Rye High School students urge younger children to delay smartphones, showcase classroom program

Three students from Rye High School told Westchester County Families Task Force members on July 9 that delaying smartphone ownership can protect younger children’s sleep, attention and social skills. Fiona, a rising senior who said she first got a phone in fifth grade, described the experience as personally disruptive: "I first got a phone in fifth grade, which had a lot of negative effects on me because I don't think I was completely ready for it," she said. The students said peer-to-peer anecdotes make the message more relatable to elementary audiences.

Their presentation, titled "Growing Up with iPhones, Takeaways from our Experience," includes interactive questions, simple science about blue light and sleep, and alternatives to screen time such as arts and outdoor play. The presenters told the task force they have delivered versions of the program to about 25 people at the Rye Free Reading Room and later to roughly 120 students at Milton Elementary School, and that parents have responded positively. Task-force members and local youth bureaus encouraged the students to expand outreach to parents and to create materials aimed at boys as well as girls.