Unplugged Canada - Take the Pledge to Delay Smartphones Until Grade 8!
We are excited to share an important initiative with Keele families called Unplugged Canada. This movement, started by parents in our community, is designed to raise awareness about the negative impacts of smartphones on children and provide strategies to delay their use.
Unplugged Canada helps parents come together to make it the norm for children not to have smartphones until at least the end of Grade 8. Parents are invited to sign a pledge to delay giving their kids smartphones. By acting collectively, we can reduce social pressures, make it easier to set boundaries, and create a culture where kids feel supported in staying unplugged.
The pledge is focused specifically on smartphones. Children can still use basic phones for calls and texts. The pledge is anonymous and only becomes active when five families from the same grade at the same school have signed, so that kids feel supported by their peers. Parents can pledge for children as young as kindergarten through age 14.
This initiative has already gained momentum at local schools like Annette Street, Runnymede, and Humbercrest, and Keele families now have the chance to join in. Together, we can create a healthier environment for our kids by helping them avoid the risks associated with early smartphone use, such as sleep disruption, distraction from academics, negative mental health impacts, and exposure to harmful online content.
If you would like to learn more or sign the pledge, please visit www.unpluggedcanada.com.
