


Here is the paradox...there is no more motivated a force I know of than parents. We, as a tribe, care for our kids beyond words. And, yet, how often do we see parents speaking out for our children as a united front? We see student activism but where is the parent activism?
This is a moment in time when we can come together for a major cause. Last week we launched Away For The Day, an initiative to get parents to speak up and get involved in changing cell phone policies in middle schools so phones are put away and our students can learn and socialize more productively. We received more than 2,000 pledges of support—which was great but we need to let so many other parents know.
Can you help us grow the cause? If so, please go to Away For The Day and pledge (if you haven’t already), and forward this email to 5 friends asking them to do the same. **When people pledge they also will see all the free resources.
I am a big believer in guiding change based on solid research and this initiative is indeed based on data. I am reminded of the singer, Bono, whose organization, ONE, works to reduce global poverty. Bono calls himself a “Factivist.”
Tom Henriod, a father of four, in Salt Lake City, UT is leading the charge to get cell phones out of the schools in his district. “I have had meaningful correspondence with the principal and assistant principal and the materials on “Away for the Day” address well their concerns associated with the difficulty of enacting a policy, namely, clear messaging about the policy to parents, faculty, administration and students as well as clear policy examples and enforcement procedures.”
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Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast

Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast

Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
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Here is the paradox...there is no more motivated a force I know of than parents. We, as a tribe, care for our kids beyond words. And, yet, how often do we see parents speaking out for our children as a united front? We see student activism but where is the parent activism?
This is a moment in time when we can come together for a major cause. Last week we launched Away For The Day, an initiative to get parents to speak up and get involved in changing cell phone policies in middle schools so phones are put away and our students can learn and socialize more productively. We received more than 2,000 pledges of support—which was great but we need to let so many other parents know.
Can you help us grow the cause? If so, please go to Away For The Day and pledge (if you haven’t already), and forward this email to 5 friends asking them to do the same. **When people pledge they also will see all the free resources.
I am a big believer in guiding change based on solid research and this initiative is indeed based on data. I am reminded of the singer, Bono, whose organization, ONE, works to reduce global poverty. Bono calls himself a “Factivist.”
Tom Henriod, a father of four, in Salt Lake City, UT is leading the charge to get cell phones out of the schools in his district. “I have had meaningful correspondence with the principal and assistant principal and the materials on “Away for the Day” address well their concerns associated with the difficulty of enacting a policy, namely, clear messaging about the policy to parents, faculty, administration and students as well as clear policy examples and enforcement procedures.”
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Here is the paradox...there is no more motivated a force I know of than parents. We, as a tribe, care for our kids beyond words. And, yet, how often do we see parents speaking out for our children as a united front? We see student activism but where is the parent activism?
This is a moment in time when we can come together for a major cause. Last week we launched Away For The Day, an initiative to get parents to speak up and get involved in changing cell phone policies in middle schools so phones are put away and our students can learn and socialize more productively. We received more than 2,000 pledges of support—which was great but we need to let so many other parents know.
Can you help us grow the cause? If so, please go to Away For The Day and pledge (if you haven’t already), and forward this email to 5 friends asking them to do the same. **When people pledge they also will see all the free resources.
I am a big believer in guiding change based on solid research and this initiative is indeed based on data. I am reminded of the singer, Bono, whose organization, ONE, works to reduce global poverty. Bono calls himself a “Factivist.”
Tom Henriod, a father of four, in Salt Lake City, UT is leading the charge to get cell phones out of the schools in his district. “I have had meaningful correspondence with the principal and assistant principal and the materials on “Away for the Day” address well their concerns associated with the difficulty of enacting a policy, namely, clear messaging about the policy to parents, faculty, administration and students as well as clear policy examples and enforcement procedures.”

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest in the country, just approved districtwide screen time limits starting in the 2026–27 school year. Students through 1st grade won't use school devices, grades 2–5 will move from 1-to-1 iPads to shared laptop carts, and older students will face screen time limits with YouTube blocked. Devices also won't be allowed during passing periods, lunch, or recess. Credit goes to the parent- and teacher-led group Schools Beyond Screens, whose organizing and advocacy work helped make it happen.
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This year, millions of students are experiencing a major shift: school days without phones, smartwatches, or other personal devices. Today we explore the wins, hurdles, and solutions helping schools succeed. We also share our resources that you can use to support technology policy changes in your schools.
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I recently sat down with middle school principal Zach at his school in Washington State. We talked about the challenges Zach and his team faced in his early years as principal when students used phones during school, and how he brought about a powerful transformation by having phones and smartwatches put away in locked pouches for the whole school day. In today’s blog, to raise awareness of the challenges, I share five real examples from Zach of the troubling ways students use phones at school to be unkind.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
