Some rats will roll over on their back so their owner can rub their tummy. Many rats will lick their owners to show affection just like a dog.

Rats are very playful and will wrestle with your hand the same way a kitten will. Rats will play games with their owners, including tug-o' war, hide-n-seek, and peek-a-boo.

Rats can learn many tricks just like dogs. They can learn to sit up, fetch, walk a tightrope, pull up a basket on a string and jump through a hoop. Some rats are smart enough to learn a trick after only two lessons!

Each rat is an individual with his or her own personality. Some rats are very intelligent (more intelligent than most dogs and cats!) but some rats aren't so smart, just like some other cats and dogs (and people.) But even these bumbling blockhead rats are affectionate and make adorable loving pets.

My husband is allergic to all animals but was willing to gamble by getting two girl rats. I have never been more thankful and blessed to love two creatures this much. One recently developed pneumonia and the thought of losing her sent me into a spiraling depression. We had promised that with their short life span we wouldn't worry when one got sick because it would be a natural course of life to lose them. ... How wrong I was. We nursed her back to health and seeing her return to baseline was the best feeling ever. These girls are my babes. Rose and rayon changed my life forever and I will never forget the love I've developed for these two!
- Candace Bretsch, Aurora, CO, September 13, 2015

I have always been a lover of animals. I grew up around ranches in Wyoming, and constantly had a dog, or a cat, or a horse being the beneficiary of my affections. However, when my last pet died years ago, a dog named Cody, I found myself without my best friend, and not in a position to get a new one.

Until, that is, I discovered Rats. I am still a dog person to my core, but rats have completely won my heart. A friend introduced me to the idea, and having wanted a pet of my own, now that I was entering the world on my lonesome, I took the leap. I went to Petsmart, and bought a hooded fancy rat I named Dot. Soon after, two Dumbos - a blue-point Siamese named Penny and a capped-stripe named Baby Blu. Dot quickly asserted herself as the calm, curious, and fearless alpha of the three - with Blu always trying to take the title. Blu was a shy but aggressive girl who knew what she wanted. Penny, however, was my socialite who LOVED being around everybody. I called her my "Ratpresentative". I've never been bitten, and have barely even been scratched (by a clinging rat).

Whenever I went on trips to get food or bedding for the girls, Penny would come with me. At my local Petsmart she became a sort of celebrity. She engaged children, entertained dads and converted moms. All comers were given a good shoulder riding and a healthy dose of rat kisses. A few mothers even got some very noisy and happy bruxing. The employees knew her by name (when they couldn't remember mine!) and she always had a crowd to greet her when we came into the store.

Unfortunately, all three eventually passed on and - taking this from another writer I saw here on petrats.org - went to the great fruit basket in the sky. I now have two females - two Dumbos. A down under named Pepper (Penny's very enthusiastic successor), and a hooded-blaze named Cookie. Cookie is the size of Dot, but is as shy as little Blu was - with a bit more affection to her personality. Pepper is an attention lover, and begs for loving every time I walk through the room. They have learned tricks like "Front and Center" (meeting me at the open front of the cage), "Spin", and "Come" (running up my arm to my shoulder). Cookie is rediculously smart when it comes to getting her way, and Pepper just doesn't care as long as she's being held. Like Penny before her, Pepper comes with me on my store trips (Cookie doesn't enjoy them too much), and I get some interesting looks. An adult, clean cut, outgoing military man with a rat on his shoulder and a travel cage in his hand. Even so...Pepper still gains plenty of positive attention. Pepper has even managed to get a woman with a phobia of rats to pet her and returned the bravery with an abundance of kisses, that the woman was quick to giggle about.

What amazes me about rats - in general - is even when in the trust-gaining stages, when they are nervous and scared, they are still so gentle and careful to never harm another living thing.

Pets, in general, have an amazing ability to change people's moods, perceptions, and even their hearts. Dogs and cats are known for this, but ratties are incredible at it too. Once they are socialized with humans, they know how to treat people. They know how to love them, how to comfort them, and how to show them affection. Their gentle nature is incredible to me. A dog will growl when he doesn't want to be touched. A cat will hiss or just walk away. But a rat? She is far too polite and gentle natured for such a display. She will simply press her paw to your finger and push it away with a gentle touch to simple say "I'm not in the mood, thank you." They reward you with love, kisses, the charming sound of bruxing, and giggle-inducing boggling. If you want a first pet for your child, or want a small pet that is easy to care for in a small, apartment environment, or if you just want to expand your horizons and your family with a small pet - ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Polite and Gentle Rat.

- Aaron Brown, 28, Albuquerque, NM

I had a friend back at my first university with a solo rat, Bailey. That was my first introduction to rats. Bailey was a delightful little girl. She had her own little hammocks all over the dorm, and charmed anyone she met in 10 seconds flat. She is unfortunately with the big fruit basket in the sky now.

My boyfriend has always been very pro-rat, though never owning any of his own. We got 4 little girls for the price of 2 (they were just about to turn 5 weeks, and needed to be separated from all their male roomies, and they were the last 4.) We got Sandy (Himalayan with ruby eyes, the adventurer), Petals (single rex hooded dumbo, the defender of the cage), Thelma (slate-gray Berkey, the mommy figure), and Louise (Thelma's littermate, momma's girl, and the ambassador for all ratkind). Thelma and Louise were littermates born to be eaten by some snake somewhere, but were saved by a pet store employee due to their excellent temperament (and excellent temperament they have!) Then along came Pepper, our blind double-rex, who is about a month younger than the others. She still gets around great despite her "disability", and follows the other girls like they're her guide-rats. Pepper really brought out the maternal tendencies of the other four (especially Thelma). It seems like every time I look over, some rat is cleaning her.

ANYWAYS. They're all perfect angels, and make the cats look bad with how well-behaved they are. We have had really minor incidents with the cats (Dex really could care less about their existence; Linus got a tiny bit of his ear, that healed very well, taken as a trophy by Petals), but the rats have held their own extremely well. They get along great with my mom's poodle, and are generally accepting and docile around all other animals, unless threatened. They've each been manhandled by children quite a few times, and have yet to bite out of fear or anger. Every once in a while they'll nibble a finger just to make sure it's not a treat, then give little rat kisses to make up for the transgression. They make excellent apartment pets, and great first pets for kids. I've given thought to allowing one of mine to become a mommy (not Pepper, of course), and all the potential babies have dibs on them.

A fairly unique thing about mine is that I'm currently looking for a drug rehabilitation facility to bring them regularly, as therapy animals. They are excellent at forcing people to look at their actions from another, tiny point of view, and evaluate how these actions will be received. I brought two of my girls to my mom's house for the first time just after my sister had left inpatient rehabilitation. The way the rats brightened her up and took to her was amazing. She's now their favorite person to nap on.

- Becca, 22, Austin, TX, May 24, 2013

My whole life all I've been interested in is critters. Our family has of course had dogs and cats and horses but I was always the one bringing home the seemingly odd animals. When I was ten my mother and I went into a pet shop that was closing down. Looking around I discovered a cage full of black and white hooded rats. Curiously I stuck my hand down into the aquarium and up my arm crawled my new little buddy. I put him back to go tell my mom and when she came to look the same little rat chose me again and crawled right on up. Intrigued, my mother talked to the pet shop owner awhile and came back to tell me that she must be crazy and allowed me to keep him. He changed my life and opened my eyes to the degenerate ignorance of judgement and profiling. Sadly, Cheddar was only in my life for four months because we found it very hard to care for him because of my parents' divorce and switching households weekly. Without telling me my mom found another home for him one day while I was at school...never to be forgotten though.

Today my boyfriend that I live with and are the proud owners of two rats, Joey and Winston. Joey is an organizer and cuddler, while the younger Winston is messy and playful. They make a great pair and they brighten my life everyday. Plus, nothing compares to hearing your macho boyfriend talk baby-talk to two little rats. It just goes to show that you should never judge a book by its cover and you should never underestimate the love between animals and humans.
- Nicole Smith, Michigan, 19 yrs old, April 13, 2013

I was first exposed to rats in grade school, when I met my friend's rat. It wasn't long until myself and my sister were convinced that rats were incredibly awesome little critters and got our first few rats just a couple years later during my sophomore year of high school. Mom didn't know, since my sister had her own place. But after she got to know Mischief, and learned first-hand that rats weren't all that the movies and popular culture made them out to be that she herself got a rat! I'm six years out of high school now, and have perpetually had a rat in my life ever since getting Mischief. There's been Trouble, Rascal, Scamp, Aiko, Minnie, Cassidy, Tina, Mocha, and Scabbers. Right now I have Latte, and three very special little rats.

About six months ago I got the opportunity to adopt three week-old babies out of the wild, and bottle-fed them and decided to keep them because they kept following me! Now they're named Cappa and Chino, the boys, and Honey, their sister. Over the years I've allowed the various personalities of my rats to become advocates in my local area for just how great of pets they are. My lovelies even convinced my boyfriend and his family, who'd had less than positive experiences prior, that they're sweet and lovable. The 'Three Mouse-keteers', as I've laughingly dubbed my wild trio, have won over even the most hardy rat-a-phobes with their story and how they see me as Momma and like to wrestle and go everywhere with me.

- Katie Dean, Eureka, CA ; November 12, 2012

My father used to live with me. He was terminally ill with Parkinsons, Alzheimers and later cancer. I got a pet rat for my foster son, who had been abused for the first 6 years of his life. The rat warmed up to both my "men" and them to him. Rattie grew very close to my father and loved sitting with him all the time.

The new rat, Rattie Jr., was only about a year old when my father passed away. He stopped eating and just lay in his cage. He didn't want to play anymore either. Two weeks later to the day, Rattie Jr. joined my father. That was two years ago and I still get tears in my eyes.

My foster son is now my son and at age 13 doing so much better. He still loves rats with a passion and has developed a deep love for all animals, thanks to his wonderful introduction to Rattie.

- Joanne, England; June, 2006

- Kathy L. Wood, Watertown, MA

- Cindy Tuttle, W. Sacramento, CA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rats are extremely social and personable animals that bond strongly to their owners. They are smart enough to learn their names and will come when you call them. They beg to come out of their cage to play and interact with their owners. Rats love to be petted.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In considering which type of furry pet to add to a household, many families automatically consider only cats or dogs. However, rodents - specifically rats - make the perfect companions for some people.

Only about 3 percent of pet-owning households in the U.S. call rats (or gerbils, mice or hamsters) pets, but this may change if more people got to know them. Intelligent, inquisitive and affectionate, rats are charming and playful, and can learn to come when you call them.

You can teach pet rats to learn tricks, too, and, contrary to popular belief, rats aren't dirty - they're actually very clean. So if you're considering adding a small pet to your family, here are six reasons why a rat (or two) may be the best choice for you.

6 Reasons to Adopt a Pet Rat

1. Rats Are Intelligent
Rats, like humans, can make decisions based on what they do or do not know. Studies also show that rats are surprisingly self-aware and social creatures who form strong bonds with their owners.

They learn their names and come when they're called, and they beg for time out of their cage to play and interact with their owners. Many rats will also "groom" their owners, which is a sign of affection.

For the record, recent research suggests mice are equally as intelligent as rats. Rats are even capable of showing regret when they make bad choices.
2. Rats Show Empathy
Adding to the complexity of pet rats is their ability to be empathetic. In a study published in 2011, researchers placed a free rat in an arena with a cage-mate trapped in a restrainer. The free rat quickly learned how to set the trapped rat free.

The real test came in, however, when the free rat was given the choice of either freeing the trapped rat or opening a restrainer containing chocolate. The free rats, in the latter case, freed the rat and the chocolate, and even shared the treat together. As written in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews:

"Empathy is a phenomenon often considered dependent on higher-order emotional control and an ability to relate to the emotional state of others. It is, by many, attributed only to species having well-developed cortical circuits capable of performing such complex tasks.

However, over the years, a wealth of data has been accumulated showing that rodents are capable not only of sharing emotional states of their conspecifics, but also of prosocial behavior driven by such shared experiences."
3. Rats Are Fastidiously Clean
Rats don't typically need to be bathed, as they're fastidious groomers. Not only do they like to keep their fur clean, but they also tend to keep their food organized into tidy piles. Rats also groom each other, keeping clean all those hard-to-reach places.
4. Rats Are Affectionate
Every rat has his own personality, but in general rats enjoy the companionship of humans (and other rats). Many rats enjoy being petted while some enjoy perching on your shoulder.

Rats will often cuddle up on your lap (especially males) and some even play games like peek-a-boo. Female rats tend to be more active than male rats.
5. Rats Like to Be Tickled
It's been scientifically proven that the high-frequency chirping noises rats make when tickled is a form of laughter. What's more, rats bond with the person who tickles them and make them laugh.
6. Rats Are Quiet and Don't Require Much Space
Aside from occasional pleasant squeaks and chattering, rats are very quiet, which is another reason why many people, especially those living in apartments, believe rats make good pets.

They also require a relatively small amount of space - a minimum of 2 cubic feet of cage space for each rat (rats do best with at least one same-sex buddy) or 1 cubic feet of space for a mouse.

That being said, rats enjoy spending time outside of their cages with their owners, and they also require ample room to move around for stimulation (so consider multiple levels, hammocks, tunnels, ramps, shelves and other areas of interest).

Rats Are Not 'Throwaway' Pets

Rats and mice are often considered to be "starter" pets that are easy to care for and require little time or emotional commitment. This is not the case, however, as these animals require daily interactions, feeding (including preparation of fresh foods) and exercise.

Your rats' cage must be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week, and they require veterinary care if they become ill. In fact, to stay well, rats should receive regular check-ups with a veterinarian who cares for rats.

Rats may not be the best choice for families with young children, who may handle the animal too roughly and are at an increased risk from zoonotic diseases (the same is true for people with compromised immune systems).

If you decide to adopt a pet rat or two, there are many available - in all different colors, such as blue, lilac, Siamese and champagne, at rat rescue organizations. There are even hairless rats, tailless rats, curly-haired rats and rats with big ears.

How do you know which rat pair is right for you? Contact a local rescue in your area - they'll be able to describe the rats' personalities and help you find the best match for your family.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In considering which type of furry pet to add to a household, many families automatically consider only cats or dogs. However, rodents - specifically rats - make the perfect companions for some people. Only about 3 percent of pet-owning households in the U.S.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Are mice and rats right for your family? Possibly, if you know a little about them before you decide to adopt.
Breeders and Pet Stores
Just like dogs, mice and rats are supplied to pet stores by mass breeders, who aggravate the problem of these species' overpopulation and their resulting abandonment and abuse. Shipped to distributors in small, cramped containers that are breeding grounds for parasites as well as viral and bacterial infections, they often reach pet stores ill, malnourished, and/or pregnant.

Small animals provide these stores with only a modest profit, and their deaths are considered a minor loss to the businesses. Their living conditions in the stores generally reflect this. You can commonly spot animals with discharge from the eyes or nose; rough, scaly tails; ruffled coats; hunched postures; listlessness; bloated stomachs; and dirty, damp mouths and anal areas. Frequent scratching is a sign of skin mites or fungal problems. Other warning signs of illness include sneezing, wheezing, thinness, broken teeth, blood or mucus in droppings, and diarrhea. If you purchase a mouse or a rat from a pet store, you may be acquiring a sick animal who will need immediate veterinary care. You can learn about the cruelty that PETA has repeatedly uncovered at PetSmart here and at Petco here.
Sleep Needs
Mice and rats are nocturnal, so those you adopt will likely be sleeping all day and making noise (running on their wheels, chewing, etc.) all night. If you have children, they may become frustrated when the animals aren't awake to play, and-like all animals-mice and rats don't enjoy being disturbed when they're sleeping. So plan to spend some time playing with them late in the evening when everyone is awake. If your home isn't usually quiet during the day and there's no peaceful place for them to rest, you may want to rethink keeping them as companions. Like all animals, their health suffers when they're deprived of sleep.
Veterinary Care
Prospective guardians of mice and rats should keep in mind that they do require veterinary care and that this can be as expensive as it is for cats and dogs. They're very susceptible to upper respiratory infections (URIs), which are often fatal. If you notice that your animal is losing interest in food, toys, and spending time with you or is showing symptoms of illness, such as coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, excessive tiredness, or cloudy eyes, you'll want to get him or her to a small-animal specialist or an emergency animal hospital as soon as possible to be checked for a URI. The vet can often prescribe a course of oral antibiotics, which will need to be administered every day. The visit and the antibiotics will likely cost upwards of $100, and the prescription may not always save the animal. It's imperative that your companion get medical care as early as possible in order to have the best chance of survival. An animal must never be left to suffer from a URI. The infection is extremely painful, and animals won't simply "get better" without medical care.
Housing
Rats and mice are social butterflies. Ideally, they should live with a companion of their own species. But since they're too small to be spayed or neutered, males and females can't be housed together. And two males housed together will often fight. Two or more females will likely enjoy being together if they have adequate space. You can adopt just one male as long as you're willing to spend time with him and give him extra care and attention.
Basic Care
If you adopt rats or mice, you'll need to provide them with a comfortable habitat that meets all their needs. Here are a few basic guidelines to follow:

Wire enclosures are much healthier for mice and rats than aquariums, as they're ventilated to allow fresh air in instead of trapping odors, they stay cooler, and they provide the animals with more contact and interaction with their surroundings. Some guardians use a standard cage left open inside a playpen or a similar larger enclosure to leave room for the animals to explore, climb, play with toys, and run.

Cover the floor of the enclosure with bedding at least an inch thick to provide them with comfort and cleanliness and to allow for burrowing and nesting. Cedar and pine shavings are toxic to small animals, and the dust from them can cause URIs. Companies such as Carefresh make soft paper bedding that's more comfortable than shavings, locks in moisture, and is nontoxic and dust-free.

Mice and rats are sensitive to temperature extremes, so you'll want to keep their habitats out of direct sunlight and away from air vents.

They need constant access to fresh water and dry food that's suitable for them. They also love most produce for treats and can eat nuts (except almonds) and grains. Avoid giving them cheese, milk, and other animal-derived "products." You'll want to clean their food dish daily and their water bottle before each refill.

Because of their sensitive respiratory systems, they can't be exposed to smoke. Similarly, don't spray perfumes, cleaning products, or other airborne chemicals near them.

Much like cats, mice and rats clean themselves. They don't need to be bathed and wouldn't enjoy it. Don't bathe them unless your vet tells you otherwise.

Bonding

Their teeth grow constantly, so they need to chew to keep them from overgrowing. Shelled treats like pistachios and sunflower seeds give them a healthy way to do this, can be tasty treat rewards, and provide them with a fun way to stay engaged and entertained. Mineral blocks as well as wood and rice chews are also great for these purposes. Keep a couple of options handy so that your animals don't get bored.

They love to run on exercise wheels. Choose one that's solid plastic and appropriate for their size. Wire wheels can hurt their feet, and they can fall through the gaps and be injured. They love to run at night, so if the wheel is too loud, apply a drop of olive oil to the brackets.

Almost anything can be a fun toy for them: Try using paper towel and toilet paper rolls for tunneling, small balls, anything that they can climb, and tissue boxes and paper bags filled with bedding to allow them to burrow and hide their treats. Mice and rats are extremely smart and love to solve puzzles, too. Have fun with them by making puzzles for them to solve for a treat reward, and then watch them figure them out. You can put a treat inside a toilet paper roll and stuff paper into the ends, put a reward inside a paper bag and roll the top closed, ball up a piece of paper around a snack, hide a tempting morsel under only one of two small paper cups, and try anything else that you think they might enjoy.

You can spot-clean droppings daily to help reduce the chance of illness, and once a week, you'll need to clean out the whole cage. While you're doing this, mice can explore your home in exercise balls that are suitable for their size, but rats shouldn't be placed in these, because they can potentially cause back problems. The animals can also sit on a blanket on your sofa or bed while their home is being cleaned. Scoop and throw away all the bedding and food remnants from the floor of the habitat, and then wash the entire thing with soap and water. Don't use spray cleaners, as the harsh chemicals can irritate animals' delicate respiratory systems. Dry everything thoroughly before putting in new bedding and fresh food and water. It's also nice to leave extra treats for the animals to find.

It may take a while for mice and rats to become comfortable with stepping into your hand and being picked up and held. Start by laying your hand flat with a food treat in your palm. You may have to leave the treat in the habitat a few times before the animals approach your hand, but you're still helping to create a positive association. When your animals walk into your hand to take the treat, don't pick them up immediately, but give them time to feel comfortable first. Then slowly lift them to your chest to be gently petted. They may also enjoy sniffing your hands and face just like a cat or dog would, and this can be very cute (and ticklish). It's rewarding to see them begin to trust you and run to you when you approach. You may also want to try letting them sit with you on your sofa or bed. Just spread an old blanket across the surface first, since they're not aware of when they're toileting, and keep an eye on them to make sure they don't try to climb down. (Mice and rats don't like to jump, so don't worry about that.)
Adoption
If you're ready to give mice or rats a loving and devoted permanent home, please don't give your money to breeders, dealers, or pet stores. Your local humane societies likely have many of these animals who need families, and the Rat and Mouse Club of America's (RMCA) Furry Friends Orphanage foster care program maintains units across the U.S. You can learn more about the group and its adoptable animals here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Do Mice and Rats Make Good "Pets?" | PETA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Are mice and rats right for your family? Possibly, if you know a little about them before you decide to adopt. Breeders and Pet Stores Just like dogs, mice and rats are supplied to pet stores by mass breeders, who aggravate the problem of these species' overpopulation and their resulting abandonment and abuse.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This year for Lunar New Year, it's the year of the rat!

To celebrate, let's learn how these little critters make great pets.

That's right, we said pets!

When you think of pets you probably picture dogs, cats, fish and maybe even birds. But believe it or not, rats have been loyal friends to humans for over 200 years!

In the 1800s, the term "fancy rat" was used to tell the domesticated rats (the ones that live with people) from the ones that live on the street. Fancy rats were even featured in shows - something that still happens today!

Want to know why rats make great pets for both kids and adults? Then keep reading!

Rats are super smart

Have you ever seen a rat rollover on command? How about a rat that plays fetch? Rats can do both those things and more!

Rats are very smart, so training them is a piece a cake. In fact, the reason why rats are used in scientific studies (think mazes) is to study behaviour since they have such high levels of emotional intelligence.

Your pet rat will also learn the name you give them!

Rats keep it clean

Feel free to skip the bath with these little guys!

You know how cats are always grooming themselves? Rats actually groom more often and even better than those felines!

Getting dirty is just not for rats, and if they do get something in their fur, the first thing they do is try to clean it up. (But there are extra-messy times when you may have to give your rat a bath!)

Rats also like to keep their cages nice and organized. And if you have more than one rat, you'll often see them grooming each other!

Rats have their own personalities

These little critters have their own personalities that change from rat to rat. Some rats are outgoing, some are laid-back and some only want to socialize!

Part of the fun of owning a rat is getting to know your pet's personality and seeing it grow as they become comfortable with you.

Many rat owners say their pets' personalities can be very entertaining, especially when they get a brand new object or toy to explore!

Click here to see the other kinds of animals you wouldn't think of that people have as pets!

Rats are low-maintenance

It's not just the lack of baths that make rats low-maintenance pets, but also the fact that there are no walks required!

Domesticated rats make their home in cages. And since they're nocturnal (active at night), they typically sleep for 13 to 15 hours a day so you don't have to worry about keeping them occupied for too long at a time. But they'll happily wake up to play with their owners!

Just be sure not to leave your pet alone for too long, they still need love and socialization just like any family member.

Rats will love you!

You know how cats purr? Well rats brux!

Bruxing is a noise rats make by tapping their teeth together and it's a sign that they're happy and comfortable in their environment.

Many rat owners say the time they hear the most bruxing is when their pet gets to relax on their shoulder or in their arms. Rats bond to their owners very deeply and recognize their face, voice and will even try to groom their humans as they would another rat!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 reasons why you'd love a pet rat! | CBC Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This year for Lunar New Year, it's the year of the rat! To celebrate, let's learn how these little critters make great pets. That's right, we said pets! When you think of pets you probably picture dogs, cats, fish and maybe even birds.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Schools deal with "Pokemon" card phenomenon.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 15, 1999

Mike Johnson

9/15/1999

'Wheeling, dealing' causing disruptions in class, principals say.

Say it ain't so, Jolteon.

Pokemon--the trading card craze that has usurped its baseball counterpart's role among youngsters throughout the nation - is so out of control that some frustrated school administrators have banned the cute creatures with tongue-twisting names because the "wheeling and dealing" has caused a major distraction in the classroom.

Kids, who tote stacks of the popular and hard-to-get cards to school in their book bags, are late for buses and slow to clear out of the cafeteria because they have been so consumed with their trades.

And when they argue about a badly brokered deal, teachers are left to referee. One teacher, who returned the wrong cards to a student, later was accused by a parent of stealing them.

One Brookfield elementary school principal says the situation is so bad that he fears academic "achievement is beginning to suffer."

So beginning this week, Burleigh Elementary Principal Bil Zahn banned them from his school.

"Pokemon cards have become a huge problem here at Burleigh. Cards are being traded and then a decision is reversed and a student is unable to get his/her original cards back," Zahn wrote in a "principal's proclamation" called the "Pokemon Dilemma" that he sent home to parents.

"Students are admiring their Pokemon cards instead of paying attention to their teacher," he said.

Pokemon (short for "pocket monsters") mania has given a monstrous headache to more than Zahn.

Cooper Elementary School in Sheboygan also banned the cards, which are based on a popular Japanese game.

Ben Franklin Elementary in the Menomonee Falls district, Lake Bluff Elementary in the Shorewood district and Johnson Elementary in the Racine district recently banned them.

Some schools, such as Green Tree Elementary School in West Bend, are taking a wait-and-see approach. If problems result with the cards, "they'll be out the door," promised Principal Al Fritschel.

Some districts, including Milwaukee Public Schools and Wauwatosa, haven't reported any serious problems with the cards.

"We haven't seen that phenomenon occurring here yet," said Lori Komas, principal of Milwaukee's Hi-Mount Community School.

Cooper Elementary Principal Marirose Lucey said she wishes she were only as fortunate.

"There were trades at first recess and then the kids wanted their cards back," she said. "We were getting too distracted worrying about good trades and bad trades instead of education.

"On Friday, we had a kid crying because the cards weren't in his backpack. We called the mom to see if there was anything we could do. She said, 'It's OK. They were on his dresser.'

"He spent time worrying about them and all this time they were at home. We don't need that kind of side trip."

Some younger kids unwittingly have traded rare cards worth $40 to older, more savvy children, only to learn later that they were duped into a bad swap, Lucey said.

When the cards first came on the scene earlier this year, they didn't have much of a value attached to them. But once cards got a dollar value, everything changed, she said.

"Up until then, kids were playing with them and having fun," Lucey said. "That was before adults and older siblings got involved and told kids the cards were more valuable."

Zahn, the Burleigh Elementary principal, said that in one incident a teacher mediating a dispute took the cards away and then gave the wrong cards back to another child.

"One parent thought the teacher stole some of the cards," Zahn said. "It got to the point where there was aggravation . . . where we were losing instructional time."

Shorewood's Lake Bluff Elementary School banned the Pokemon cards at the start of the school year after a parent informed Principal Kirk Juffer of the phenomenon.

"She said, 'Are you aware of how rabid kids' interest in Pokemon is?' "

He wasn't. But after checking, he decided to prohibit the cards. Juffer said he felt students' "total infatuation" might keep them from concentrating on schoolwork.

"It was a wise decision," he said.

Still, some kids do bring Pokemon cards to school in their backpacks and make trades at the end of the day. "We still hear about lost cards and unfair trades," Juffer said.

At Racine's Johnson Elementary, Principal Elizabeth Motley said she decided to ban the cards after problems surfaced during summer school. Kids were trading their Pokemon cards and then wanted them back.

"Parents had to come and separate the cards," she said.

"That was my first experience with them. Kids were showing up with notebooks for summer school. I thought they were being so studious. But they had big notebooks filled with Pokemon cards."

At Shorewood's Atwater Elementary School, students are prohibited from having cards out during class but are allowed to trade them at lunch and before and after school.

"Trading cards--like baseball cards--are part of children's culture," said Principal Tim Duax.

And to better understand the phenomenon, he videotaped the Pokemon cartoon show that along with the Nintendo game has helped fuel the craze.

Duax said he plans on showing the videotape to teachers. "It's such a rage right now, we need to know the educational aspects of it," he said.

Duax said he found important themes of "friendship, cooperation and trying to do good deeds" in the cartoon show.

But the conflict between good and evil on the show was settled with mild violence, a Pokemon creature squirting water or delivering a mild electric shock to an opponent.

Duax would rather see conflicts settled by peaceful negotiating, but he admits that might not make much of a Saturday morning cartoon.

Back at Burleigh Elementary, Pokemon fans tried to negotiate a deal with Zahn. One class of fifth-graders wrote him that they were mature enough to trade the cards at school and blamed younger students for the problems.

The letter said: "You banned Pokemon from school because people were getting mad and playing with them in class. Only the second- and third-graders were doing it."

Said Zahn: "Unfortunately, that's not quite correct. Fourth-grade teachers were adamant that we do something about it."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children in Urban America - Marquette University

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Schools deal with "Pokemon" card phenomenon. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 15, 1999 Mike Johnson 9/15/1999 'Wheeling, dealing' causing disruptions in class, principals say. Say it ain't so, Jolteon.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Parents might not know what they are, but their kids sure do.

Pokemon, or pocket monsters, have been sweeping the nation. And the small, round, colorful creatures are gracing T-shirts and cards being carried by children all across the state.

The popular Nintendo video game and now trading card series with pictures of the small creatures on them have befuddled parents standing in front of walls of cards, puzzled about which card series they should buy their children.

The cards' popularity has caused other dilemmas as well. Some schools have banned the cards because they have caused too many distractions for students. Several schools in the metro area have set aside trading card days on weekends to allow children to get together, trade and play the game.

Wanna trade? Unfair Pokemon card trades, the selling of Pokemon cards and general distractions the cards often create at school have caused some schools to ban the cards. The cards are primarily used for trading but can be used to play a strategic game, too.

Parent Mary Ann Rosenbalm teaches fifth grade at Edmond's Charles Haskell Elementary School, where, she said, officials had to ban the cards because they were distracting the children too much.

Orvis Risner Elementary School in Edmond has also banned the cards, said Principal Joe Pierce.

"We don't want the students to bring anything to school which will distract them from learning," he said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Best subject? Pokemon! Schools try to limit trading of cards

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
MAR 15, 2020 - Parents might not know what they are, but their kids sure do.Pokemon, or pocket monsters, have been sweeping the nation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
WASHINGTON -- They arrived in America from Japan about a year ago -- cards bearing big-eyed little characters whose enigmatic powers fascinated children. But the trouble began when the little "pocket monsters" began coming to school -- stuffed in the pockets of cargo pants, encased lovingly in acrylic photo albums and stashed in Hello Kitty backpacks.

Now Pokemon cards are being sent to the principal's office, banned from playgrounds even in schools where toys were not taboo. School officials from Connecticut to California have concluded that the cards are disrupting learning, poisoning playground friendships and causing such distraction that children forget their homework, tune out in class and miss school buses as they scramble to acquire one more card. "It just became such a monster," said Judith Franks, principal of Valerio Elementary School in Van Nuys, Calif., who recently banned the cards.

Among children from preschool to middle school, collecting and trading Pokemon cards has fired imaginations and touched off a frenzy of entrepreneurship. The cards -- about 150 in all -- depict fantasy critters who do battle with one another but "faint" rather than die when beaten by another player's cards. The cards come in packs of 11, costing from $3 to $11. But they are in such demand that a secondhand market has sprung up, driving the cost of the most sought-after cards beyond $100.

At Daniel Boone Elementary in San Diego, Principal Barbara Bethel banned the cards after she learned that, in addition to their milk money, children were bringing cash wads of up to $40 to school, hoping to buy a card.

That financial dimension is what school administrators and psychologists say distinguishes the Pokemon craze from earlier kid frenzies over marbles, yo-yos or Beanie Babies.

"The thing with the Pokemon cards is that kids are really aware of their value," said Robert Butterworth, a Los Angeles-based child psychologist whose son was until recently a devoted "pack rat," as Pokemon card aficionados are called. Recess at his son's school "turned into a little flea market. They had their calculators out. It really became a buy-and-sell bazaar."

Parents appear to be of two minds on the matter.

When Harry Miale, principal of the Gastonville Elementary Center in Finleyville, Pa., banned the cards recently, many parents sought him out to thank him.

Others see the cards as a good way for their children to develop skills they will need later. "It teaches kids negotiating skills," Sophia Romano, a mother and financial adviser in Rolling Meadows, Ill., told the Chicago Daily Herald.

But principals say they are seeing the dark side of the deal-making: tears, fights and appeals to teachers to arbitrate trades later regretted.

Jenny Bendel, a spokeswoman for Wizards of the Coast, which produces the cards under license from Nintendo, said the company understands the principals' actions. But she was quick to add that many teachers have called the company asking that game experts visit their school. "They're finding that the game is a good learning tool," she said. By encouraging children to search out more information about their favorite characters in books, she said, the cards help kids "teach themselves to read."

Pub Date: 10/17/99

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pokemon obsession leads to bans at schools; Officials say card craze distracts from learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
WASHINGTON -- They arrived in America from Japan about a year ago -- cards bearing big-eyed little characters whose enigmatic powers fascinated children. But the trouble began when the little "pocket monsters" began coming to school -- stuffed in the pockets of cargo pants, encased lovingly in acrylic photo albums and stashed in Hello Kitty backpacks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
No school rule could come between this third-grader and his Pokémon.

Nine-year-old Lucas Ayala didn't just get angry about his Queens charter school's long-standing ban on his favorite trading card game - he decided to take matters into his own hands and write a letter to try to get the rule overturned.

"I thought I could make my teacher realize Pokémon was educational," the bubbly Woodside student said.

"The letter was supposed to be a joke but then my teacher gave it to other teachers.... It was amazing."

Lucas' well-crafted, handwritten argument touted the positives of the hugely popular game, which involves collecting cards that have different rankings and powers and trading them with friends.

He explained to his teacher, Jennifer Toti, that the game - which features a deck of 60 cards and dice - taught him about addition, subtraction and multiplication, and he suggested it could also be used in school math classes.

To further bolster his case, he cheekily signed off his letter: "Even if you can't, you are still a great teacher!"

"It made me laugh," Toti said.

"We teach the students they can use words for good, and if you use them the right way, you can change the world. He applied that to something that was important to him."

Toti had taught her students at Our World Neighborhood Charter School in Astoria how to write persuasive letters as part of the third-grade curriculum. She was so impressed at the way Lucas argued his point, she sent his note all the way to the top.

"I knew nothing about Pokémon," Assistant Principal Dr. Richard Welles said. "But I did some research and it confirmed what Lucas said. There's a great deal that's mathematical about it ... so I wrote to the staff saying that we can, under certain circumstances, promote it."

The ban on Pokémon was lifted at the elementary school last month for third-graders and above, during recess and in some math classes.

It also turned Lucas into a mini-star among students.

"I never thought it would work," he said. "Everybody was talking about it."

Lucas' parents say they are not surprised by their eldest son's actions.

"He's like a little lawyer," mom Karen Marder said. "He's a very special kid. We are always very proud of him."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pokemon cards allowed in Queens school thanks to third-grader's persuasive letter to teacher

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
No school rule could come between this third-grader and his Pokémon. Nine-year-old Lucas Ayala didn't just get angry about his Queens charter school's long-standing ban on his favorite trading card game - he decided to take matters into his own hands and write a letter to try to get the rule overturned.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Pokémon Go has been sweeping the world like no other game before it. Since its launch in Australia on July 6 th this year it has trended on every form of social media. So what is it, where did it come from? And most importantly, as educators how excited should we be about it?

This is a game that takes players out into the physical world in search of Pokémon. Once you have registered and logged in, Google maps gives you an excellent stylised orientation to your local area. Signals in the map will lead you to the resources you seek to play the game.

When you find Pokémon you need to capture them (by 'throwing balls' at them on your screen). This is when the fantasy map view switches to a camera view of your immediate surroundings, placing the Pokémon clearly in your physical world. This augmented reality view blurs the lines between game and physicality, between fantasy and reality.

You can pay for some resources in the Pokémon (in-app) shop but to avoid paying and to continue to play the game, such as hatching eggs or doing battle, you must walk about in the physical world. This is the unique part of the game. Gamers have to get up, get outside and move! And of course players take lots of photos of this part and share them on social media. (We players are the best marketing tool Nintendo ever had.)

For those who are into gaming, in design Pokémon Go follows the lessons learned in Niantic's previous game Ingress. Indeed the physical locales for Pokéstops and PokéGyms (vital to the game) are drawn from the nodes created by Ingress players.

And if you are a player, I probably should disclose I am on team Mystic.
Pokémon began with card collecting
But Pokémon itself is not new. It is a game system that began with collectable cards some 20 years ago and developed into a video game in 2003. I use my experience of talking to a 7 year old about Pokémon play on the Nintendo DS as an example of the level of complexity young players embrace in well-designed games. (I have been using this example for years!)

Understanding the many Pokémon, their relative skills and comparative statistics, is vital togame play. Yet my 7-year-old player who is doing all of that strategic thinking in a complex system will then face rudimentary mathematics operations back in the classroom at school. We need to ask ourselves if and where school offers genuine opportunities to engage with complex systems and how students stay motivated when switching between disparate levels of complexity.

Of course Pokémon Go has now morphed the Pokémon game into a worldwide phenomenon.
So what is our reaction to the first (almost) four weeks of playing ?
We seem to have the whole gamut of reactions across both mainstream and social media. Some see the game as evil, addictive and dangerous while others see it as delightful and both socially and physically advantageous.

A mother in Pittsburgh blamed Pokémon Go for her 16-year-old daughter walking into the path of an oncoming car. A war vet with PTSD thanked Pokémon Go for getting him out to play with his kids and meet neighbours, who were also playing, in a local park. A father worries about whether men with cameras outside his child's preschool are playing Pokémon Go or engaging in some thing more nefarious.
There are many sides to this game that we seem clearly unprepared for
An animal shelter invited people to walk a shelter dog to catch Pokémon and hatch their eggs. A mother told me that her teenage son, who constantly plays online from the confines of his bedroom, is now heading out to meet mates in a park and claim a local 'gym' for his team.

You can post lures that attract Pokémon. The potential danger of this is obvious, but lures can also be placed in a children's hospital, for example, so that bed bound kids can engage in the fun of play. Then, of course, the possible commercialisation of lures is boundless. (Shops and businesses are already buying lures to bring in potential customers.)

And this game is not just for kids, it is attracting players of all ages and the curious who may never have played a mobile phone game before. This multi-generational augmented reality has taken us by surprise. Parents have not had the chance to have safety conversations with young players for a form of play they could never have conceived. None of us could have predicted the numbers and diversity of people who would take up this game nor the excited and animated sharing and conversation it would engender.

In less than four weeks this game is proving to be a powerful social vehicle. Parents are playing with their kids. Neighbours are meeting up. Facebook is alight with discussions and images sharing the delights and concerns of play in the "real" world. A recent blog post by games researcher Dean Groom outlines the potential bonding and bridging of social capital such massively multiplayer games can produce.
Should Pokémon Go go to school?
The early levels of play certainly seem to herald a heightened social connection, and isn't that something we would want to scaffold in schools?

I would suggest yes. But not in the way you might think. We don't need to play the game in school to leverage what the game affords us as educators.

The discourse around the game, what James Paul Gee refers to as the 'Big G' of games, is where the most transformational activity happens. The digital media is the 'small g' and the discourse of the player community is the 'Big G'.

I know there are those already looking at the possibilities for using it in the curriculum. But I seriously wonder if we should appropriate every popular game into school. It really should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

In this case the question is whether we need to appropriate the game or simply connect up as external players. I would suggest connecting to it. The possibilities in the "Big G" experience are where our energies should go rather than trying to press gang the game into the curriculum.

At last week's EdTEchSA state teacher conference I recommended every teacher and parent download the app and get playing. I invited them to play so that they can get in touch with their own sense of fun, not just to know what all the hype is about but also to experience, first hand, the sociability of the early stages of play. Teachers and parents need to understand the concept of fun as a challenge based experience.
Yes for the teachers!
And Pokémon Go definitely offers the challenges and through that affords tinkering, goal setting, sociability, rewards, and a sense of personal and group accomplishment. We have an opportunity to connect with learners through discourse about play, sharing tips and discussing the local area landmarks.

okémon Go could definitely go to school for the teachers. I heard of a teacher group starting a lunchtime walking club to walk and talk in the school area during the week while they play together. The bonding and professional dialogue this will engender could be very beneficial, and yes fun!
But don't get too excited
Whether teachers talk about the game or branch out into other topics, the game is the trigger. It becomes the vehicle for the physical experience with the possibility of professional and social discourse.

A note of caution needs to be offered here about the excitement in these early weeks of play. The community orientation of the early stages of the game may not be sustained unless the game grows and develops. Apparently already players, not interested in battling, are reporting a loss of the passion for the game. Respected game designers like, Amy Jo Kim, have questioned why the game design does not sustain activity around the cooperation and sociability of the early play.
Dr Bronwyn Stuckey, Bronwyn has consulted in K-12, adult and workplace learning contexts in relation to communities of practice, games based learning and aspects of gamification. She is a co-facilitator of the Open Badges Australia and New Zealand (OBANZ) community and has for the past 2 years researched the efficacy of open badges in re-imagining and re-framing academic learning programs and contexts. She is a postdoctoral research fellow of the Arizona State University Center for Games & Impact and is global leader in the gamification for community and identity cultivation. Bronwyn is also lead member of the Sydney Education Technology Group working to support edutech startups and to make Sydney the hub of educational entrepreneurship. is a Specialist in Gamification, Community of Practice and Open Badges. She has been engaged in educational community and gameful practices in learning development for the past 15 years. She has worked to explore virtual worlds, games in learning and how we can cultivate identity, agency, citizenship, leadership, and community. Bronwyn earned her PhD in researching the core factors supporting successful online communities of practice. Since leaving lecturing and learning design in the higher education sector (OTEN, UOW, QUT, UWS) her research, consultation and design have been in gamification and game-inspired designs for professional learning and communities of practice.
However after less than a month we have been truly enchanted by this game. It is early days yet to decide where it will go and what could happen next with augmented reality gaming. The one certainty is that is Pokémon Go has many educators thinking how it might change or enhance what we do in our schools.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pokémon Go in schools: should teachers be using it?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pokémon Go has been sweeping the world like no other game before it. Since its launch in Australia on July 6th this year it has trended on every form of social media. So what is it, where did it co...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Pokemon characters are showing up in malls, libraries, parks - and maybe schools.

With the resurgence of the wildly popular 90s game this summer, teachers may have to brace themselves for the distraction it could cause when school is back in session. But some experts say there is a big opportunity to use the rebooted childhood favorite as a learning tool.

"I don't think there's inherent learning value to the game itself, but it presents tons of learning opportunities that I think teachers can maximize in the classroom to really engage students," said Rebecca Randall, vice president of education programs and partnerships at Common Sense Education, an organization that follows edtech trends and reviews classroom apps.

Through the app, which uses a real-world gaming platform, players physically search their surroundings to find beloved old characters, like Pikachu and Charmander. As they search, their smartphones indicate when they are near a Pokemon character. When the colorful creature appears on their screen, players aim their phones to "throw a Poke Ball" and catch the character.

The virtual reality aspect of the game ties in with a lot of what students are now doing in school.

"This is so significant in an education context, because Pokemon Go is really showing us the potential of augmented and virtual reality apps and devices," said Jonathan Godfrey, vice president for public affairs at ACT The App Association, a group that represents apps and information technology firms.

Education experts say that the added augmented reality is what really attracts people of all ages to the game now. For example, Randall said her 19-year-old son wasn't interested in Pokemon when it reigned as a card game and a TV show, but now, he is totally immersed.

"We should use these games as a teachable moment, and as an opportunity to engage with our students and children, because they are really excited, and you can make connections," she told EdScoop.

Experts also say they think there are many ways the game can be used in school. For example, educators can use it to teach history. Many of the locations that players are directed to, called "Poke Stops," are local landmarks - like statues, libraries and parks.

The game also requires players to walk a certain distance to hatch eggs and unleash new characters, which can be incorporated into physical education classes. That means kids can get active while expanding their Pokemon collection at the same time.

While the game has been extremely popular since its launch last week, it also poses privacy and safety issues, Randall said.

The Pokemon Go developer, Niantic, Inc., is still working to find a solution to its biggest privacy challenge - when users register to play using their Google account information, the app is granted "full access" to their Google accounts. It captures almost all of their data and shares their location with other users.

"We know already that people have been targeted for assault and robbery because the perpetrators found them through the app," Randall said.

That happened in Anaheim Park in California on Wednesday, when a man who was playing the game was stabbed several times by a group of people in their teens or early 20s, according to NBC Los Angeles. Two men also on Wednesday fell off a cliff while engrossed in the hunt for characters, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In addition to revealing personal information, the app has also led players to sketchy locations. In one incident, the app led players to a living facility that houses registered offenders, the L.A. Times reported.

Common Sense, in their recent Pokemon Go review, recommended that kids ages 13 and older play the game, which "should be used with trusted adults, guidance and co-engagement," Randall said.

While there are always some risks involved in using technology and games in the classroom, kids and adults need to learn how to use them wisely, cautioned Simon Hauger, principal of Workshop School in Pennsylvania.

"People have to be responsible to ensure that the game isn't used for bad," he said. "The idea behind the Pokemon Go game is still very strategy-based, so there are a lot of critical thinking skills being developed while [kids] play."

The innovative high school in Philadelphia promotes digital citizenship in its curriculum, and students are allowed to bring their cell phones to class and use them when they are part of an assignment. Kids are also allowed to use their phones during their lunch period.

"We're trying to empower students to learn how to use their phones responsibly," Hauger said. "Banning cell phones would be an easy solution to kids wanting to be on them all day, but [then] you give up the students' ability to learn how to use them responsibly."

Cell phones and games can be a distraction, Hauger admits, but he hopes his school will be able to design a project that is centered around Pokemon Go. He sees potential in the problem solving, collaboration and physical activity involved with the game.

Experts agree that Pokemon fever will likely not die down - and the game will still be popular when September rolls around.

"Pokemon Go shows that we've only scratched the potential for augmented and virtual reality," said Godfrey. "We're at the earliest stages of adoption, and the technology is still progressing rapidly.

"We see the promise that this technology holds, particularly in an educational setting, and we're really excited about the possibilities."
Reach the reporter at darlene.aderoju@edscoop.com and follow her on Twitter @buuukky and @edscoop_news.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Educators brace themselves for back-to-school as Pokemon captures kids' attention - again | EdScoop

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pokemon characters are showing up in malls, libraries, parks - and maybe schools. With the resurgence of the wildly popular 90s game this summer, teachers may have to brace themselves for the distraction it could cause when school is back in session.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Americans are waking up to the plight of rural and small town areas. Rural students and workers need government and philanthropic help to link to jobs, higher education, and career opportunities, whether near their homes or in cities.

But rural residents need to avoid making matters worse for themselves. One troubling development, adopted totally by local initiative, is for rural schools to operate only four days per week (usually Monday through Thursday). This phenomenon is sweeping the Intermountain West, spreading to 88 districts in Colorado, 43 in Idaho, 30 in Oregon, and nearly half of the districts in Montana. Other parts of the country will likely follow suit.

The first few localities to adopt the four-day school week hoped to save money on transportation, heating, janitorial, and clerical costs. The idea was to add roughly 30 to 90 minutes to each day that students are in school, then on the fifth day (usually Friday) to assign projects and encourage parent and community groups to organize study halls and enrichment activities.

However, savings have been elusive because so many costs-most importantly teacher salaries and equipment leases-are fixed. Even on days off, sports teams use buses and drivers for away games. Savings must come from expendables (for example, fuel for buses and heating, food for student lunches, and pay for hourly employees). There are also offsetting cost increases. School buildings must be kept open longer four days each week and on the fifth day for teacher meetings. Students who spend 90 minutes more per day in school need afternoon snacks.

Most localities adopted the four-day week after the original cost-saving argument was debunked. Why? It isn't because rural children suffer from spending too many days in school. To the contrary, rural students consistently do less well in college on a variety of outcomes (readiness for credit-bearing courses, grades, rate of progress, graduation) than urban students from similar income groups.

Some school leaders hoped it could lead to more intense teacher collaboration and more writing by students and feedback by teachers. However, as our recent study revealed, good intentions can erode, for example, as good resolutions deteriorate and teachers who were part of the original "deal" leave and are replaced.

The idea has proved contagious because adults like it: Teachers have more free time, and stay-at-home parents like the convenience of taking kids to doctors and doing errands on Friday. Many district leaders who have recently adopted the idea say that it gives them an advantage in competing for teachers, who understandably like the idea of the same pay for 20 percent fewer days at work.

But veteran teachers are also concerned that longer days don't work for the youngest students, and that an absent teacher or student also loses a larger fraction of the school week. Every Monday is like the first day back from vacation. As we discovered, few localities have compensated by assigning and grading fifth-day projects or organizing new learning opportunities. And the shortened school week poses a hardship for two-earner households and low-income families without the time or means to arrange study halls, field trips, and online coursework. In towns with large numbers of newly settled-out migrant workers, most of the newcomers are at loose ends on the fifth day.

Some rural communities we studied have approached the four-day week with caution, intending to go back to five days if results for kids are not good. However, most communities that have adopted it view it as a permanent arrangement, not a trial to be evaluated and reconsidered in light of evidence.

If local leaders are lucky, graduates of these schools won't be any less well educated than their siblings who went to school all week. But, in an environment where young rural adults already suffer from isolation and low economic opportunity, the shorter school week could exacerbate their problems.

To date, this has been a local phenomenon, based on support from vocal families and signals from the teacher labor market. States have done little to discourage it, and they aren't requiring thoughtful use of the fifth day nor helping localities offer higher teacher salaries for a longer work week.

Some foundations-for example, the Donnell-Kay Foundation in Colorado and The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation in Idaho-are exhorting local leaders and offering money to help beef up the lost day. A larger philanthropic effort might make a difference nationwide.

In the meantime, rural mayors and school boards need to be challenged: Will they give in to the four-day week contagion? Will they try it but be alert to signs it isn't working or needs rethinking? Or will they refuse to take the risk that harm to students might become apparent only when it is too late?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A troubling contagion: The rural 4-day school week

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Americans are waking up to the plight of rural and small town areas. Rural students and workers need government and philanthropic help to link to jobs, higher education, and career opportunities, whether near their homes or in cities. But rural residents need to avoid making matters worse for themselves.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As school districts across the country have faced budget crunches, a number have landed on a cost-saving solution: cancelling school one day a week.

Districts in at least 21 states have the four-day school week, including one in five districts in Oklahoma - an issue teachers there as they prepared to strike this week. "This package does not overcome a shortfall that has caused four-day weeks and overcrowded classrooms," the Oklahoma Education Association president said last week, criticizing a new law that provided pay increases for teachers.

Now a points to an unintended but perhaps unsurprising consequence of cutting the school week: a spike in juvenile crime.

Using sophisticated statistical techniques and data from 1997 and 2014 in Colorado, researchers Stefanie Fischer and Daniel Argyle looked at how four-day weeks affected crime among high-schoolers.

The results aren't pretty. Overall, shortened weeks caused youth crime to jump nearly 20 percent, with the biggest spikes in property crime. The study didn't find clear increases in violent crime, but there was some evidence of an increase in drug offenses.

Crime rates jumped the most on Thursdays; the researchers theorized that students treated that evening like an additional weekend night.

"Our findings support the common belief that when youth are supervised, as they are in school, they are less likely to commit crime," concludes the study, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Economics of Education Review.

In Colorado, a large share of rural districts have four-day weeks, and some and districts have also recently adopted this approach.

The districts extend the school days on Monday through Thursday, so that total time in school is not affected. That still allows districts to save on transportation, food, and utilities costs, and an extra day off for teachers is also a perk that might improve teacher retention .

Surveys in the affected districts generally find high degrees of satisfaction with shorter weeks. But the latest study underscores a less-discussed downside of the approach.

Still, the Colorado findings differ somewhat from past research in this area. In 2014, researchers looking at school furlough days in Hawaii found they coincided with arrests for drugs and assault among young people. Older research indicates that days off from school for teacher strikes or professional development lead to more property crime but less violent crime.

How does all of this affect academics? It's unclear. One Colorado-focused found that, if anything, the switch to four-day school weeks improved test scores. In Oregon, though, four-day weeks hurt achievement , particularly among students of color, low-income students, and those with a disability.

The mix of findings, some particularly negative, suggests that the budget shortfalls have left schools with tough choices - especially when schools serve many purposes, such as providing lunch to hungry kids, as the Washington Post last year.

"It's good and bad," one fourth grade student in Oklahoma said then. "The good part is we have more time with our families, and the bad part is some people don't get to eat."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Four-day school weeks, a nationwide symptom of tight budgets, lead to more youth crime, study finds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As school districts across the country have faced budget crunches, a number have landed on a cost-saving solution: cancelling school one day a week. Districts in at least 21 states have the four-day school week, including one in five districts in Oklahoma - an issue teachers there as they prepared to strike this week.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hundreds of school districts across the country are cutting classes.

Louisiana's Avoyelles Parish recently announced that it's moving to a four-day school week next year, joining the approximately 560 school districts in 25 states that have already embraced three-day weekends year-round.

"We have to think outside of the box when it comes to stuff like this," Avoyelles Parish School Board member Rickey Adams told central Louisiana NBC/CBS affiliate KALB on Wednesday, a day after the board voted 7-2 in favor of the shorter school week for its 5,300 students in the rural 10-school district.

The move is expected to cut costs, as Avoyelles Parish superintendent Blaine Dauzat told Yahoo News that, "We are dead last in the state in teachers' salaries," as well as help hire and retain teachers who would still be paid five-day salaries while working for four days, albeit by extending the length they teach during the days that they're on.

Four-day weeks aren't new - they've tended to cycle during times of financial crises, such as the 1930s and most recently during the Great Recession, when struggling Western states like Idaho, Missouri, South Dakota and Montana saw more schools drop either Mondays or Fridays to save transportation and utility costs one day per week. Today more than half of Colorado's school districts (98 out of 178) have switched to a four-day week, as have about 40% of New Mexico's districts. Schools in Florida (2012), Iowa (2013) and Texas (2016) have shortened their school weeks in the past few years, as well.

Most districts run Monday through Thursday, although a few have gone the Tuesday through Friday route, and the remaining school days are extended about an hour or an hour and a half longer to deliver the same amount of instructional time over fewer days, as required by state law.

But while the shorter workweek may sound great on paper - especially for teachers, many of whom would like to enjoy the popular shortened workweek perk enjoyed by employees at Shake Shack and a growing roster of companies - many parents and educators are concerned about what the long-term effect of a shorter week will have on their kids' education.

For one thing, academic outcomes have been mixed. While one Colorado study saw some higher math scores after students switched to four days, another found no significant difference. An unpublished Oregon study found a temporary decline in academic performance among minority, low-income and special needs students, in particular.

Worse, another recent study in Colorado estimated that shifting to a four-day schedule increased juvenile arrests for property crime (particularly larceny) by 73%.

Don't miss: Students around the world skip class to organize climate change protests

Critics also note that losing a day of school is especially hard on lower-income parents and dual-income households who have to scramble to find affordable child care an extra day each week now that their kids don't have class. Also, many low-income students depend on public schools for breakfast and lunch, so they would also lose a couple of essential meals.

Paul T. Hill, a research professor at the University of Washington Bothell who founded the Center on Reinventing Public Education, has written several articles questioning the impact that four-day school weeks have on students.

"You can see where children of fairly privileged families said, 'Oh here's my chance to take my kid to the college-prep course or on a tour or to get involved in an enrichment project of some kind.' The kids could come out fine from that," he said in a 2017 interview. "But what we're concerned about are two sets of kids. One, little kids who were, because of the way four-day weeks were structured, going to school a lot longer days; it wasn't clear to anybody that they were able to handle that. Secondly, the kids of poorer families or families who weren't two-earner families where the kids might be at loose ends on the fifth day."
Don't miss: Even Shake Shack is trying a four-day workweek
But on the plus side, some schools have reported lower absentee rates from students and staff by switching to the shorter week. And some parents and teachers have said they enjoy the improved work-life balance of having an extra weekday to run errands or work on lesson plans. Third grade teacher Michelle Lopez, from Jal, New Mexico, told the United Federation of Teachers that, "We [now] have extended blocks of time during the week for reading and math interventions for students who need help. A lot of us come in on Fridays anyway for lesson plans and other paperwork."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A surprising number of school districts have switched to a four-day week

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hundreds of school districts across the country are cutting classes. Louisiana's Avoyelles Parish recently announced that it's moving to a four-day school week next year, joining the approximately 560 school districts in 25 states that have already embraced three-day weekends year-round.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Critics point out that the change can be tough on lower-income parents, who may have trouble paying for childcare on the day their kids no longer have class. Also, low-income students rely on public schools for almost half their meals — breakfasts and lunches during the week. Paul T. Hill, a researc…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When Friday rolls around each week during the school year, many parents face the same situation. The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. To avoid this issue, many school districts have considered shifting to a 4-day school week.

The benefits of going to a 4-day week for schooling is that it offers teachers and students an additional day for rest every week. More rest then equates to dealing with less stress over the course of a school year. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades.

Shifting to this schedule does have certain disadvantages, especially for working parents. For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. This leads to added costs that some families, living paycheck to paycheck, may not be able to afford.

Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week.

What Are the Pros of a 4 Day School Week?

1. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students.
The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. Over the course of their first year on this new schedule, they reported that the frequency of discipline referrals for their students dropped by 73%. Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions.

2. It may improve overall student attendance.
The Melstone School District in Montana also shifted to a 4-day school week. Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. There were also reduced sick days requested by their teaching staff. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well.

3. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week.
The Peach County School District in Georgia saw that their graduation rates slowly increased year after year when they switched to a 4-day school week. The Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well.

4. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district.
Because school buses are only running 4 days per week instead of 5 days, there is the potential of reducing transportation costs by up to 20% by shifting the schedule. There are potential savings to food programs and other important areas of infrastructure because the school district is closed 1 additional day each week. For school districts struggling with funding issues, the potential savings here could save the budget.

5. Staff recruitment is easier with the 4-day school week for school districts.
In New Mexico, 18 of the state's 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. The districts on the 4-day school week are finding it easier to recruit for the staff they need because they offer the prospect of a 3-day weekend during the school year. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. And the school districts in the state have stable student achievement levels on their standardized tests.

6. Sports schedules are easier to manage.
Some school districts shifted to a 4-day week not because of financial needs, but others did so to make it easier to schedule sporting events or after-school activities. Weekend sporting events make it easier to get students to them, especially when they are an away event, because the school day doesn't interfere on a Friday. Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area.

What Are the Cons of a 4 Day School Week?

1. It creates a long school day for students.
The requirements for total education time do not change just because a school district goes to a 4-day school week. For the Cove School District in Eastern Oregon, the school day begins at 8am and doesn't end until 4pm. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students don't make it back home until 8pm that night. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week.

2. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district.
Students in a 4-day school week are packing 180 days into a condensed 145-day schedule. This means students in a district with this alternative schedule get out later for the holidays than students on the traditional Monday-Friday schedule. It also means that certain holiday vacations, such as Thanksgiving, are extended to a full week, and that can be a scheduling concern for many families.

3. Most parents work a 5-day schedule and struggle to adapt to a 4-day school schedule.
Most parents have employment which requires them to be present for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. This creates challenges for families that range from transportation to daycare and could make it difficult for parents to be fully involved with their child's education.

4. Many school districts still operate Monday-Friday, even on a 4-day week.
The school districts may operate classes Monday-Thursday on a 4-day week (or Tuesday-Friday in some instances), but they are still operational from an administrative standpoint on the off-day. Programs like student tutoring or sports, teacher/parent meetings, staff development, and building maintenance still happen on the fifth day, which negates many of the cost-savings opportunities that the 4-day schedule appears to offer.

5. It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts.
In Colorado, 31 of the state's 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. The challenges of implementing such a schedule for parents, administrators, and even some teachers have caused some Colorado school districts to return to the traditional schedule instead of the alternative 4-day schedule. Many schools are, in fact, offering year-round services now to accommodate the changing needs of their communities.

6. Even the cost savings of a total shift to a 4-day schedule may be minimal.
Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. Out of a budget of $5.5 million, they saved $206,000.

The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. Each community has unique needs which must be met, so there is the possibility of a 4-day week being useful to some districts, but not others. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level.

Blog Post Author Credentials
Louise Gaille is the author of this post. She received her B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington. In addition to being a seasoned writer, Louise has almost a decade of experience in Banking and Finance. If you have any suggestions on how to make this post better, then go here to contact our team.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When Friday rolls around each week during the school year, many parents face the same

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
After Moving to a Four-Day School Week, There May Be No Going Back | NEA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Still a predominantly rural trend, four-day school weeks are now inching closer to cities and suburbs. Is the change still worth it?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Making the switch to a four-day school week is a growing trend in districts across the country. Once a practice reserved for rural districts, the idea is catching on in suburban and urban areas as well. Research by The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates 560 school districts in 25 states have at least one school with a four-day schedule. Leading the charge are Colorado (55%), New Mexico (43%), Idaho (38%), and Oregon (32%).

SOURCE: Center on Reinventing Public Education

While the majority of districts cite financial reasons as the major reason for making the change, the concept has issues on both sides, from academic achievement and equity issues to life-work balance and teacher retention.

Pros to a Four-Day School Week

Financial Benefits

Most school districts cite budget constraints as the top reason for making the change. Cutting back services to four days a week helps districts reduce overhead costs, particularly in the categories of building operations and maintenance, transportation and food service. Although a report from the Education Commission of the States declares the overall savings small (an average savings of between 0.4% and 2.5%) the difference can lead to big savings. In Duval County School District in Jacksonville, Florida, moving to a four-day week produced only a paltry-sounding 0.7 percent savings. But that figure translated to a budget reduction of $7 million.

More Teachers

Proponents claim a four-day work week helps attract and retain quality teachers. After Colorado's District 27J switched to four-day school weeks, their recruiting prospects jumped from a handful of applicants to over 100 per opening. This includes what superintendent Chris Fiedler calls "harder vacancies," such as special ed and secondary math positions. In addition, the pool included more highly qualified applicants with master's degrees and special certifications. Most impressive, the district's teacher turnover rate dropped from over 21 percent to just 13 percent this year.

Improved Quality of Life

Compacting school into just four days a week leaves more time for kids to spend with family, friends and outside interests. Older students can spend time engaging in resumé-building public service or paid work. Teachers have more time to prepare lessons and collaborate during the day.

In addition, having an extra day each week to schedule appointments and family trips results in improved attendance. After all, when each day counts as 25% of the learning, students are less likely to miss a day. Looking forward to a three-day weekend each week leads to greater work-life balance for teachers, which leads to improved staff morale and a positive impact on what is taught in classrooms.

Cons to a Four-Day School Week

It's inequitable.

Opponents of the four-day school week point out the difficulties for lower income families. Finding childcare for just one day a week is often difficult and costly. And since most adults work five days a week, chances are that many children will simply find themselves in non-school "school" settings, like daycares, on the remaining day. It's not exactly the idyllic three-day weekend that proponents of the adjusted schedule put forth.

Not to mention, many students rely on school food services for the majority of their meals. For these children, adding an extra day to the weekend comes at a real cost.

Longer days are tough on the youngest learners.

School days are long enough for preschoolers, kindergarteners and primary students. Switching to a four-day school week extends the school day by an hour to an hour and a half. With limited capacity for learning and retention, these long days may have negatively affect achievement and students' attitudes.

Extracurriculars are adversely affected.

Students who wish to participate in after school sports and clubs may have fewer opportunities, especially if other schools in their district operate on different hours. In addition, transportation may not be available because of late start and finish times.

Kids need structure.

Some opponents worry about the unstructured, unsupervised free time that goes with a shorter school week. One study of schools in Colorado showed a direct correlation between a four day schedule and juvenile crime. Juvenile arrests for property crimes, especially larceny, increased by 73%, although no change was reported in drug related or violent crimes.

When it comes to academic outcomes, the jury is still out.

Opinions differ when it comes to measuring student achievement in the context of the four-day school week. One study, reported in Education Finance and Policy, reports a positive relationship between the four-day week and student performance in reading and math, using standardized test results. Another study, cited in Rural Educator, found no significant difference in the mean levels of overall academic achievement between four-day districts and five-day districts. However, an unpublished Oregon study found a temporary decline in academic performance among minority, low-income and special needs students, in particular. Time and more research are needed to determine whether the change leads to positive or negative results.
Has your district made the move to a four-day week? If so, come share your experience in our WeAreTeacher HELPLINE group on Facebook. Plus, what teachers need if the U.S. ever wants to see another globally-competitive generation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 States Are Testing 4-Day School Weeks-Will Yours Be Next?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Making the switch to a four-day school week is a growing trend in districts across the country. Once a practice reserved for rural districts, the idea is catching on in suburban and urban areas as well. Research by The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates 560 school districts in 25 states have at least one school with a four-day schedule.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Shortening the school week to four days has become an increasingly common trend over the last decade.

Reasons for implementing the shorter week vary, but most school districts implement a shorter week seeking to cut costs due to budget constraints. Research shows that the maximum possible cost savings for districts on a four-day week is 5.43 percent, but average savings range from 0.4 to 2.5 percent. The vast majority of four-day week schools are in small, rural districts; however, in recent years some larger, more urban districts have begun to consider the option of a shorter week.

Most four-day week schools operate Monday through Thursday, with a few opting for Tuesday through Friday. School days are lengthened to deliver the same amount of instructional time over fewer days, as required by state law. Some schools may offer optional enrichment activities, tutoring, or schedule time for teacher development during the fifth day.

Best available research indicates that approximately 560 districts in 25 states have one or more schools on a four-day schedule. More than half of these districts are located in four states-Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma and Oregon-where a significant portion of districts have opted into the four-day week.

While the number of districts in these states is significant, the overall share of the student population on the four-day week is relatively small. For example, Colorado has the largest proportion of public school districts with one or more schools on a four-day week at 98. This number represents more than half of the total school districts in the state, but only about 13 percent of the student population.

How States Implement the Four-Day Week

School calendars are dictated by states' minimum instructional time requirements, which are in turn tied to funding formulas. Schools not meeting the minimum instructional time requirements will receive less funding from the state. Therefore, it is likely only schools operating in states where a four-day week does not violate these requirements would seek to do so.

Most states allow districts to opt into a four-day week, either through flexible requirements, explicit administrative rules, or a waiver approval process. The level of legislative involvement in this process varies. Most statutory guidelines do not specifically list four-day school weeks as an allowable schedule, but may allow calendar flexibility by expressing that the minimum instructional day requirement can also be counted in the hour or minute equivalent.

Some states establish additional guidelines school districts must follow to transition to a four-day week, but do not monitor the process directly or track the number of districts opting into such a schedule. Other states require districts to submit their four-day plans to the state education commissioner or superintendent for approval. In California, districts can only be granted permission to adopt a four-day week if specific legislation is passed. California also enacted legislation in 2014 stipulating that any school not meeting its academic performance targets would have its authority to operate on a four-day schedule revoked.

Pros and Cons of the Four-Day Week

Proponents of four-day school weeks say that even though cost savings are minimal, they are achieved. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that attendance improves; parents and teachers can schedule doctor's appointments and other weekday commitments for Fridays rather than during school days. District administrators also claim that the appeal of a four-day work week helps recruit teachers in areas where it is consistently difficult to attract new staff.

Opponents argue that longer school days are difficult for students, particularly those in elementary grades. Four-day school weeks can also pose a challenge to families who are unable to find affordable, enriching care arrangements on the fifth weekday. Further, students who are food insecure may not have access to sufficient meals during the off day. If optional activities are offered by schools on the fifth day, lack of transportation could limit access.

What the Research Says

Education researchers have pointed out that little is known about the effects of a four-day week on student outcomes. While large-scale research studies have yet to be performed, some state-specific studies have been published. The results are mixed; one study of students in Colorado showed a statistically significant improvement in math scores among students on a four-day schedule, while a similar study found no significant differences in student performance.

An report from Oregon State University showed a temporary decline in academic performance among students who switched to a four-day schedule, particularly among minority, low-income, and special needs students. Four years after the transition, student performance in four-day schools was not significantly different from that of five-day schools. These results make it difficult to draw conclusions about the effects on student outcomes.

A recent study in Colorado revealed another potential negative consequence of four-day weeks: increased juvenile crime. The authors estimate that shifting to a four-day schedule increases juvenile arrests for property crime-especially larceny- by 73 percent, but there was no change in drug-related or violent crimes. The increase in property crime was observed on all days of the week, not just spiking on the day when school is not in session.

Future of the Four-Day Week

There is not yet a complete picture of how four-day school weeks impact students and their families, but it is clear that more districts are adopting the schedule each year. While these districts are primarily smaller and rural, a few notable exceptions have raised questions about the possibility of more urban districts moving toward a four-day week.

Colorado School District 27J, located in the Denver metro area, announced that it would move to a four-day week starting in the 2018-19 school year. With an enrollment of more than 17,000, it is by far the largest district in the state to adopt the four-day schedule. For a fee, the district provides full-day child care on Mondays for students age 5 to 12, but the district is still evaluating needs and capacity for these programs. The local Boys & Girls Club also expanded its services on Mondays.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Shortening the school week to four days has become an increasingly common trend over the last decade. Reasons for implementing the shorter week vary, but most school districts implement a shorter week seeking to cut costs due to budget constraints.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What are your memories of recess?

What did you do during that time? Looking back, do you think it was all just fun and games or do you think it was important to your learning and development?

Would you go so far as to say that recess should be a required part of the learning day?

In " States Consider Longer School Recess, and the Adults Aren't Complaining," Laura M. Holson writes:

Four years ago, Lucy Dathan moved to New Canaan, Conn., where she enrolled her three children in public elementary school. They met new classmates. Their teachers were attentive. But something was amiss: Recess was limited to a 20-minute break after lunch, or about half the time as at their previous school, in California.

Ms. Dathan said a shift in her children's mood was palpable. They found it difficult to focus on homework. They were restless and sometimes cranky after school, which she attributed to pent-up energy. With so little time for schoolyard play, she worried they were losing the ability to navigate personal relationships. "It was hard for them to adjust to only one recess," she said in an interview.

So Ms. Dathan, who was elected to the Connecticut legislature in November, agreed to support a state bill that would require schools to provide at least 50 minutes of daily undirected play for students enrolled in preschool through fifth grade. "I haven't had one person ask, 'Why are you doing this?'" she said of parents, students and teachers who have contacted her. "I think playtime fosters the creativity that we need to solve crazy world problems, like global warming, or other issues we need to face as a planet."

Ms. Dathan is not alone in her observation. Last April, Arizona legislators passed a law that provided two daily recesses for the state's elementary school students. Teachers have already seen encouraging results, reporting fewer disciplinary actions, enhanced test scores and improvement in children's overall health. And just last week, youngsters from Arkansas, where a similar move is also being considered, sent letters to state legislators asking they be given a longer recess break.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

- Do children need recess? Why?

- How important was recess to your schooling? How did you spend that time? Are there any important skills and life lessons you learned or developed through recess?

- Do you still have recess? Is recess just for elementary school students, or do you think students in middle school or even high school should have some form of recess or unstructured time?

- The article quotes Robert Bilder, a clinical neuropsychologist:

"What is valuable for children is freedom where they are solving problems with no predictable answer," he said. "When it is open-ended, they retain the curiosity to learn more things. And that is going to be essential for their futures."

Do you agree? Do you think there is a connection between daily undirected play and creativity? Do you think recess can help children develop curiosity, creativity and problem-solving?

- Should all states and school districts require recess? Why, or why not?
Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
- What is the ideal amount of time for recess? How much would be too much? Are there potential downsides to mandating recess?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What are your memories of recess? What did you do during that time? Looking back, do you think it was all just fun and games or do you think it was important to your learning and development? Would you go so far as to say that recess should be a required part of the learning day?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Recess helps kids learn better in school

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Give that kid a break. In fact, give one to his entire class. Research shows it actually will help them learn better in school. Recess time has been championed as a way to help combat the nation's childhood obesity problem.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Is Recess Important for Kids or a Waste of Time? Here's What the Research Says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There's a running debate on whether recess at school is good for kids or a waste of time. Here's what experts have found

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"We only had one recess today!" Beatrice Dathan complained to her mother after coming home from school one day. That was four years ago. Beatrice's family had recently moved to Connecticut from California. In California, Beatrice had enjoyed three recess blocks each day, totaling 50 minutes. But in Connecticut, recess was one 20-minute period. Lucy Dathan is Beatrice's mother. She feels that Beatrice, now in sixth grade, has missed out on the advantages a longer recess has to offer. "Recess helps kids build relationships and be creative thinkers," Dathan told TIME for Kids.

Dathan is now a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives. She is working to pass a state . It would require Connecticut schools to provide time for at least 50 minutes of play each day. Dathan is among a growing number of people nationwide trying to give kids more time for recess.

Clear Benefits

In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and SHAPE America published a report confirming the benefits of recess: Play periods encourage kids to be physically active, which can build healthy bodies and prevent obesity. Plus, physical activity can improve brain function, which helps students do better in class (see "Test Case"). And recess helps kids form friendships and strengthen social skills.

MITCHELL FUNK/GETTY IMAGES

Chris Lineberry has seen the benefits of recess firsthand. He's the principal of Stanfield Elementary School, in Arizona. Last year, the state began two recess periods a day for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It's up to each school to decide how long the periods will be. But since the requirement went into effect, Lineberry has noticed "a deeper level of student in the classroom."

The CDC calls for at least 20 minutes of daily recess for elementary school students. The average U.S. school offers 27 minutes of recess. But some schools have none at all.

Powerful Voices

Today, at least six states have laws that require elementary schools to provide daily recess. More are similar bills. Kids can make a difference by speaking up. This was proven earlier this year, when kids in Arkansas urged lawmakers to consider a bill that requires 40 minutes of recess for elementary school students. Izzy Kopsky, 8, is one of those kids. He says the best part of recess is "playing and talking with my friends." But Izzy felt he didn't have enough time to do that. So in February, he before Arkansas lawmakers. He told them that having more recess time would allow students to burn up extra energy, which means they could better focus in class. "Everyone would learn more," he added.

DARREN IRBY

Asa Hutchinson is the governor of Arkansas. He signed the state's recess reform bill into law on April 1. TFK Kid Reporter Belle Irby was on the scene at the State Capitol that day. Hutchinson admires the kids' determination. "Young people can have a powerful voice," he told Belle. "It's impressive what they've done."

RANDALL LEE

Sidebar: Test Case

There is pressure on schools to ensure students do well on state tests. That's why some of them shorten recess-to make time for more in-class instruction. Some schools also take away recess as punishment for poor academic performance.

JEFF CADGE-GETTY IMAGES

But cutting back on recess may not be the best way to improve test results. According to the 2017 CDC and SHAPE America report, recess can improve a child's memory and focus.

Stop & Think! What questions would you have asked Izzy Kopsky and Governor Hutchinson if you were a TFK Kid Reporter? Is there anyone else you would have interviewed for this story?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"We only had one recess today!" Beatrice Dathan complained to her mother after coming home from school one day. That was four years ago. Beatrice's family had recently moved to Connecticut from California. In California, Beatrice had enjoyed three recess...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Importance of Recess: Why Schools Need More Playtime

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Uncover the importance of recess! Kids obviously love it, but it turns out child development experts are also fond of incorporating more playtime into the school day. Hear their thoughts on the topic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Longer Recess, Stronger Child Development

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With an hour-long recess, elementary schools can help children develop through increased creative play, authentic SEL, and adequate physical regulation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Young advocate in the making gives three great reasons to lengthen school recess in persuasive essay.

We all support daily recess, but it takes changemakers to bring a long, healthy recess to all schools. San Francisco fourth grader DJ Chinn may just be one of those changemakers. A youth leader already, he wrote his persuasive essay assignment on extending recess minutes. Please read and follow his lead!

Recess
It is essential that recess is longer. If not, students won't be able to focus in class, get enough exercise to be healthy, or interact with other kids and make friends. Therefore, recess must be longer.

If students have longer recess they will burn off energy and can focus more in class. Also, students need time to clear their minds and absorb what they learned. Recess gives students something to look forward to so they will work harder in class.

As you probably already know, recess is a chance to get exercise and receive Vitamin D from the sun. If students don't get exercise they won't be healthy.

Students need to be healthy to do well in school. Students need recess to interact with each other and make friends. If they have even longer recess they will make even more friends. If students have friends in school and in class they won't get bored in school.

These reasons Focus, Exercise, and Student Interaction demonstrate why recess absolutely has to be longer. The time to act is now, because if we don't act now, when? When will we make longer recess so children will be happier and healthier? Obviously, we act now or never!

We're giving his persuasive essay an A!
Are you an educator? Start with recess to transform your school day!
Are you an educator? Transform the school day with recess games! Download our Game Guide!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Student calls for longer recess: "We act now or never!" | Playworks

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Young advocate in the making gives three great reasons to lengthen school recess in persuasive essay. We all support daily recess, but it takes changemakers to bring a long, healthy recess to all schools. San Francisco fourth grader DJ Chinn may just be one of those changemakers.