How (and why) to give an SFC talk in your school

[.style-intro]Want to get your school talking about children, phones and wellbeing – but not sure where to start? Giving a short parent-to-parent talk is one of the easiest and most effective ways to spark change[.style-intro]

‍
1. Speak to your headteacher

Start by letting your head know that the Smartphone Free Childhood movement has kicked off at your school, and that you’d love to host a short, informal talk for parents.

Ask if you can use:

• The school hall
  
  
• A classroom
  
  
• Or even the library
  

Most headteachers are supportive once they understand that this is a positive, parent-led conversation – not a campaign to lobby the school to change their policy.

2. Pick a date and time

Once you’ve got a green light, choose a date and time that will work for the most parents – ideally with at least two weeks’ notice.

Think about what would make it easy for people to attend:

☕ Coffee and biscuits after drop-off

🌗 Early evening, so one parent can attend whilst the other stays with the kids

🎥 Consider making the talk hybrid - so that parents who can't make it in person can join online (read our guide for how to do that, here).

‍

Top Tip: 

If you can offer a Zoom link as well as an in-person option, more parents will join – especially those with work or childcare commitments. Ask in your school or local SFC WhatsApp group if anyone can help with the tech. And check out our guide for tips on how to do to make your event hybrid.

3. Spread the word

We’ve made this part easy! You’ll find Canva templates for posters and flyers on the Parent Talk hub page, as well as templates for newsletters and WhatsApp messages.

Here’s how to share the event:

• Ask your teacher or head to include the invitation in the school newsletter.
• Coordinate with your SFC school WhatsApp group to share it into every class group
  
• Put up a poster in the playground or on the noticeboard.
  
• Encourage a few friends to spread the word personally – a quick chat at the gate works wonders
  
  

Top Tip: It helps to position it as an open, friendly chat for all parents, not a campaign meeting.

You might say:

“It’s a short, friendly talk and discussion about raising kids in the digital age – how to navigate it together, and how we can support each other as a school community to help our children stay safe, happy, and ready to thrive.”

4. Host your SFC talk

This is where the magic happens. Keep it simple, friendly and relaxed.

Set up the space

Arrange chairs in a circle or around tables so it feels welcoming.

Put SFC flyers on every table so parents can read them and scan the QR code to sign the Parent Pact.

(You can order flyers from the Movement Supplies Shop, or get your first pack free when you sign up as a School Organiser.

Get the slides ready

Use our Parent-to-Parent slides and speaker notes – they’ll guide you through everything.

You’ll need a laptop and ideally the school has a projector you can plug into so everyone can see clearly.

Check out our 10 tips for holding a successful talk, from remembering that you have good news to share to thinking of this as an invitation to parents who feel the same.

Wrap up well

End the session by introducing the Parent Pact.

• Encourage people to sign up straight away using the QR code on the flyers.
  
  
• Or simply tell people to search Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact; it’s the first result on Google
  
  
• Collect email addresses from all attendees in the room so you can follow up later with useful resources - we’ve made a handy form you can print out to do this

5. Follow up and keep the conversation going

After the talk, follow up with everyone who came – and even those who couldn’t make it.

You can share via:

• The school newsletter (if your headteacher agrees)
  
  
• The email addresses you collected
• Your class WhatsApp groups

We’ve created template messages and emails you can use. They include:

• Links to the talk slides
  
  
• Key SFC resources
  
  
• Your school’s WhatsApp group sign-up
  
  
• The Parent Pact
  
  

This is how a conversation turns into a strong, school-wide movement.

Top Tip:The best time to grow the Parent Pact is right after the talk. Momentum is high, and a few sign-ups in each class can quickly build to a breakthrough. Aim for 25% of children in a class – that’s the tipping point where the social pressure starts to lift. The best way to build momentum is by sparking conversations in each class WhatsApp group (or whatever your school uses). Try to get at least two people starting the conversation in each group. And share pact sign-up numbers to show people how the momentum is growing (and how their class is doing compared to others!)

You don’t need to be an expert – just someone who cares

Every time a parent gives this talk, it sparks something. Conversations begin. People feel less alone.

And when enough families join in, schools often reach what we call the Breakthrough Point – when around 25% of parents sign the Parent Pact. Suddenly, everything starts to shift:

• Peer pressure eases

• Even non-signing families begin to change their habits

• Primary heads become more open to school-wide policy

• Nearby secondary heads start to take notice

• And the Pact itself is far more likely to stick

That’s how this movement grows – parent by parent, school by school.

Ready to give it a go?

👉 [Download the slides]

‍