Smartphone Voluntary Code
forms.gle/TTebmR9kvL5MiFTG7
Parents/Guardians,
If you wish to sign our Smartphone Voluntary Code, click on the link
Parents/Guardians,
If you wish to sign our Smartphone Voluntary Code, click on the link
Why introduce a Smartphone Voluntary Code?
Over the past few years, concern around young children having unsupervised access to the
internet and social media has grown considerably.
There is a large body of evidence which has shown the detrimental effects of the excessive use of
smart devices on the developing brain, especially on children under the age of 14 - socially,
emotionally and educationally.
Dr. Mary Aiken, Ireland’s foremost cyber safety expert, stated back in 2018 that smartphones
should not be used by children under the age of fourteen.
Dr. Colman Noctor, is a Mental Health Nurse and Psychotherapist with a special interest in Child
and Adolescent Mental Health and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. He has over 25 years of
international clinical experience and his research area is the impact of technology on young
people's mental health
The National Parents Council has also highlighted the following risks associated with smartphone
use at a young age - cyber bullying, depression, access to pornographic content, vulnerability to
contact from predators and an increased risk of suicide.
What can we do?
In November 2023, Minister Norma Foley, launched a guidance document for all primary schools
called “Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free.” In response to this, we organised very successful
online safety workshops for parents and pupils. Our Parents’ Association was consulted and they
organised a survey on internet safety for all parents in October. Further consultation has taken
place with our Student Council and Board of Management. As a result of these consultations, we
feel that there is sufficient interest in a Smartphone Voluntary Code. A similar code is already in
place in a number of local schools and in many schools across the country.
The Voluntary Code
Parents will be asked to fill an online form stating that they will delay purchasing or providing their
child with a Smartphone until they have finished primary school.
This code will be voluntary and anonymous. We believe that this voluntary code offers parents
and guardians who are concerned about their child having personal access to a smartphone, a tool
to help address many of the issues mentioned above.
Collective agreement to hold off on smartphones will reduce peer pressure and provide parents
with a means to respond to possible pressure from their children.
Key Points:
All information gathered will be anonymous and results will be assimilated as a percentage of
junior classes (junior infants - second class) and senior classes (third class - sixth class).
The Voluntary Code does not include regular mobile phones that do not have internet access.
We acknowledge that every family has different priorities and opinions in relation to internet
access and smartphone use.
If a parent /guardian subsequently changes their mind and wants to purchase a personal
smartphone for their child(ren) they can do so at any stage.
Why not focus on teaching children to use technology safely and responsibly?
Internet Safety lessons will be taught throughout primary school. However, research shows that
even limited access to smartphones can be harmful to primary school-aged children. Thus, the aim
of the Code is to delay access to smartphones until children are a) mature enough to handle the
technology; b) to allow children to be free of the stresses of the online world; and c) to reduce the
chances of them forming unhealthy smartphone habits.
What about children who already have a smartphone?
This is a parent/guardian decision. Parents/Guardians may wish to consider pausing current
smartphone access if appropriate for their child. There are also many parental controls for smartphones that are helpful. Some free options are ‘Screen Time’ for Apple users, and ‘Family
Link’ for Android users. Both allow monitoring of how long the device is online and manage what
apps can be accessed and for how long. Webwise is a website that has excellent resources for
parents.
Over the past few years, concern around young children having unsupervised access to the
internet and social media has grown considerably.
There is a large body of evidence which has shown the detrimental effects of the excessive use of
smart devices on the developing brain, especially on children under the age of 14 - socially,
emotionally and educationally.
Dr. Mary Aiken, Ireland’s foremost cyber safety expert, stated back in 2018 that smartphones
should not be used by children under the age of fourteen.
Dr. Colman Noctor, is a Mental Health Nurse and Psychotherapist with a special interest in Child
and Adolescent Mental Health and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. He has over 25 years of
international clinical experience and his research area is the impact of technology on young
people's mental health
The National Parents Council has also highlighted the following risks associated with smartphone
use at a young age - cyber bullying, depression, access to pornographic content, vulnerability to
contact from predators and an increased risk of suicide.
What can we do?
In November 2023, Minister Norma Foley, launched a guidance document for all primary schools
called “Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free.” In response to this, we organised very successful
online safety workshops for parents and pupils. Our Parents’ Association was consulted and they
organised a survey on internet safety for all parents in October. Further consultation has taken
place with our Student Council and Board of Management. As a result of these consultations, we
feel that there is sufficient interest in a Smartphone Voluntary Code. A similar code is already in
place in a number of local schools and in many schools across the country.
The Voluntary Code
Parents will be asked to fill an online form stating that they will delay purchasing or providing their
child with a Smartphone until they have finished primary school.
This code will be voluntary and anonymous. We believe that this voluntary code offers parents
and guardians who are concerned about their child having personal access to a smartphone, a tool
to help address many of the issues mentioned above.
Collective agreement to hold off on smartphones will reduce peer pressure and provide parents
with a means to respond to possible pressure from their children.
Key Points:
All information gathered will be anonymous and results will be assimilated as a percentage of
junior classes (junior infants - second class) and senior classes (third class - sixth class).
The Voluntary Code does not include regular mobile phones that do not have internet access.
We acknowledge that every family has different priorities and opinions in relation to internet
access and smartphone use.
If a parent /guardian subsequently changes their mind and wants to purchase a personal
smartphone for their child(ren) they can do so at any stage.
Why not focus on teaching children to use technology safely and responsibly?
Internet Safety lessons will be taught throughout primary school. However, research shows that
even limited access to smartphones can be harmful to primary school-aged children. Thus, the aim
of the Code is to delay access to smartphones until children are a) mature enough to handle the
technology; b) to allow children to be free of the stresses of the online world; and c) to reduce the
chances of them forming unhealthy smartphone habits.
What about children who already have a smartphone?
This is a parent/guardian decision. Parents/Guardians may wish to consider pausing current
smartphone access if appropriate for their child. There are also many parental controls for smartphones that are helpful. Some free options are ‘Screen Time’ for Apple users, and ‘Family
Link’ for Android users. Both allow monitoring of how long the device is online and manage what
apps can be accessed and for how long. Webwise is a website that has excellent resources for
parents.
