Smartphone FREE Childhood – at Home

“When kids are on their phones all day, it’s not just what they’re doing on the phone that matters—it’s what they’re not doing. They’re missing out on crucial experiences that help them grow into healthy adults.”
Dr. Jonathan Haidt, Professor of Social Psychology, NYU

5 Healthy Habits for Home

• Natural Highs: Encourage activities that have a natural high e.g. music, dancing, reading, movement, and spending time in nature—even 5 minutes has impact.
• Say YES to Play: Create opportunities for play (especially for teens). It builds connection, releases endorphins, and promotes healthy development.
• Real-life Likes: Celebrate everyday glimmers – those tiny moments of joy – by sharing them as a family. These “real-life likes” are more rewarding than any digital validation.
• Spend time away from your phone: as often & whenever you can. Make a conscious effort to disconnect and be present e.g leave it with your keys when you come home.
• Monkey see, monkey do: Your habits directly influence your children. Prioritise face-to-face interaction, and make phone-free time the norm.

If you attended one of the Warwickshire Branch Smartphone Free events, you will have been privileged to hear the talk from Dr Helen Folan. These are some of the resources she referred to:

and here is some extra resource from Happy Confident Kids: