Very Useful Links

The original creators of a "delay smartphone" pledge and our primary inspiration.

WaitTill8th.org.uk was born in 2017, after a group of elementary school parents in Austin, Texas, became concerned that they felt pressured to give their young children smartphones.

Start here:

• Recommended books

• Digital training for parents (🔥 highly recommended)

Founded in 2022 by Scotsman Sam Rice, KidsforNow.org.uk covers much the same ground as Wait Until 8th but from UK-centric perspective.

Start here:

• UK alternatives to smartphones

• Recommended books & documentaries (scroll halfway down page)

• Active campaigns

Notting Hill Prep has subscribed to become a 'Tooled Up School'. This means you have access to a digital library containing the most up-to-date, evidence based tips on how to help your children thrive in our modern age.

To gain access to all the Tooled Up tips, click here and insert NHP's unique pin number NHP0606 at the bottom of the page.

Below are Mr Whitmells recommended links from his excellent parent pastoral talk on phones, chats & social media (most require you sign up to Tooled Up):

• Things to consider before buying your child a phone

• Parent-child phone contract (🔥 highly recommended)

• Parental controls set up guides

• Cultivating good gaming habits

• Questions to ask before allowing social media

• Questions to ask your child about online habits

• Can you spot the AI?

• BBC Ownit - resources for parents & children

• Common sense media - example page

• New York Times article (paywall)

In addition to Mr Whitmell's links above and the Tooled Up website, here is a growing list of resources to help parents of kids that already have a smartphone &/or are online:

• ReConnect - Informative US based blog with practical advice on smartphone management / safety from digital wellness expert Julia Storm. (🔥 highly recommended)

• Safe On Social - Global leaders in e-safety eduction. Download free guides on; Omegle, Roblox, Age recommendations, AI chatGPT, online consent, cyber bullying & instagram (requires sign-up).

• Common Sense Media - Helps families make choices based on films, apps and games which their children want to use. It offers the largest library of independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for films, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music. Their Parent Concerns section and Parent Blog help families understand and navigate the problems and possibilities facing children in the digital age.

• Ask About Games - A site focusing on supporting families with gaming at home. It answers questions which parents and players may have about video games’ age ratings and provides advice on how to play games safely and responsibly. There are helpful tips to ensure families get the most out of the games they enjoy together.

• The Social Dilemma website - Provides information for parents and carers to help educate themselves about the potential impacts of social media and technology use on the mental health of young people.

A miscellaneous list of interesting content:

• "Social media is worse than smoking for teenagers" - Spectator

• "Want to raise happy, successful kids? 'Wait as long as possible' to give them a phone, says Yale expert" - CNBC

• "Smartphone addiction affects your brain in the same way as drug addiction" - Vice

• "Have smartphones destroyed a generation?" - The Atlantic

• Matthew McConaughey on why he delayed giving his son a phone - Instagram