Excellent article, I work in education in the UK and there is indeed a move towards more digitalisation in schools, even though my experience has indeed shown that kids’ attention spam has never been lower. I feel like forwarding this article to all my colleagues.
Very interesting Helen, I am convinced that mobile phones and screens for kids are going to seem as weird as cigarettes and alcohol for kids very soon!
I think you're right - especially re social media ('Wait, so you had a tool SPECIFICALLY for comparing yourself to other people? And you gave it to children? To have in their pockets? At all times?!')
I’ve wonder how much introduction of digital tools has also impacted handwriting. I feel like mine has gotten worse between my teen years and now being 40 due to less use and practice since I mostly write on keyboards.
It makes sense that we put screens in front of toddlers to keep them calm and quiet.. Because that is what we as grownups do to ourselves as well. haha the screen is basically a modern day super expensive pacifier. Think about that as you look up and around on your next on your commute 🫣
Love this. Very interesting (and well written if I may say so). Aligns with my gut instincts as a parent around limiting IT access for myself and our 15 year old son. He attends Lindfield Learning Village in Sydney… a ground breaking government school in Australia, modelled on the Nordic approach to education. Will be hitting the Subscribe button to dig a little deeper.
My daughter went to school in the Netherlands. Seven years ago when she was choosing a high school, the big choice was between one of the new “iPad schools” or an old-fashioned school that still taught Greek and Latin on paper. She went old school.
Last night we got together with her friend from primary school who chose the iPad school. He said the iPads were a disaster; so distracting, and they were always playing games at school and at home instead of homework.
The verdict of these 18-year-olds who lived through both was definitely books over iPads.
It's so interesting when children and teenagers themselves say that they don't want screens - we underestimate younger people at our peril (probably because most of us find screens so addictive)
In my years as a preschool teacher, I found play and outdoor play in particular much more beneficial to creativity. Screen time will not only dominate young minds while they are watching but influence they creative aspects or lack thereof in play time.
I am going to print this, have it bound, then read it again (with my phone securely hidden between the cushions of our couch). It was brilliant on my phone and I imagine (hope) it will be even better in mini-book format. I love books and perhaps I now understand why just a bit more than I did. Mange tak!
I love tech but I also love having ‘analogue’ time too. You’ve reminded me of the time when a class of students I was teaching couldn’t behave themselves with the technology they were encouraged to use. So the punishment was to move them to a tech-free classroom for a whole week. By the end of the week, they were asking if they could have a day a week in the tech-free classroom because the lessons were more interesting!
I too struggle to remember some things that I read on screen. Fortunately not your Substack writing though 🤭.
French schools in Belgium have started banning mobile phones in primary schools by law from September 1st onwards. Mobile phones can be brought to the schools, but must be deposited in a 'GSM hotel' before the first class of the day.
There is no official ban on mobile phones for secondary schools as yet; these schools are free to set their own policy and we see that the more advanced schools have started to impose their own bans.
Belgian education is rather conservative. Schools have never been trendsetters in digitalisation, so there is probably little need for a total screen ban.
This is great! For years in the U.K. many people didn’t want to hear how dangerous online exposure can be to young kinds. When I wrote about dangers of TikTok a few years back a platform for parents of school children initially took my post off. Now everyone is talking about it. Instilling the love of books in kids from a young age is so important - both of mine still read print books, rather than books online for example. Loved your book by the way Helen & glad you are writing on Substack now too
Excellent article, I work in education in the UK and there is indeed a move towards more digitalisation in schools, even though my experience has indeed shown that kids’ attention spam has never been lower. I feel like forwarding this article to all my colleagues.
Please do! From my own experience the screens don’t help
Very interesting Helen, I am convinced that mobile phones and screens for kids are going to seem as weird as cigarettes and alcohol for kids very soon!
I think you're right - especially re social media ('Wait, so you had a tool SPECIFICALLY for comparing yourself to other people? And you gave it to children? To have in their pockets? At all times?!')
I’ve wonder how much introduction of digital tools has also impacted handwriting. I feel like mine has gotten worse between my teen years and now being 40 due to less use and practice since I mostly write on keyboards.
Absolutely - mine is terrible. Feels as though I'm writing with my left hand (and I'm right handed!)
I’m left handed and aside from smudges my skill has degraded for sure
Same re not being able to remember anything I’ve read on a screen apart from what I need to buy…
Yes! It’s mad…
YES!!!!!!
It makes sense that we put screens in front of toddlers to keep them calm and quiet.. Because that is what we as grownups do to ourselves as well. haha the screen is basically a modern day super expensive pacifier. Think about that as you look up and around on your next on your commute 🫣
How did your analog weekend go?
Some shoutiness…(!)…but surprisingly well and with more tree climbing than usual :)
Love this. Very interesting (and well written if I may say so). Aligns with my gut instincts as a parent around limiting IT access for myself and our 15 year old son. He attends Lindfield Learning Village in Sydney… a ground breaking government school in Australia, modelled on the Nordic approach to education. Will be hitting the Subscribe button to dig a little deeper.
Thanks so much Rachel
Outstanding Article. I see the effect phones and tablets have had in my family. It is sad. But what to do about how we use substack?
Quite! I love Substack but can’t let it be another thing to become addicted to
My daughter went to school in the Netherlands. Seven years ago when she was choosing a high school, the big choice was between one of the new “iPad schools” or an old-fashioned school that still taught Greek and Latin on paper. She went old school.
Last night we got together with her friend from primary school who chose the iPad school. He said the iPads were a disaster; so distracting, and they were always playing games at school and at home instead of homework.
The verdict of these 18-year-olds who lived through both was definitely books over iPads.
It's so interesting when children and teenagers themselves say that they don't want screens - we underestimate younger people at our peril (probably because most of us find screens so addictive)
In my years as a preschool teacher, I found play and outdoor play in particular much more beneficial to creativity. Screen time will not only dominate young minds while they are watching but influence they creative aspects or lack thereof in play time.
Thanks so much for sharing - fascinating and see the same from a parent’s POV
I am going to print this, have it bound, then read it again (with my phone securely hidden between the cushions of our couch). It was brilliant on my phone and I imagine (hope) it will be even better in mini-book format. I love books and perhaps I now understand why just a bit more than I did. Mange tak!
I love tech but I also love having ‘analogue’ time too. You’ve reminded me of the time when a class of students I was teaching couldn’t behave themselves with the technology they were encouraged to use. So the punishment was to move them to a tech-free classroom for a whole week. By the end of the week, they were asking if they could have a day a week in the tech-free classroom because the lessons were more interesting!
I too struggle to remember some things that I read on screen. Fortunately not your Substack writing though 🤭.
Ahhh thank you Gill!
What a great article
French schools in Belgium have started banning mobile phones in primary schools by law from September 1st onwards. Mobile phones can be brought to the schools, but must be deposited in a 'GSM hotel' before the first class of the day.
There is no official ban on mobile phones for secondary schools as yet; these schools are free to set their own policy and we see that the more advanced schools have started to impose their own bans.
Belgian education is rather conservative. Schools have never been trendsetters in digitalisation, so there is probably little need for a total screen ban.
This is great! For years in the U.K. many people didn’t want to hear how dangerous online exposure can be to young kinds. When I wrote about dangers of TikTok a few years back a platform for parents of school children initially took my post off. Now everyone is talking about it. Instilling the love of books in kids from a young age is so important - both of mine still read print books, rather than books online for example. Loved your book by the way Helen & glad you are writing on Substack now too