Join other Montauk School parents who have pledged to wait to give their children a smartphone and access to social media until at least the start of High School.
Let’s come together and protect our kids from what unfortunately is becoming increasingly common: a phone-based childhood.
Why Wait?
The data is clear. Smartphones and social media are fundamentally changing childhood, and not for the better. Rates of youth depression, anxiety and self-harm have spiked globally since the iPhone was first introduced in 2010, as have rates of loneliness, academic decline, cyber bullying, sleep disruption and eating disorders. Sadly, the list goes on.
What Can We Do?
Join other parents who believe childhood is too precious to be spent online. Banding together can help decrease the peer pressure our children may feel to have their own smartphone and social media accounts. It's normal for kids to want what their friends have, and so the more families who pledge to wait, the easier it is for all of us.
Together we can make a difference!
TAKE THE PLEDGE!
By signing the pledge, I promise not to give my child a fully loaded smartphone, smartwatch or tablet with unrestricted access to the internet, app store & social media until at least the start of High School. I do this in order to protect their elementary and middle school years from the distractions and the dangers of these devices - social media in particular - and to decrease the peer pressure to have one at an early age.
If you would like your child to have a basic phone or watch to make calls, send texts, listen to music, check the weather, access a map or track their whereabouts, you can still sign the pledge! There are a nuber of basic smartphone alternatives featured here, all of which avoid many of the distractions and dangers of a fully loaded, internet connected, app store enabled smartphone or smartwatch.
By taking the pledge, you will be joining other Montauk families who have made the same committment. Your child’s name (first name and last initial only) will be listed below alongside others from their class.
List of Active Pledges
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6th Grade
Avery B.
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5th Grade
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4th Grade
Wesley R.
Sandy S.
William S.
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3rd Grade
Easton F.
Mason H.
Nina J.
Ryan F.
Willa R.
Adrian S.
Michael S.
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2nd Grade
Averie J.
Elias R.-M.
Reagan R.
Michelle W.
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1st Grade
Mickey F.
Madison W.
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Kindergarten
Silas G.
Tucker G.
Kayleigh H.
RJ M.
Ellarose R.-M.
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Pre-K
Amelia B.
Joni J.
Lucie J.
Madelyn L.
Joseph N.
Mikaela P.
Cassidy R.
Rhodes R.
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Why Wait?
Reasons why smartphones can be harmful to children.
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Alternatives
Safe alternatives to smartphones.
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FAQs
You've got questions? We've got answers.