Primary school head letter – pact

Write to the head of your Primary school

Why not write to your school’s head to introduce the voluntary Parent Pact and ask them to share it with the parent community? Thousands of parents across the country have committed to delaying smartphones until high school and your school could be next.

We’ve created a template for you to send them, plus a template for them to send to the parent body.

Template

Dear [INSERT NAME],

I hope you are well.

I’m reaching out as a concerned parent who, like many others, is increasingly mindful of the effects of smartphones and social media on children’s development.

Parents at [INSERT SCHOOL] have joined a global movement called SFC, which addresses these concerns. Research shows that smartphone and social media use can harm young minds, while collectively delaying their use can encourage social interaction and support healthy development (see https://www.sfc-sa.co.za/the-problem). Until now, parents have faced a difficult choice: allow access to smartphones and social media or risk isolating our kids from their peers.

SFC has created resources to support parents in tackling these issues together, including a digital “Parent Pact.” This pact enables school communities to collectively delay smartphone access until high school, promoting a unified approach to digital health. Would you consider sharing this voluntary pact in the [INSERT SCHOOL] newsletter and our class WhatsApp groups?

Here are some resources you might consider:

  • The problem: https://www.sfc-sa.co.za/the-problem/
  • What we can do about it: https://www.sfc-sa.co.za/take-action/
  • A letter you can adapt for our parents: https://bit.ly/ParentPactLetter
  • The pact: https://www.sfc-sa.co.za/pact/

The harms from excessive smartphone use are well-documented, impacting both home and school life, with issues ranging from mental health struggles to disrupted learning and sleep. Evolving our thinking aligns with practices like seatbelt use, sun protection and smoke-free spaces, which are now regarded as critical safeguards in our current world.

Thank you for considering this initiative. We deeply appreciate the school’s commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment for our children.

I’d love to meet to discuss SFC, the Parent Pact, and additional ways to support the school on these issues. Please let me know if this would be possible.

Warm regards,[INSERT NAME]