5 Ways To Support Teachers With Phone Bans in School

Whether class has been in session for weeks or just starting, many students are returning to new policies around cell phones this year. Several states have already required schools to implement some form of restriction, while large metro areas like Los Angeles are following suit starting in January 2025. 

It's a uniquely bipartisan issue sweeping our nation's classrooms but leaves many teachers as the sole enforcers of the rules. So, what can parents do to help kids stay focused and cooperate with these bans?

Like adults, kids are easily distracted by their phones. A 2023 survey of 200 students aged 11 to 17 found that many teens receive over 230 notifications on a typical day. With all that noise, kids check their phones between 50 and 100 times a day, cutting into learning time. 

Social media, shopping, gaming, and streaming were the most common activities featured in this survey of 200 kids. However, the problem seems more widespread than this small sample size. This year, the US Surgeon General found enough of a health risk associated with social media that he suggested adding tobacco-style warning labels to the popular platforms.

Many complaints about phone bans come from educators themselves. While the lack of phones in class can improve classroom conditions for kids and teachers, many educators are left to enforce the rules alone. 

With the help of parents at home, everyone can benefit from limits around smartphones. Start with good habits at home to encourage kids to make smarter digital choices. Here are five ideas you can try at home. 

Adults and kids can both get distracted by never-ending scrolling, shopping, or gaming late at night. But sleep is crucial for kids—especially teenagers. Try putting your family's phones in a common area of the house outside of the bedrooms to avoid falling down a late-night social media scroll hole. 

Sports, art, or music are all great after-school activities your kids can enjoy without the use of a phone screen. The important part is that you find an activity that excites them more than their phone does.

Phones aren't all bad and neither is social media. But for kids who seem a little too absorbed by their devices, consider limiting digital time to a couple of hours at home. Whether they're gaming online with friends or streaming YouTube, knowing they only have a small window of time to use their device will help them prioritize how they want to use it.

Rules for cell phones can differ from school to school and even from classroom to classroom. Ask your child's teacher how you can support them at home with your child's digital habits. They see your kids in their natural habitat and may notice things that you won't see at home. They can also help clarify any confusion around cell phone rules in their classroom or in school.

It depends. For schools that ask students to surrender phones from bell to bell, cubbies, lockers, and magnetic pouches are the most common approach. However, some schools allow students to use their phones outside of class. If your child's school has a cell phone ban in place, be sure to ask their teacher or administrator about the details.

Though cell phone bans in school are generally accepted as a good idea, there's been an ongoing debate among parents in the case of emergencies and horrific scenarios like active shooter events.

Whatever your child's school's official stance, encouraging moderation with technology is a smart move for parents. The best way to start is by leading by example. When you hear about your child's day at school, put the phone down and give them your full attention. Their teachers may thank you later. 

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