Common questions
Below are some of the questions we’re asked by parents (and schools) and we’ve tried to collate them together to help you find what you’re looking for.
The Pact is a voluntary, parent-led initiative designed to press pause on smartphones and reclaim our kids’ childhoods. To get involved, simply select your child’s school and grade, and fill in your details. Once we have 10 parents from your child’s grade ready to join, your pact will be officially activated! We’ll notify you all via email when it’s active, and you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other families for support and questions.
We recommend delaying smartphones until at least Grade 8/ High School.
Many experts from child psychologists, to internet safety leaders, to even technology executives, agree that it is best to wait until children are at least 14 before they are exposed to smartphones. We believe the start of High School/ Grade 8 is a good line in the sand to rally your community around delaying smartphones. This helps protect the primary school years. Globally, children are receiving smartphones now as early as Grade 1 and 2, with a majority of kids having a personal device by Grade 4. It is very challenging to get group momentum around the concept of delaying the smartphone until age 16 or 18.
Delaying smartphones until at least High School is feasible and gives kids their primary school years free of the distractions and dangers that come with smartphones. And you can wait longer if you want to!
Take a look at some useful resources here.
The average age a child gets a smartphone is 10 years old. The smartphone pressure starts to ramp up in Grade 4.
By signing the Pact, you are agreeing to wait until AT LEAST Grade 8 before you permit your child to have a smartphone. This does not mean that you agree to give them a smartphone at this time. You are delaying this technology until at least Grade 8, and then as a family you can reassess the situation at the time. Some families may think their child is ready for a smartphone and others may determine a basic phone is still the better option, until their child is older.
Please refer to the question above, if you want to better understand how the Pact works.
If you find that your school is not listed within the Pact, then please let us know. Email us at info@sfc-sa.co.za and we will investigate and add it. We rely on the department of education supplying updated and accurate information, and new schools open and close all the time.
