What are the common pushbacks from parents? And how should I respond?

[.style-intro]Going fully smartphone-free can raise big questions from families. Many parents see smartphones as essential for safety, contact, or peace of mind. As teachers, you’re often on the front line of these concerns. Here are some of the most common worries you might hear – and simple, reassuring ways to respond with clarity and confidence.[.style-intro]

“My child needs a smartphone to stay safe on the journey to and from school.”

We all want kids to be safe — and families often assume a smartphone is the best way to ensure that. But smartphones don’t just offer connection — they also open the door to harmful content, group chats, and pressure to respond at all hours. Even with good intentions, they can expose young people to things they’re simply not ready for.

There’s also a growing issue with phone theft. Around 500 children are mugged for their phones every day in the UK (ONS, 2019), and many secondary students admit to using their phones while walking, leading to accidents and near-misses.

A simple brick phone (call and text only) is more than enough for emergencies or last-minute changes — and in many ways, it makes their journey safer, not riskier.

“I need to be able to contact my child during the day.”

This one comes up a lot. But the truth is, they can still be reached — just like they always could. Schools have reliable systems in place for passing on urgent messages. And one of the great things about the school environment is that it gives young people the space to learn problem-solving, confidence and independence, without checking in every five minutes.

“I want to track where they are.”

We understand that tracking can offer reassurance. Devices like Airtags or GPS watches are a great alternative — they’re affordable, discreet, and far less likely to be lost or stolen.

But it’s also worth thinking about the message we send when we track children constantly. Does it help them feel secure and trusted — or anxious and watched? Research suggests that while some children do feel reassured by being tracked, many internalise the idea that the world is too dangerous to explore or that they aren’t capable of managing alone. Over time, this can undermine the very confidence we’re trying to build.

A brick phone, or check-ins at agreed times, can be a more balanced way to build trust and independence.

“My child needs to contact me during the school day.”

Again — they can. Schools are well set up to support this. But in most cases, constant contact isn’t actually helping young people — it’s holding them back. Managing minor issues, solving disagreements, or remembering PE kits without parental intervention builds resilience and confidence. And when something really is urgent, the school knows how to reach home.

“We need to prepare kids for the digital world.”

We agree — completely. But here’s the thing: learning to use a smartphone doesn’t take years. It takes minutes. What takes time and maturity is learning to manage distraction, pressure, addictive features, and exposure to harmful content.

A smartphone-free school day doesn’t mean rejecting tech. It means giving kids the time and space to develop the foundations they’ll need to navigate it well when they’re older. For more on this read our article about why delaying smartphones is like giving your child a superpower.

“My child has diabetes and uses their phone for medical needs.”

Of course — if a smartphone is being used for genuine medical purposes, that’s absolutely fine. Every school will make reasonable adjustments to support students with specific health needs.

Smartphone-free school policies are never about restricting necessary medical access — they’re about making sure devices are used with purpose, and with young people’s wellbeing in mind.

“My child’s smartphone has parental controls.”

Parental controls can help — but they’re far from fail-safe. According to a Parentkind poll (May 2024), 58% of teens say they’ve never had controls put on their phone by parents. And of those who do, nearly half — 47% — say they’ve found ways to bypass them.

So while controls might offer some short-term peace of mind, they’re not a long-term safeguard. And they can’t filter out the social pressures that come with smartphone use — like the constant group chats, comparison traps, or exposure to harmful content. Even with controls, smartphones still offer 24/7 access to a world that many children just aren’t ready for.

“My child has additional needs and really needs their phone.”

We know there are exceptions and complexities, and we’re not here to pretend there’s one solution that fits everyone. For students with specific needs, schools can and do make individual arrangements. A smartphone-free policy isn’t about making life harder for families — it’s about creating a learning environment that works better for most kids, most of the time.

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Schools that go smartphone-free aren’t looking back

We know the idea of going smartphone-free can feel daunting at first. But time and again, schools that have made the shift tell us the same thing: it was easier than expected, and the impact has been huge.

Teachers describe calmer classrooms, fewer distractions, and more engaged learners. Parents say they feel relieved once a clear policy is in place. And most importantly, students themselves report feeling less pressure, more present, and better able to focus.

Once the change is made, it quickly becomes the new normal. And for many schools, the only question is why they didn’t do it sooner.

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