My child is starting secondary school in September – how can I find other parents delaying smartphones?

[.style-intro]Starting secondary school is the moment when smartphone pressure ramps up. But across the country, parents are discovering that when they connect with others, it becomes much easier to say “not yet”[.style-intro]

For many children, starting secondary school has become a rite of passage for getting a smartphone. As Year 6 comes to an end, parents often hear things like “everyone else has one” or worry their child will feel left out without one.

But across Smartphone Free Childhood communities, something different is happening. Parents are finding each other – and choosing to delay smartphones together.

Small WhatsApp groups are being started for families whose children are heading to the same secondary school. These groups help parents realise they’re not alone, swap advice, and support each other at what can be one of the hardest moments to hold the line.

When families know others are doing the same thing, it suddenly becomes much easier.

How to bring together parents starting the same secondary school

Anyone can start a group – it only takes a few minutes.

The easiest way is to create the group inside your regional Smartphone Free Childhood WhatsApp community. That way, any other parents whose children are heading to the same school can easily find it and join.

Step-by-step
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1. Join your local Smartphone Free Childhood community

If you’re not already part of one, you can find your regional community first here.

2. Check if a group already exists

Before creating a new one, quickly check that there isn’t already a Year 7 group for your child’s secondary school. This helps avoid duplicates.

3. Create the group

Open your regional SFC community, tap Add group, then Create new group.

4. Choose a clear name

Use something easy for others to recognise, for example:

[School Name] SFC Year 7 – Sept 2026

This helps other parents quickly find the right group.

5. Add a friendly description

A short welcome message can help new members feel comfortable joining. For example:

“Welcome! This group is for families joining [School Name] in September 2026 who want to start secondary school without smartphones. It can feel like you’re the only one saying not yet – but you’re not alone. This is a space to connect, share support, and stick together.”

Consider sharing our Alternative Phones Guide, which includes lots of simple, child-safe options for children who need a way to call or text without the full smartphone experience.

6. Make yourself an admin

Being admin at the start helps keep the group running smoothly. As the group grows, you can always add another admin or hand things over.

7. Spread the word

Once the group is set up, share the link where other parents might see it. That might include:

• your regional SFC community channel
• Year 6 parent groups
• feeder primary school groups
• other local parent networks
  

If you have a good relationship with the secondary school, you could also ask whether they’d be happy to share it with incoming families. Some schools do, some prefer not to – it’s always worth asking.

Small groups can make a big difference

Starting secondary school is a big moment – for children and parents alike. It’s also the moment when many families feel the most pressure around smartphones.

But when parents connect with each other, things start to feel different.

What seemed impossible suddenly feels manageable. What felt lonely starts to feel collective.

And that’s how change happens – one school community at a time.