Surf Coast Parent Alliance group concerned about impact of smartphones

A group of Surf Coast parents have joined forces to promote a “play-based” upbringing free from the stranglehold of a smartphone.

Parents Sebastien Blanc, left, Melissa Symonds and Ebony Hunt, pictured with children Zaliera, 4, Zorro, 6, Gabriel, 8, and at front, Jedda, 4, and Frankie, 6, are delaying introducing smartphones to their children. Picture: Alison Wynd.

A group of Surf Coast parents are holding back from introducing smartphones to their children as part of an effort to encourage a “play-base childhood”.

Surf Coast Parent Alliance has been established by Torquay resident Ebony Hunt, with the group concerned about the impact the technology might have during their formative years.

Ms Hunt said there was “power in numbers”.

“It’s so much easier to say ‘no’ when you’re in the good company of other parents and so much easier for our kids not to have a devices when all the other kids don’t have a device,” she said.

“But it’s not about it’s not about trying to take things away, it’s about restoring what we might’ve lost.”

Federal parliament passed legislation late last month that will see children under the age of 16 banned from using social media in what are world-first laws.

Ms Hunt welcomed the move but said it wouldn’t entirely cure the problem.

“The trend (is to) give devices to kids younger and younger,” she said.

“Although (the law) was essential and will make our lives as parents infinitely easier, it won’t provide perfect coverage.”

“Children today haven’t had the same opportunity for a play-base childhood as we had – and their little brains are still very much developing and incredibly vulnerable.”

Since 2020, all Victorian state schools have had policy where phones must be switched off and stored securely, but independent schools across Geelong have varying approaches.

While some have adopted no-phone policies, others still allow regulated use.

This year, Saint Ignatius College banned phones unless a special exemption is granted.

At both St Joseph’s College and Clonard College, phones must be locked during school hours.

Ms Hunt said schools should actively encourage parents to delay phone use and, if one is needed, ”consider a retro phone without the internet, which we know causes all sorts of harms”.

“When deciding on secondary schools for my children, I will be asking questions and making choices based, in part, on their smartphone policies,” she said.

“I will be confirming that policies exist and are enforced, this matters to me as a discerning parent and it matters to the other parents in the Surf Coast alliance, which will only grow in numbers over time.”

At Sacred Heart, teachers at times require students to use a phone as a learning tool, but they must otherwise not be on-hand.

Christian College students are prohibited from accessing their phone during school hours, except to support impromptu wellbeing needs, including momentary anxiety or social fatigue.

Geelong College students are also banned from using their phone during school hours, while for Geelong Grammar students, “responsible” phone use is allowed “for important communication access for parents”.

Kardinia International College did not provide policy mobile phone use in class.

Originally published as Surf Coast Parent Alliance group concerned about impact of smartphones