5 Ways To Support Teachers With Phone Bans in School

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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?

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Two kids at school looking at a phone.

Image: Katerina Holmes, Pexels

Why ban phones in school?

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.

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Image: Katie McEntire, SafeWise

How can parents help?

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. 

1. No phones at night

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. 

2. Encourage screenless activities

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.

3. Designate screen time at home

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.

4. Consider phones made for kids

Devices like our Kids' Safety Award winner, the Bark Phone, are designed for families and allow parents to set guardrails around dangerous content and screen time and monitor their kids' activity. We love Bark's level-headed approach—encouraging trust and good habits over control for the sake of control.

If your child already has a phone, check out Bark's parental control software, which you can add to multiple devices in your home.

Parental control
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Starting at$39.00/mo

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

5. Ask teachers how you can help

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.

Kids at school talking to teacher.

Image: Katerina Holmes, Pexels

How do phone bans work?

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.

What about emergencies?

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. 

Katie McEntire
Written by
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.

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