As schools curb classroom cellphones, educators urge focus on kids’ well-being
Wed, July 29, 2026 at 12:16 PM
As back-to-school season approaches, more school districts across the country are putting limits on cell phones in the classroom, including recently in Seattle. Educators say preparing students for a successful school year goes beyond academics and includes helping kids rebuild social connections, develop healthy habits and strengthen their emotional well-being (Courtesy: Camp Fire)
SEATTLE —As back-to-school season approaches, more school districts across the country are putting limits on cell phones in the classroom, including recently in Seattle
Educators say preparing students for a successful school year goes beyond academics and includes helping kids rebuild social connections, develop healthy habits, and strengthen their emotional well-being
Shawna Rosenzweig, CEO of Camp Fire, joined the conversation to discuss how parents can help their children get ready for the new school year as more schools adopt cell phone restrictions
The discussion focused on how those policies could affect students and classroom environments, and on the idea that “school readiness” involves more than school supplies and homework
The conversation also explored which social and emotional skills are most important for kids to develop to be successful in school, and how technology can affect that development
Rosenzweig also addressed the benefits she describes as “less screen time and more green time,” including the role spending time outdoors can play in a child’s development
The discussion also touched on how parents can teach technology literacy and education while still helping children maintain a healthy relationship with technology, and what families can start doing now to set their children up for a healthy and successful school year
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