The Parents Association of four Laois primary schools have teamed up to encourage a 'phone free childhood' for students.

Parents of children attending Scoil Bhríde Rathdowney, St. Colmcille's NS Errill, Killadooley NS and Borris-in-Ossory NS have the option to sign a pact declaring that they will go 'phone free'. 

“Go Phone Free” is a voluntary initiative which invites parents and guardians to collectively agree, in respect of their children, the following code: No smartphones while in primary school, no social media while in primary school, and to respect the age rating on video games.

The schools have said that they were inspired by 11 schools in Naas banding together to create their own 'go phone free' campaign, along with 13 schools in Dublin and most of Co Waterford.

Pictured: Scoil Bhríde, Rathdowney. Photo: Google Maps

The pact will be circulated on the Aladdin app in October for parents and guardians to consider and opt in.

A member of Scoil Bhríde Rathdowney's Parents Association told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the schools wish to 'change the norms' surrounding children owning smartphones.

"Our 'free to be kids' campaign highlights the wonderful freedom that children have to be themselves, a freedom so often lost through smartphones and social media," the parent said.

"We hope that it will help our children to value all that is beautiful about being a kid instead of yearning to be grown up too quickly and participate in a far too often toxic and unregulated online world."

“While we know we have missed the boat with some of our senior classes, many of whom have phones, we believe that the campaign will benefit our junior classes in particular," they said.

"We hope that over the next 5 years, we will see a slow and steady change in the norms around smartphone ownership and social media, reinforced by the introduction of legislation.

Pictured: Killadooley NS

"The code does not include regular mobile phones or smart watches which are used for communication and safety only.

"Furthermore, it is not a ‘ban’ on screentime, the internet or technology in general, which when used appropriately, with supervision and skill, adds value in the modern world," they said.

"We also recognise that every family has different priorities and opinions in relation to internet access and smartphone use and that parents and guardians of some older children may have already purchased smartphones for their children," the parent said.

"The voluntary code is, as the name suggests entirely voluntary and if a parent or guardian chooses not to participate or alters their view subsequent to opting in, they can do so at any stage."

“We hope that the campaign will offer support to parents who want to hold off giving phones and provide them with a sense of solidarity, knowing that their child won’t be the odd one out and that they, as parents, don’t have to give in to the peer pressure of buying their child a phone,” the parent finished.

Scoil Bhríde Parents' Association recently conducted a survey where parents of students answered questions on smartphone use.

91% of parents at Scoil Bhríde Rathdowney felt 'concerned about smartphones'.

Pictured: St Colmcille's National School

85% of respondents said that they believe their primary school children should not own a smartphone. 77% of respondents have said that they would like to receive supports designed 'to better support children navigating the online world'.

79% of respondents answered that they would be willing to be part of a voluntary agreement regarding smartphones for their children.

The schools have said that they will keep a record of how many parents and guardians have opted in, for statistical purposes, all personal information will be kept confidential.

The schools have entitled their campaign 'Free to be kids', which they say is to highlight 'everything good about childhood' that they believe should be 'treasured for as long as possible'.

To kick off their campaign, these four schools have organised an art competition to celebrate Children’s Day this month, in which children from every class are called to draw what they love doing that does not involved a screen.

Children will take part in an art competition, where they will be asked to 'draw what they love doing', with pictures 'not allowed to involve a screen'.

Pictured: Borris-in-Ossory NS

Each of the schools are running their art competitions and exhibitions throughout the month of June, giving lots of food for thought for children going into the Summer holidays.

The artwork from all four schools will be displayed in their respective schools for now but this October 2 nd they will host a joint launch night for their ‘Free to be kids’ campaign focussing on the ‘Go Phone Free’ element of the campaign.

At this event, there will be a number of speakers such as child psychologist, Catherine Hallissey, founder of GenFree, Principal Brian Barron and Councillor Conor Bergin to update parents on the legislative progress in the area of smartphones and social media.

Before closing for summer holidays, parents in each of the four schools will be issued with a letter explaining the concept of parent pact and what this voluntary agreement entails.

Parents will be given the opportunity to give their feedback on the proposed pact before the close of school for Summer.

In October, following the official launch night of their ‘Free to be kids’ campaign, parents will be asked to opt in to the parent pact making it quick and easy for parents to support each other by adhering to the code in the interest of keeping children safe and allowing them to be children for as long as possible.