Parents Urged to Stop Texting Kids During School Hours
Virginia high school teacher Joe Clement is keeping track of the text messages parents are sending to students during his economics and government classes. The messages range from asking about test scores to dinner plans. Clement has a plea for parents: Stop texting your kids at school. Teachers are raising concerns about the distractions and mental health issues associated with smartphones and social media. They say parents might not realize how much these struggles play out in the school environment.
One of the main culprits identified is parents themselves, whose constant stream of questions adds to a climate of interruption and distraction from learning. Even when schools regulate or ban cellphones, it can be challenging for teachers to enforce it. The constant buzzes on watches and phones can occupy critical brain space, regardless of whether students are sneaking a peek.
Teachers and experts recommend that parents make a few changes in their behavior to help make phones less distracting at school. They suggest that parents refrain from texting their children during school hours unless it is urgent, in which case they should contact the front office. Teachers emphasize that parents are not to blame for school cellphone battles, but they can do more to help.
In addition, parents are advised to cut back on constant communication with their children during the school day. Many parents became accustomed to being in constant contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this communication has continued even as life has returned to normal. Teachers refer to this as the "digital umbilical cord" and stress the importance of letting go.
Furthermore, parents are warned about contributing to their children's anxiety by sending messages, tracking their whereabouts, and checking grades daily. This constant communication does not allow children the space to be independent at school. Dr. Libby Milkovich, a pediatrician, suggests phasing in limits for children who are accustomed to constant communication with parents to help them practice independence.
Teachers also recommend turning off notifications and physically removing phones from students to reduce distractions. Many studies have found that students check their phones frequently during class, with notifications from social media being a major source of distraction. Teachers emphasize the importance of creating a school environment that minimizes cellphone use to promote focus and learning.
