Unrelated to this cohort, but I was wondering if there is any research into the use of iPads in schools. The schools typically have reading apps etc and I often wonder if there are real downsides to the learning apps in class. My kid is in 1st grade. She is gifted and has ADHD (the combined type). I worry about the screen time in school, but maybe that’s just my 1980’s kid bias lol
The research I have come across supports reading comprehension is stronger on paper than on a screen. Same for learning math skills. As an educator, I personally feel that kids in at least elementary school should not be learning using screens, there is just no need for it and it has unintended negative consequences. Sadly though the push for tech in schools has come from tech companies and they have infiltrated education. They push their products without evidence it is superior than traditional models. If you notice your daughter struggling, you can always opt out of tech! I hope the phone free movement sparks more interest in the negative impacts of edtech!
I would also love to bite into any research on this. A local primary school wants to ask all kids to bring their phones to school to enable microsoft and research training and I'd love to present the data that this may lead to negative outcomes for learners.
Hear me out. Many of my fourth grader’s friends have smart watches instead of smartphones. What if we did that for adults too? We’d still get notifications we need like texts from the baby sitter, but think on it. Less screenterference, perhaps? Better psychological outcomes for adults too, in terms of reduction in anxiety and depression related to scrolling? Less chance to develop a dopamine addiction every bit as tenacious as booze, porn, or cigarettes?
No. Honestly, as a teacher, smart watches are more distracting than smart phones. They can’t be put away as easily because they are literally attached to the student. I’d prefer smart watches get banned before smart phones, but I think it’s best when both are stashed away for the day.
Thanks for your reply. This is actually an interesting insight.
I began my experiment last week (calling it Phone Sober October. I'll be writing it up here at the end of the month) and so far my screentime has gone from 6-7 hours a day, down to 2-3 (So not exactly "sober" but there are just some necessities). It's definitely a boon to my ability to self-moderate. I think a lot of the difference between that 7 hours and 2 hours is actually scrolling Substack Notes, but I'm also protected from past vices that are even more insidious, like TikTok and Reddit.
As an early finding: I'm becoming aware of this craving to look at my phone. As background, I am a bona fide addict. A quitter of cigarettes and an alcoholic in recovery. So I'm well versed in observing the sensation of "craving" that burns in my chest. And when my phone is in my pocket, there are all these triggers throughout the day that cause me to feel the craving and to want to pick it up and browse Notes or check my email or whatever.
With a watch on, I can't do that!
There are inconveniences and much more friction in my life, but overall, I feel more emotionally balanced and more connected to my kids and wife.
Anyway, yeah I'll write up the experiment later. I just wanted to thank you for this comment because most people who have objected haven't really given the most coherent reasons. Your insight is valuable and will be something I keep in mind and use to adapt.
I mean smart watches like the Apple Watch can still access the internet, so you would still need to find smart watches that aren't too smart. And if you're doing that you might as well just stick more restrictive phones anyways. I'm not too sure that the size of the screen would be what makes the difference.
My sons (born 1986 and '89) were raised before the added challenges of cell phones, etc., so my battle with screens was easier than it must be for today's parents. That said: I chose to have no TV for most of their childhoods - and it was SO MUCH EASIER to just not have the thing than to be embroiled in constant negotiations & arguments, like other parents of that time constantly complained of. We've never had television reception, but when the boys were in middle school, we got a TV to use with a VCR, and they were allowed to watch one parent-approved video per month through the end of high school. By middle school, they were good readers, and very adept at creating projects to amuse themselves. They're still creatives, too! And though they sometimes complained about not having seen the shows or films their friends talked about, on the whole their friends had way more fun at our house where they - y'know - PLAYED, instead of just watching movies together. Admittedly, this strategy partly depended on 1) our remote rural location - the kids couldn't just walk next door to see a screen, as there was no "next door;" and 2) on the fact that they were entirely Waldorf educated - i.e., no screens in school, even in high school. Still, it involved real time and effort for us as parents: I often had their friends join us for hikes or beach days rather than take my guys to their houses, where movies were all that were on offer. Totally worth it! I was much happier seeing them play than I ever would have been seeing them drooling on their toes in front of a screen.... Now, as adults, my sons are as hooked on their phones as much as everyone else, sadly. But the fact that they didn't have phones until they graduated from college still shows in many ways; their healthy foundation wasn't entirely in vain. They're doing good things with their lives, and they now recognize and are grateful for their background that allowed them to develop capacities that serve them so well. So yes, it's worth doing all we can to hold off on screen use, at least until habits of reading and of creative, active play are well established.
I didn't have these problem when I was young because I didn't get tech toys until I had earned the money to buy them myself. This would probably still work if child labor laws hadn't made making money more difficult for those too young to drink legally. There aren't too many newspapers needing paperboys.
Unrelated to this cohort, but I was wondering if there is any research into the use of iPads in schools. The schools typically have reading apps etc and I often wonder if there are real downsides to the learning apps in class. My kid is in 1st grade. She is gifted and has ADHD (the combined type). I worry about the screen time in school, but maybe that’s just my 1980’s kid bias lol
The research I have come across supports reading comprehension is stronger on paper than on a screen. Same for learning math skills. As an educator, I personally feel that kids in at least elementary school should not be learning using screens, there is just no need for it and it has unintended negative consequences. Sadly though the push for tech in schools has come from tech companies and they have infiltrated education. They push their products without evidence it is superior than traditional models. If you notice your daughter struggling, you can always opt out of tech! I hope the phone free movement sparks more interest in the negative impacts of edtech!
I would also love to bite into any research on this. A local primary school wants to ask all kids to bring their phones to school to enable microsoft and research training and I'd love to present the data that this may lead to negative outcomes for learners.
I will try to send you some when I have time this weekend!
Just a quick reminder, whenever you have a chance.
Thanks for the reminder!! I couldn’t remember what thread it was in!
Thanks Denise! Much appreciated!
Check out these studies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10194945/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1747938X18300101?via%3Dihub
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36351968/
and the UNSECO report: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000386147
If you are interested, this is an article I wrote about big tech and education for the substack Pubic: https://www.public.news/p/big-tech-hubris-and-greed-behind
I am a recently retired teacher. I don't think enough parents are concerned about kids and screen time.
Hear me out. Many of my fourth grader’s friends have smart watches instead of smartphones. What if we did that for adults too? We’d still get notifications we need like texts from the baby sitter, but think on it. Less screenterference, perhaps? Better psychological outcomes for adults too, in terms of reduction in anxiety and depression related to scrolling? Less chance to develop a dopamine addiction every bit as tenacious as booze, porn, or cigarettes?
What do we think?
No. Honestly, as a teacher, smart watches are more distracting than smart phones. They can’t be put away as easily because they are literally attached to the student. I’d prefer smart watches get banned before smart phones, but I think it’s best when both are stashed away for the day.
Thanks for your reply. This is actually an interesting insight.
I began my experiment last week (calling it Phone Sober October. I'll be writing it up here at the end of the month) and so far my screentime has gone from 6-7 hours a day, down to 2-3 (So not exactly "sober" but there are just some necessities). It's definitely a boon to my ability to self-moderate. I think a lot of the difference between that 7 hours and 2 hours is actually scrolling Substack Notes, but I'm also protected from past vices that are even more insidious, like TikTok and Reddit.
As an early finding: I'm becoming aware of this craving to look at my phone. As background, I am a bona fide addict. A quitter of cigarettes and an alcoholic in recovery. So I'm well versed in observing the sensation of "craving" that burns in my chest. And when my phone is in my pocket, there are all these triggers throughout the day that cause me to feel the craving and to want to pick it up and browse Notes or check my email or whatever.
With a watch on, I can't do that!
There are inconveniences and much more friction in my life, but overall, I feel more emotionally balanced and more connected to my kids and wife.
Anyway, yeah I'll write up the experiment later. I just wanted to thank you for this comment because most people who have objected haven't really given the most coherent reasons. Your insight is valuable and will be something I keep in mind and use to adapt.
I mean smart watches like the Apple Watch can still access the internet, so you would still need to find smart watches that aren't too smart. And if you're doing that you might as well just stick more restrictive phones anyways. I'm not too sure that the size of the screen would be what makes the difference.
Are there free-standing smart watches? screenterference?
Dopamine is not addictive, being made by the human body.
My sons (born 1986 and '89) were raised before the added challenges of cell phones, etc., so my battle with screens was easier than it must be for today's parents. That said: I chose to have no TV for most of their childhoods - and it was SO MUCH EASIER to just not have the thing than to be embroiled in constant negotiations & arguments, like other parents of that time constantly complained of. We've never had television reception, but when the boys were in middle school, we got a TV to use with a VCR, and they were allowed to watch one parent-approved video per month through the end of high school. By middle school, they were good readers, and very adept at creating projects to amuse themselves. They're still creatives, too! And though they sometimes complained about not having seen the shows or films their friends talked about, on the whole their friends had way more fun at our house where they - y'know - PLAYED, instead of just watching movies together. Admittedly, this strategy partly depended on 1) our remote rural location - the kids couldn't just walk next door to see a screen, as there was no "next door;" and 2) on the fact that they were entirely Waldorf educated - i.e., no screens in school, even in high school. Still, it involved real time and effort for us as parents: I often had their friends join us for hikes or beach days rather than take my guys to their houses, where movies were all that were on offer. Totally worth it! I was much happier seeing them play than I ever would have been seeing them drooling on their toes in front of a screen.... Now, as adults, my sons are as hooked on their phones as much as everyone else, sadly. But the fact that they didn't have phones until they graduated from college still shows in many ways; their healthy foundation wasn't entirely in vain. They're doing good things with their lives, and they now recognize and are grateful for their background that allowed them to develop capacities that serve them so well. So yes, it's worth doing all we can to hold off on screen use, at least until habits of reading and of creative, active play are well established.
I didn't have these problem when I was young because I didn't get tech toys until I had earned the money to buy them myself. This would probably still work if child labor laws hadn't made making money more difficult for those too young to drink legally. There aren't too many newspapers needing paperboys.
Good, practical guidance. Just what amazing, busy parents need!
Too bad that the public fool system only offers anti-social indoctrination.
Great practical piece, but I'm a bit sceptical about the research
on pace especially for kiddos under 6. If I can fee the impact it has on me, it surely induces a sense ot anxiety in such small
kids too.
We walk among crowds, but at heart, we are wolves of the wilderness. We seek our kind, yet we will never be tamed.
——Steppenwolf (written by Hermann Hesse)
That’s Crazy