‘Wait Until 8th’ Gains Momentum

Over 100 students from P-8 gathered in front of the Ravi Family Assembly Hall one recent chilly morning, proudly displaying their new “Wait Until 8th” certificates representing a commitment to stay smartphone free until at least the eighth grade.

 

It’s all part of an initiative spearheaded by parents and the school’s counseling office that’s gaining momentum among the student body; the program aims to educate students and parents about the pitfalls (and pluses) of screen time for elementary and middle school-age children, and how students can develop healthy relationships with technology.

 

In her “Coffee with the Counselor” sessions—which Lower School Counselor Denise Uhl has run since 2020, when the events were over Zoom—so far this school year two events have focused on managing technology use.

 

“For our families, it’s a ‘wait until at least next year,’ initiative—they don’t have to commit until the eighth grade to participate. It’s adaptable and flexible. Even for children who have smartphones, we want them to feel part of this, and have opportunities to engage in a non-technology event,” said Uhl.

 

Parents, and students, are increasingly planning such non-technology events, where students might place their phones in a stack on a table, or like “unplug week,” an annual tradition at SHP that just took place, where students tuck away their devices in an envelope for the entire school day.       

 

“We want people to think, ‘I can do this.’ And without technology distracting them, the memories and stories that come out of a non-technology experience make a huge impact. That is what’s going to create momentum and enthusiasm,” said Uhl.

 

Lower school parent Eric McDearman appreciates Uhl’s “keen perspective, positive framing, and helpful tools” at the “Coffee with the Counselor” events. His family has adopted the “Wait Until 8th” plan for their two young children.

 

“We truly believe tech has and will continue to propel aspects of our lives forward in remarkable ways… that said, we didn’t throw our kids in the deep end without years of swim class,” said McDearman.

 

“While I wish there were, there are no guaranteed training wheels when it comes to safety and civility of the internet. We believe these kids will have more to explore, more people to connect with, more to imagine on the internet one day—they just first need more education, a clearer sense of self, and a few more years of living their values before they are thrown in the deep end,” he said.

 

Lower school parent Kristin Stecher, who has been interviewed by The New York Times on this very topic, shares a similar viewpoint.

 

“The spirit of this initiative is really about being mindful of what kinds of technology we give our children and how we introduce them,” said Stecher. “Having Denise as a guide for our family is incredibly helpful. I'm also excited to have other families as peers in this so that when my kids don't have a phone or access to social media, they will see others with similar restrictions and won't feel like they're the only one.”

 

It's not academic work utilizing the internet, or screen time using tablets in school that parents should worry about, pointed out Uhl; the biggest benefits of limiting screen time are seen in the overall well-being of the child who isn't on social media at too young of an age. This is one of the reasons Sacred Heart has made technology education a cornerstone of its Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program.

 

"It's more than just the addictive properties that are being built into the video games and social media platforms,” Uhl said. “Parents are committed to giving their children the chance to develop meaningful friendships, practice enhancing life skills around conflict resolution and problem-solving, and have the time needed to develop more of a sense of who they are, before handing over a device."

 

Ultimately, for Uhl, she hopes Sacred Heart can help “lead the charge in delaying smartphones for young children and adolescents.”

 

“Other schools and parents could see that, and think, ‘my goodness, the school that is next door to Silicon Valley is among those spearheading this. What is this telling us? We need to be paying attention.’”