Supporting “Smartphone Free Childhood”

At Bangor Central Integrated Primary School, we are proud to support the growing Smartphone Free Childhood movement—an initiative designed to help families delay giving children access to smartphones and promote healthier childhood development.

What is Smartphone Free Childhood?

Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) is a parent-led movement encouraging families to work together to reduce the pressure to give children smartphones at a young age.

The initiative recognises that while smartphones offer many benefits, early and unrestricted access can also raise concerns around:

• Mental health and wellbeing
• Sleep disruption
• Exposure to social media and online risks
• Reduced face-to-face interaction and play

By building a community of parents with shared goals, SFC makes it easier to say: “not yet” to smartphones—without children feeling left out.

Why It Matters

When families act individually, it can feel difficult to go against the norm. But when parents act together, it creates a powerful, supportive network.

Taking part in Smartphone Free Childhood can help:

• Delay smartphone ownership until a more appropriate age
• Reduce peer pressure on children
• Encourage outdoor play, creativity, and real-world social skills
• Support healthier habits around technology use

The Parent Pact

One of the most important parts of the movement is the Parent Pact.

By signing the pact, parents agree to delay giving their child a smartphone until at least the end of primary school (or another shared milestone), alongside other local families.

This collective commitment helps remove the “everyone else has one” pressure—and replaces it with positive, community-driven change.

Join the Movement

We strongly encourage all parents and carers in our community to learn more and consider signing the Parent Pact.

👉 Sign the Parent Pact here:
Parent Pact