Latest news with #ParentPact
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thousands of parents support under-14 phone ban
Thousands of parents across Kent have agreed to ban their children from social media until they turn 16 years old. Six primary schools and more than 5,000 parents or caregivers in the county have signed up to national initiative Parent Pact, run by charity Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC). The pact promises to delay smartphone use in teens until Year 9 and access to social media until two years later. SFC regional leader Felicity Winkles said: "This movement is gathering extraordinary momentum here in Kent." "Each new pact strengthens the community and makes it easier for the next family to say no to early smartphone use," she added. Grassroots group SFC was set up in 2024 and aims to eliminate the peer pressure around smartphone and social media use. Sevenoaks School and Amherst Primary School in Sevenoaks, St James Primary School in Royal Tunbridge Wells, John Wallis Academy in Ashford, Cheriton Primary School in Folkestone and Hextable Primary School in Swanley have so far signed up for their students to honour the campaign. MP for Sevenoaks, Swanley and Dartford Laura Trott will host an SFC event on 3 July to discuss practical ways schools and communities can support healthy tech habits in children. The event starts at 18:30 BST and takes place at The Space Performing Arts Centre in Sevenoaks. Meanwhile, a play written from young people's experiences with smartphone addiction and online behaviour is set to tour schools in Kent. Starting on Monday at The Whitstable School, Generation FOMO is written from interviews with teens on problematic behaviour on social media. Artistic director at the University of Kent's Portrait Theatre Isabelle Defaut spoke to BBC Kent's Dominic King about the project in October. She interviewed friends' children anonymously to use verbatim in the show - with topics ranging from fear of missing out (FOMO) due to seeing social media to inappropriate content online. She said: "Many of us who are parents are super-aware and frightened of how this affects our children." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. 'Boys formed Andrew Tate club in school' - teacher Parents get forum to air smartphone access concerns Mum begins anti-smartphone campaign by mistake Smartphone Free Childhood University of Kent
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Thousands of Kent parents pledge to delay access to social media
Thousands of parents across Kent have agreed to ban their children from social media until they turn 16 years old. Six primary schools and more than 5,000 parents or caregivers in the county have signed up to national initiative Parent Pact, run by charity Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC). The pact promises to delay smartphone use in teens until Year 9 and access to social media until two years later. SFC regional leader Felicity Winkles said: "This movement is gathering extraordinary momentum here in Kent." "Each new pact strengthens the community and makes it easier for the next family to say no to early smartphone use," she group SFC was set up in 2024 and aims to eliminate the peer pressure around smartphone and social media use. Sevenoaks School and Amherst Primary School in Sevenoaks, St James Primary School in Royal Tunbridge Wells, John Wallis Academy in Ashford, Cheriton Primary School in Folkestone and Hextable Primary School in Swanley have so far signed up for their students to honour the campaign. MP for Sevenoaks, Swanley and Dartford Laura Trott will host an SFC event on 3 July to discuss practical ways schools and communities can support healthy tech habits in children. The event starts at 18:30 BST and takes place at The Space Performing Arts Centre in Sevenoaks. 'Parents are frightened' Meanwhile, a play written from young people's experiences with smartphone addiction and online behaviour is set to tour schools in Kent. Starting on Monday at The Whitstable School, Generation FOMO is written from interviews with teens on problematic behaviour on social director at the University of Kent's Portrait Theatre Isabelle Defaut spoke to BBC Kent's Dominic King about the project in interviewed friends' children anonymously to use verbatim in the show - with topics ranging from fear of missing out (FOMO) due to seeing social media to inappropriate content said: "Many of us who are parents are super-aware and frightened of how this affects our children."
Metro
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Hugh Grant slams rules at his kids' ‘ridiculous posh private schools'
Hugh Grant did not hold back when discussing the rules over screens at his children's 'ridiculous posh private schools.' The Bridget Jones actor shares three children with his wife Anna Eberstein: John Mungo, 12, Lulu, nine, and Blue, seven. He also welcomed Tabitha, 13, and Felix, 11, from his previous relationship with Tinglan Hong. The Heretic star is currently campaigning for schools to introduce more outdoor play at school, drawing on his experience with his children in education. Hugh described himself as 'another angry parent fighting the eternal, exhausting and depressive battle with children who only want to be on a screen' during an event at Knightsbridge School in London this week. The Notting Hill actor slammed the 'pathetic' rules these 'kind of ridiculous posh private schools' have when it comes to screen time. 'They're the ones saying they're not going to play outside today because it's raining, or they can't go on the climbing frame because it's windy,' he began according to The Telegraph. 'It's pathetic — it seems to me that there is space here for a hero school, a set of schools to break the mould.' 'The final straw was when the school started saying, with some smugness, 'We give every child a Chromebook, and they do a lot of lessons on their Chromebook, and they do all their homework on their Chromebook,' and you just thought that is the last f*****g thing they need, and the last thing we need.' The event was also attended by Dr Jonathan Haidt as well as Peep Show actor Sophie Winkleman, who slammed ChatGPT use by students and teachers alike, asking 'what's the point of school?' 'We were sold a dream that technology would revolutionise education, personalise learning and prepare kids for a digital future. Billions of dollars and pounds later, where are we?,' she continued. 'Test scores are plummeting globally. The increased screen use is damaging children's health.' They aren't the only celebrities taking a stand against technology, with ex-footballer Jamie Redknapp, actor Benedict Cumberbatch and singers Rachel Stevens and Paloma Faith signing the 'Parent Pact.' The campaign, which has more than 100,000 signatures so gar, aims to get families to commit to delaying giving their children a smartphone until they turn 14 and social media until they turn 16. The NGO said: 'Delaying smartphones becomes possible when we do it together.' The group added: 'In every corner of the UK, at 40% of schools in the country, families are committing to wait until at least 14 before getting their kids' smartphones.' According to the Smartphone Free Childhood website: 'Founded in February 2024 after one WhatsApp group went viral, we're now a community of over 200,000 parents working together to change the culture around kids and smartphones. 'We've made it our mission to provide solidarity, support and solutions to parents who are struggling with what's become one of the defining parenting challenges of our time. 'And we're using the voice of our community to push for more support from the government in the battle to reclaim childhood from Big Tech's addictive algorithms and devices.' The mission of the Parent Pact is to 'to use the growing groundswell of support for this movement to create lasting change for children.' You can sign the pact online here. It comes after Hugh opened up on a 'creepy' airport incident that occurred with his children, who he largely keeps out of the public eye. On X, the Notting Hill star wrote: 'Just came through Heathrow with wife and children. We all have the same last name (Grant) on our passports. More Trending 'Immigration officer engages my children in chit chat then whispers to them 'Are these your Mum and Dad?' Intrusive, insulting and creepy.' Hugh has been open about how much he enjoys being a father, even joining his kids at concerts like BlackPink and Taylor Swift. While on the SmartLess podcast, Hugh was asked about his children and shared: 'I had them much too old in life. You know I started when I was 52.' 'I think I was a dried-up, middle-aged, golf-addicted Englishman,' he added. 'Then I had children and suddenly I had heart and I had more layers, or something.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Full list of 750 free school breakfast clubs opening today MORE: Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley's turbulent dating lives after 'confirming' romance MORE: 'Andrew Tate phenomena' sweeping schools with boys 'barking at female teachers'
