Greystones parents unite to create smartphone free childhood

Parents in Greystones have banned the use of smartphones for primary school children.

The initiative aims to recreate the phone-free childhood many people experienced before the devices were invented.

The movement, referred to as ‘It Takes a Village’, was developed when parents became concerned about increasing anxiety in children, primarily based on phone usage. This was first noticed in 2023, when children returned to school following COVID lockdowns.

School staff in Greystones were struck by the stark difference in the returning children. Reports were made of children struggling with sleep, refusing to go to school and downloading calorie-counting apps to their devices. Many children were often too upset to focus in class from messages they had received the previous evening.

Rachel Harper, principal of St Patrick's Primary School in Greystones, led the initiative and said she was shocked at how many tears she saw at the school gates.

“Childhoods are getting shorter and shorter,” the principal told The Guardian when the movement began.

“It was creeping in younger and younger; we could see it happening.”

A town hall was held to discuss the ongoing worries parents had over their children's mental health, particularly anxiety that had been worsened by smartphone usage.

“I think it was just so obvious, the damage phones were causing,” Greystones resident Ross McParland said.

Two weeks later, all eight primary schools in the town sent a letter to parents in support of adopting a no-smartphone code. The code asks parents to refrain from purchasing a smartphone for their children before they reach secondary school, usually at around 12 to 13 years old.

70% of parents in Greystones signed up and agreed to give their children a phone-free childhood.

The code is voluntary, and not all parents deny their children a smartphone. However, enough parents signed up to unite behind the cause. The town-wide approach aims to prevent peer pressure and bullying, and also lessen resentment towards parents.

“Hopefully down the line it’ll become the new norm," Rachel added.

Since the initial ban three years ago, she said that children are playing outdoors more and “just being kids.”

In the three years since 'It Takes a Village’ was developed, the movement has seen praise online from many publications, including The New York Times.

“What Greystones has done is shown that parents and communities aren’t powerless,” said Eoghan Cleary, a teacher and assistant principal at Temple Carrig secondary school.