Dr. Anna Dalrymple of Gothenburg Health will attend Dudley Elementary’s Family Night on Thursday, April 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., to promote the Wait Until 8th pledge, a national initiative encouraging parents to delay providing smartphones to their children until at least the end of eighth grade.​

At the event, Dr. Dalrymple will host an informational booth offering resources about the pledge and discussing the potential distractions and dangers associated with early smartphone use. The Gothenburg Health Foundation is supporting this initiative by sponsoring a giveaway of three Gabb watches—kid-friendly devices that allow calling and texting without internet access, apps, or social media.​

“We’re excited to help raise awareness and support parents who want to delay smartphone use for their children,” Dalrymple said. “This pledge helps build a community of families working together to protect kids’ mental health and development.”

The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to collectively agree to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the end of eighth grade. This collective action helps reduce the social pressure on children to have a smartphone at an early age. According to the organization, the average age for a child to receive a smartphone is 10 years old, leading to increased exposure to screen time and potential online risks. ​

By signing the pledge, parents commit to withholding smartphones from their children until at least the end of eighth grade, provided that at least 10 families from their child's school also pledge. This threshold activates the pledge, and participating parents are notified and connected to support one another in this commitment. ​

The initiative highlights several reasons for delaying smartphone use among children including decreased outdoor play, face-to-face social interactions, and other physical activities essential for a child's development. ​ Early access to smartphones increases the risk of children encountering unsuitable online material and studies have linked early, and excessive smartphone use to anxiety, depression, and decreased self-esteem among adolescents.​

By postponing smartphone ownership, parents can help their children develop essential social skills and engage more fully in real-world experiences without the constant presence of digital distractions.​

For parents concerned about staying in touch with their children, the pledge supports the use of basic phones or smartwatches that offer calling and texting capabilities without internet access. These devices provide a means of communication while minimizing exposure to the risks associated with smartphones, such as the Gabb watches being given away by the Foundation. ​

Gothenburg Health is proud to partner with Gothenburg Public Schools in promoting the Wait Until 8th pledge. Parents and guardians attending Family Night are encouraged to visit Dr. Dalrymple's booth to learn more about the pledge, enter to win, ask questions, and consider joining the movement to delay smartphone use among young students.​

For additional information about the Wait Until 8th pledge and to sign up, visit waituntil8th.org.