Norwegian parents push for smartphone-free childhoods. Credit: Ron Lach
A growing number of schools and parents in Norway are coming together to rethink the role of smartphones in children’s lives. What began as a small campaign in Oslo has now spread across the country. As of now, parents at 161 elementary schools are working to delay smartphone use among children until at least the age of 13.
Many of these parents believe smartphones are introduced too early. They worry about the negative impact on mental health, social life and attention spans. Some schools already have mobile-free rules during school hours, but parents now want to go a step further. They ask that children not be given smartphones before middle school.
The movement is known as “Smartphone-Free Childhood” and started in the capital, Oslo. It began when a group of concerned parents started asking themselves a simple question: Should children really be carrying smartphones in their pockets before they are teenagers?
At a parent meeting at Bestum School in Oslo, the conversation began. What followed was a wave of interest from other families who felt the same. The idea of keeping smartphones out of primary school life was no longer a personal decision, but a community effort.
The campaign has now reached schools in Kristiansand, where parents at several elementary schools are working to set age limits. At Sjøstrand School, the Parents’ Working Committee (FAU) has recommended that children born in 2016 or later not have smartphones until eighth grade.
This means the aim is a full 13 years of life without smartphones. Just childhood without apps, the internet, GPS and cameras.
The initiative is backed by research showing early mobile use may harm young people. Alexander Elmies-Vestergren and Kjetil Abrahamsen, members of the FAU at Sjøstrand School, say mental health is one of the main concerns.
“We want to give children a better chance to develop without the pressure and distraction that comes with mobile phones,” say Elmies-Vestergren and Abrahamsen.
Currently, school rules in Norway often ban mobile use during lessons. But that still leaves plenty of screen time after the school day ends. That is what many parents now want to address. They are also calling for more control at home and a joint effort to delay the start of smartphone ownership.
They say one of the biggest challenges is not the school but social pressure. Children do not want to feel left out. When some kids have smartphones, others quickly want the same. That is why the decision needs to be made together as a community.
The “Smartphone-Free Childhood” network now has its website with tips and tools for parents. It also has a map of all the schools that have joined or are discussing the idea. So far, 31 schools have made an official FAU decision, while many more are in the process of planning.
This is not just a Norwegian issue. Similar discussions are happening in other countries, where concerns about smartphones and young users are also on the rise. In Norway, however, the momentum is growing fast.
The goal is not to make laws or force schools to follow strict rules. Instead, the idea is to build a shared understanding among parents. Each year, parents of new first graders are invited to be part of the agreement and delay smartphones for their children.
In Kristiansand, other schools like Dvergsnes, Hånes and Fargerholt follow the same path. The common goal is to reduce the pressure on both parents and children by setting a clear age limit.
The campaign hopes to shift the norm. If more families wait until middle school, fewer children will feel excluded. Parents believe this united approach is the only way to make a difference.
As Kjetil Abrahamsen explains, it is not about removing smartphones from kids who already have them. That would be difficult and unfair. Instead, they are focusing on the next group of children, starting with those born in 2016.
They hope these children will enjoy a more focused and less digital childhood by setting the rules early and sticking to them together.
The campaign has received wide media attention and growing interest from schools across Norway. Parents are sharing experiences, challenges and advice. The website is seeing high traffic, and the founders believe this could eventually lead to changes in national guidelines.
Whether or not it becomes law, the “Smartphone-Free Childhood” movement is already having an impact. It has started conversations in homes, schools and communities across Norway.
With screens now a constant part of daily life, many Norwegian parents are starting to wonder if children might benefit from more time offline.
For now, the answer from many families is yes.
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