Frequently Asked Questions

What about children’s safety and staying in-touch?

A mobile phone without an internet connection or social media is all children need for safety and to keep in touch with friends and family. Giving them a basic phone saves them the responsibility and stress of owning a smartphone. Children need appropriate technology and we are calling on mobile phone providers to make safe phones designed for children with no internet.

Won’t they miss out on the benefits of technology and how will they learn to use the internet safely?

We are not anti-technology. We believe children can learn to use technology safely without owning a smartphone. Children are naturally curious, and this is good, but with so many temptations and risks online, it can be unfair to expect children to be responsible for managing these risks.

by delaying smartphones and social media we can help children enjoy a carefree childhood. They can get all the benefits of connected technology safely in a supervised setting using tablets, laptops and PC’s.

Why not delay tablets and ipads?

There is a huge difference between allowing your child to have a smartphone and allowing them to have an iPad or tablet. Tablets and iPads are useful for schoolwork and no one walks around with an iPad in their pocket like a smartphone. The smartphone is essentially a internet-enabled mini-computer at your child's fingertips throughout the day wherever they go. Whereas typically, an iPad is used within the home or for travel. 

How does Kids For Now work?

If you want to delay giving your child a smartphone you can sign-up to Kids For Now. We support you and provide resources to help you build a community of like-minded parents to reduce the peer-pressure. We can connect you with other parents who have also signed-up.

Connecting with other parents delaying smartphones lets you and your children know you are not alone and reduces the peer-pressure. Being connected also empowers you to support each other to stick to your decision to delay.

The most important thing is you and the conversations you have with other parents and your child’s school.

Can my child have a basic mobile phone or a calls-and-texts-only SIM?

You can sign-up and give your child a basic phone without internet (if you can find one with no Wi-Fi!) and a calls-and-texts-only SIM. See our ‘Alternatives’ page. A basic phone with a calls and texts-only deal allows them to keep in touch with you and connect with their fiends. A basic mobile phone does everything you need it to without the risks and responsibility of a smartphone. Plus its cheaper! However, putting a calls-and-texts-only SIM into a smartphone is not a good solution as they can still access Wi-Fi, either at your home or elsewhere using other networks. Even so-called ‘child-safe’ SIMs can’t protect against this and parental controls cant be installed on many basic phones with Wi-Fi! We need safe phones designed for kids.

Why age 14?

Child psychologists, internet safety leaders and technology executives agree that it’s best to wait until at least the age of 14 before exposing children to smartphones. The start of secondary school is a big transition for children and will be a key time for many families to review their approach to technology. Smartphones and social media probably pose even more risks and complications for teenagers than they do for younger children and we strongly encourage parents of older children to delay until their child reaches the age of 14 (or start of Year 10, England/S4, Scotland).

My child already has a smartphone, is it too late?

It’s never too late to change your mind as a parent. Explain to your child that many families in their year have decided that it is better to wait to have a smartphone. You can discuss with your child the many reasons families in their community are waiting until children are older before getting a smartphone. You could replace the child's smartphone with a basic phone that just makes and receives phone calls and texts (SMS).  Switching from a smartphone to a basic phone will protect your child from the dangers online. 

What happens when I sign-up?

After you sign-up you will receive a confirmation email from Kids For Now within 3 working days. We aim to provide you with tips and suggestions on how to reach-out to other parents to build a community of support at your child's school. We can try to connect you with other parents at your child’s school or in your area who have also signed-up. If you do not receive an email after a couple of days, please notify us via email at info@kidsfornow.org.uk.

Is it anonymous?

Yes! Signing up can be anonymous. You decide whether or not to use your real name when you join us. We will email you if other parents in your area or at your child’s school sign-up. At that point, you have the choice whether or not to allow us to share your email address with them.

How do I bring Kids For Now to my school or local area?

Simply start talking with other parents and find out how they feel about smartphones. Other parents will be relieved to know that you want to delay. Others may disagree. The great news is you do not need to try to change anybody’s mind about smartphones. You only need to identify those parents who already want to delay. Ask the school for support in reaching out to parents. Perhaps they could put something in their newsletter or identify a member of staff as a liaison.

Take a look at our resources page for tips and suggestions and follow us on social media.

Find parents in your area and sign the pact at Smartphone-Free Childhood