Research from organizations like Common Sense Media indicates that a significant portion of children in the United States are gaining access to smartphones at increasingly younger ages, with nearly half receiving their first smartphone by the age of 10 and a majority owning one by age 11, highlighting a trend towards earlier smartphone acquisition among students.
Developmental impact: Early exposure to smartphones can potentially affect cognitive development, sleep patterns, and social interactions in younger children.
Digital addiction: Unregulated smartphone usage can lead to potential issues with screen time and addictive behaviors.
Mental health concerns: Some studies link earlier smartphone access to potential negative mental health outcomes later in life.
There are a number of alternatives to full-blown smartphones you can consider and a bunch of resources to help you make an informed choice. The Council of Chelmsford Schools board members are parents just like you and these are some of the resources we’ve utilized.
The American Academy of Pediatrics: Dedicated to the health of all children.
- What is an appropriate age to introduce a phone or other communication devices, like a watch with texting capabilities, to children/adolescents?
- Building Healthy Relationships with Media: Essential Skills for Children 10 and Younger
- Media and Children
National Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Will serve as a centralized, trusted source for evidence-based education and technical assistance to support the mental health of children and adolescents as they navigate social media.
- Conversation Starters for Families of Tweens and Teens – ideas and examples to help start conversations with tweens and teens about technology, social media, and video games. It is intended for use with tweens and teens who are already engaged with technology and digital media.
Parental Controls:
- Google/Android devices – Helping you set digital ground rules with Family Link
- Apple devices – Use parental controls on your child’s iPhone or iPad
- Canopy App
- Router Limits
Parents e-zine: “Our mission has been the same for nearly 100 years – to provide you with trustworthy advice as you raise the next generation of confident and compassionate kids.”
Protect Young Eyes: “We believe in giving kids the right tech at the right time and that the tech journey is slow and intentional. This allows children and parents to learn technology together.”
- Parental controls for every digital device
- Favorite tools and products
- Research about kids and technology
- Guides for today’s most popular Apps used by kids and teens
SafeWise: “Our mission is to inspire people to embrace safety as a lifestyle, turn their homes into sanctuaries, and invest in their communities.”
- The Best Smart Watches for Kids in 2025
- The Best GPS Trackers and Tracking Devices for Kids in 2025
- The Best Phones for Kids in 2025
- The Best Parental Control Apps in 2025
Why wait?
The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade.
Technology Use at CPS
To ensure that technology is used in ways that enhance the learning process, Chelmsford Public Schools has developed and continuously updates policies and protocols to guide its use. For more information, please review the district’s Empowered Digital Use Guidelines at Chelmsford Public Schools, as well as the Student Handbooks.
