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Purpose
Our mission is to raise awareness about the impact of electronic devices on mental health, guiding students and families to navigate the virtual world safely. Together, we aim to reduce screen time, both in class and at home, while encouraging more free play and real-life connections for a healthier, balanced future.
Who
Kristian Blum DeRosa (Primary & Elementary) & Charis Damiano (MS & HS)
PARENT UNIVERSITY
Wait Until 8th
Take The Pledge!
The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over the kids having a smartphone. There are so many reasons to wait.
Many parents say “yes” to the smartphone early because so many other families have said “yes.” What if we said "not yet” together though? What difference would it make if our kids had a few more years smartphone free?
Please note that this pledge is for smartphones only. If you would like your child to have a basic phone that just calls and texts, you still can sign the pledge! The basic phone avoids many of the distractions and potential dangers of the smartphone. There are several basic phones here.
A pledge becomes "active" once 10 or more families from a grade at a school sign. The organizers designed the pledge this way so you don't have to fear "what if I am the only parent that signs this in my kid's grade." This takes the pressure off because the pledge only kicks in once at least 10 families sign from your grade.
More than 100,000 families from all 50 states have said yes to waiting for the smartphone. Will you join us?
To learn more and sign the pledge, please visit www.waituntil8th.org or check out Wait Until 8th’s Instagram account.
If you're into it, join us, sign the pledge and forward this email on to other parents! If you're not interested, no worries at all. We totally understand. If you are on the fence, we encourage you to read the recent article from the Atlantic Monthly, End the Phone-Based Childhood Now or check out the book it was based on.
WHY FINE MOTOR SKILLS MATTER
Helping Little Hands Grow Big Skills Through Crafts!
At Garden City Schools, we believe creativity and learning go hand in hand—especially when it comes to fine motor skills! Our craft activities are more than just fun—they're carefully designed to help children strengthen the muscles in their fingers, hands, and wrists while boosting confidence, patience, and problem-solving.
What Are Fine Motor Skills?
Fine motor skills involve the small muscles in the hands and fingers. These are the skills kids use every day—to zip up a jacket, hold a pencil, button a shirt, or tie their shoes. Crafting helps make these movements easier and more natural.
How Crafts Help:
Each class craft is packed with opportunities to:
✂️Cut with scissors
🖍️Color inside the lines
🧵Thread beads or yarn
📄Fold, glue, and press paper pieces
🎨Draw, trace, and paint
It’s More Than Just Art
While kids are busy creating, they’re also:
Practicing focus and coordination
Building hand-eye control
Learning to follow steps and directions
Developing independence and creativity
CLICK HERE FOR CRAFT IDEAS & INSPIRATION!
digital citizenship resources
Take a Challenge!
Screen-Free Devices
Screen-Free Devices
- Free Play Fridays every Friday 4-6pm, open the door, open the garage, and let the kids go out and play!
- Ready to ditch social media and addictive apps for a month? Consider joining : https://www.nosonovember.org/about
- Phone Free Fridays
Screen-Free Devices
Screen-Free Devices
Screen-Free Devices
To Read
Screen-Free Devices
To Listen
- The Anxious Generation book and explore the website, there is so much information on there. You can also join Jon's substack https://www.afterbabel.com/
- https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
- https://theselfdrivenchild.com/
To Listen
Other Resources
To Listen
- Scrolling 2 Death is a podcast for parents who are worried about social media. Through interviews with parents and experts, we explore smartphone use, screen time, school-issued devices, social media use and so much more.
- Put Your Phone Away: Yondr CEO on the philosophy behind phone-free spaces
- How to Navigate an Anxious Generation with Jonathan Haidt - What Age to Give Children Phones, Raising Independent Children, the Aftermath of the Covid Pandemic, and MORE!
- Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast
To Watch
Other Resources
Other Resources
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Today at Apple Workshops in Apple Stores
- Whether you’re getting started with new Apple products or pushing your skills further, find a session that’s right for you.
- Join fun learning experiences designed for the whole family.
- Tools that let parents know, and feel good about, what kids are doing.
- Help protect kids from what they see and send.
- Sign up and reserve your spot in a Today at Apple session at your local Apple Store.
- Easily connect with us to find the right support options for any technical or account issues.
- Set app limits, schedule downtime, and monitor device usage to help kids find a healthy balance.
- Share purchases, subscriptions, iCloud storage, and locations — while managing children’s accounts with built-in privacy.
- Set up content restrictions and privacy settings to help ensure a safer experience on devices.
- Stay connected even when your child doesn’t have their own iPhone.
Add an AirTag to Find My to Keep Track of Personal Items
- Easily locate backpacks, jackets, and other important items.