Parents are eager to maintain communication with their children during school hours, especially for emergencies. With schools nationwide implementing bans on cell phones in classrooms, how is this situation unfolding as the new academic year progresses?

According to Bella Tharler, a 13-year-old 8th grader from Long Island, “I haven’t experienced any issues.” She recently transitioned to New York from Hawaii and observes that the cellphone policies are stricter here than at her previous school. This aligns with New York’s ongoing consideration of statewide smartphone prohibitions in schools, aimed at addressing rising concerns about student attention and mental well-being.

“I can use my phone on the bus, but it must remain off and stored away while at school. If teachers see a phone out, they’ll take it, and you might end up with the Dean. We’re supposed to keep them in our lockers, but I keep mine in my bag (completely powered off) because if something happens, what’s the use of having a phone locked up when I can’t call my parents?”

Parents, stop complicating your kids’ school experience

Across the nation, feedback from middle and high school students reveals a common theme. The phone bans are proving effective. Students report feeling happier, less distracted, and experiencing less conflict overall. This change has been a welcome relief for both students and educators.

A 15-year-old student from Indiana shared with NPR that he no longer sneaks his phone out during class since it’s now “the rule” to keep phones away. “I feel like I’m more focused and attentive,” he said, noting that his grades have shown significant improvement.

Similar feelings were echoed by numerous other students who mentioned that the message becomes stronger when teachers ask students to put their phones away, compared to the idea of “breaking the law.”

Teachers and school leaders also affirm that the bans are beneficial and provide the much-needed structure. A superintendent remarked that students appear to be “free from burdens” as a result of having clearer smartphone policies in place.

The main resistance primarily comes from parents. They want a method for their children to connect with them in serious situations, such as during a school shooting. I discussed this in my previous column.

Should parents manage their kids’ devices rather than schools?

<pIt’s not surprising to Charlene Lake, Head of Corporate Responsibility at AT&T, that many parents oppose these bans. In an email, she noted that AT&T’s latest research indicates a significant majority of parents believe it’s their duty to monitor their kids’ use of tech. “Our findings reveal that over 85% of parents feel responsible for overseeing their children’s device use. Each family’s dynamics, values, and requirements differ,” she stated.

The issue, however, is that parents struggle to effectively control their kids’ device usage.

“We recognize that it can be tough for both parents and educators to manage technology today. At AT&T, we’re committed to equipping parents with the necessary tools and insights to tackle these challenges. Our goal is to empower parents with the resources they need to make well-informed choices that fit their family’s needs, regardless of school policies,” Lake further stated.

While AT&T and similar companies offer various tools for parents to track and limit their children’s screen time, including a more child-friendly smartwatch and tablet, these don’t address the pervasive issues associated with smartphones in classrooms—far from it.

“Parents are looking for a way to set ‘foolproof and easy’ parental controls, but I’m not sure that completely exists,” remarked Jodie Sherrill, one of the primary moderators of the Facebook group Parenting in a Tech World. “You almost have to be a tech expert; you need to understand all devices, operating systems, social media platforms, and their settings. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, everything changes again.”

This leads many to ponder: Why haven’t major companies like Apple, or carriers like AT&T, produced a simple, budget-friendly device that can be added to existing family plans, allowing for safe communication with kids while omitting the risks of inappropriate content?

“Parents want their kids’ phones to serve as helpful tools: for contact with parents, location tracking, maps, perhaps light educational browsing, and limited access to select applications that minimize exposure to inappropriate material,” Sherill added.

Is a ‘safe’ phone for kids actually available?

Stephanie Carlson, a mom from Bedford, New Hampshire, chose a Troomi phone for her 8th grader. “It’s a Galaxy phone without internet access,” she explained. “What I appreciate is that I can eventually enable internet and apps when she’s more prepared for it.”

However, Carlson noted that the phone was tricky to navigate initially, and after facing some issues, she had to request a replacement. Additionally, it does not integrate with her current family cellular plan.

“I spend around $35 every month for a phone that my kids hardly use, primarily so my daughter can call and text. At least I have control over who can reach them, including blocking spam calls and messages that were overloading their phones before. In today’s world, that’s the price for safety,” she explained.

I’ve consistently encouraged parents to utilize devices designed to evolve with their children. As I’ve noted in various articles, phones from brands like Bark, Gabb, Troomi, and Pinwheel are excellent choices.

Currently, I highly recommend the Pinwheel phone to friends and family. It comes with five Android models that feature user-friendly parental controls.

However, it lacks a web browser and social media access, while allowing you to view your child’s text messages and call records. Through the parent portal, you can decide which 1,200 apps to enable or block. Additionally, it’s simple to set app time limits and deactivate everything at bedtime.

One of its standout features is compatibility with your existing service providers—such as AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile—making it a great addition to a family plan (depending on the model). The phone must be purchased outright, starting at $100, with a subscription fee of $15 per month.

Connected watches are another option to consider, including the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3, Gabb Watch 3, TickTalk 5, and COSMO JrTrack 3.

Another alternative includes so-called “dumb phones” like the Wisephone II ($399, available for pre-order), Light Phone II ($299, available for pre-order), and Punkt MP02 ($299).

These devices provide basic calling and texting functionalities, with some additional options like a camera, maps, calendars, and restricted internet or app access.

Another mom interviewed for this series, Leigh Hicks, gave her high school student a simple flip phone, the Lively Jitterbug Flip2, primarily aimed at seniors, as it was the only device available that wasn’t internet-connected.

Stay Engaged and Informed

If you’re like many parents who pass down an older iPhone or another device, ensure you have the time to keep it updated.

Many discussions in the Parenting in a Tech World group highlight how often parental controls can falter, change, or how kids find clever ways around them.

“Every time I set limitations, it seems kids find a way around them,” said Allison Graves, a mom and teacher based in Virginia Beach. “Plus, whenever there’s an update, something breaks,” she added.

Leigh Hicks, from Wilmington, North Carolina, agrees. “My daughter was shown how to download TikTok and disguise it as a calculator app. These kids are ingenious and always find a way in. They even change time zones. There’s no foolproof method on any of these phones to truly keep your kids away from everything,” she remarked.

“We’re all doing our best to navigate parenthood,” Stephanie Carlson noted. “That’s why ongoing conversations among parents are vital, sharing experiences and knowledge from those who have faced similar challenges.”