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The number of sign-ups to our Unplugged Bialik Pledge are increasing day by day. We are close to 500 students signed up not to have smartphones or social media until after Grade 8. This shows that many Bialik families are committed to unplugging as best they can.
But we know that some parents are still hesitant to sign.
Many parents tell us they are on board with the overall concept, but they are not sure about the details they are committing to. So to clarify and to get more parents involved, we want you to know what Unplugged Bialik does and doesn't stands for:
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Our basic premise: Research shows that kids today are more anxious than ever, more depressed than ever, more risk-averse, lonelier and less social than ever. But we know we don't want this for our kids! Unplugged Bialik was launched by Bialik parents who were concerned about what smartphones and social media were doing to our kids' well-being. We want to bring our community together to educate ourselves and find ways to address these issues. While it may be easier to just go with the flow, give our kids the devices they want and let them onto social media (especially Snapchat) at a young age, we want to address the growing mental health and social crisis that will affect our children.
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What am I committing to by signing the Pledge? You are committing to our basic premise. You are joining the community of other parents who feel the same way and want to create a different childhood for their kids, starting with limiting screens, not giving smartphones and social media. It doesn't mean perfection, but if a critical mass of families sign up and start talking about the issues, it will be much easier to do. If an entire grade of parents works together to delay giving their children smartphones, you’ll never have to hear your child say, “But I’m the only one without a smartphone!”
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Absolutely no screens, ever? Signing the pledge does not mean your family should not have any screens in your home or that your child can't ever play on an iPad. We all lead busy lives, our kids need downtime, and this sometimes means iPads. But, this could also be non-screen games or outdoor play. Unplugged Bialik recommends being mindful about screen use and giving your children opportunities for real-world play and independence. We are guided by renowned author, Dr. Jonathan Haidt's four norms.
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How do I keep in touch with my child? We all want to keep our kids safe and be able to stay in touch with them. With all the dangers presented by full Internet access on smartphones, we recommend investigating the many alternatives to smartphones that are now available.
You probably have many other questions about how unplugging may work for your family and we are aware that things are different for children of different ages. We definitely don't want to tell you and your family exactly what you should be doing. Rather we want to provide resources, open conversations in families, in our school community and amongst friends. We also want to provide you with some smartphone alternatives to help you make choices.
Our parent ambassadors for each grade are available to chat with you. You'll find their email addresses in the Bialik Parents Only section of the website, so don't hesitate to reach out.
Please enjoy this newsletter and, as always, be sure to share your feedback.
Co-Chairs Brie and Jeffrey Kimel and the Unplugged Bialik Parent Ambassadors
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