March 2023 ~ Smartphones are quickly changing childhood for children. Playing outdoors, spending time with friends, reading books and hanging out with family is happening less to make room for hours of snap chatting, instagramming, and You Tubing. With children spending anywhere between 3 to 7 hours daily in front of a screen, many childhood essentials are pushed aside for online amusement.
Smartphones are widespread in elementary and middle school partially due to social pressure and expectations to have one. Parents may feel powerless in this uphill battle to delay the ever-evolving presence of the smartphone in the daily lives of children.