Oliver Jeffers joins Smartphone Free Childhood as ambassador

One of the most recognisable children’s authors working today has backed Smartphone Free Childhood – adding his voice, art and energy to a growing, nationwide movement calling time on the role of smartphones in children’s lives.

We are delighted to announce that Oliver Jeffers – the beloved artist and author whose books have helped millions of children see the world with curiosity and wonder – has joined Smartphone Free Childhood as our ambassador.

Having one of the most recognisable children’s authors working today stand with this movement is a powerful moment. We need the artists, the writers, the doctors, the teachers and the politicians – all of us – to come together and say ‘enough is enough’. Our kids deserve better than a childhood shaped by the business models of tech giants. A better way is possible, and it’s already being built by families and communities across the country.

To mark the moment, Oliver has created a brand-new illustration just for this announcement, capturing the magic and depth of real-world childhood – the kind that doesn’t glow or vibrate.

In his words:

“The harm social media and constant connectivity are doing to kids is undeniable. Smartphones pull children out of the real world, kill outside time, warp their behaviour, speed them into problems they’re not ready for, and expose them to risks they don’t need. So many parents feel this, but we need to keep saying it out loud.

That’s why I’ve become an SFC Ambassador, because although the tide is turning – we need to normalise the conversation about rethinking the role of phones in our kids’ lives.

The best parts of childhood don’t glow, vibrate, or need charging. And the more families who join the smartphone-free bubble, the stronger it gets.”

Oliver’s work has always captured what is most special about childhood – curiosity, imagination, tenderness, adventure – and amplified it in ways that remind us what children need most. We’re honoured he’s adding his voice, his art and his imagination to this movement, helping even more families reclaim the kind of childhood every kid deserves.