Smartphones & Childhood — Striking the Balance

Smartphones are becoming part of children’s lives earlier than ever — and for many parents, it’s not an easy decision to make.
 From staying in touch to keeping up with peers, there’s a lot to weigh up when thinking about the right time to hand over a phone.

In this episode of the Parentline Podcast, we explore how families and schools are navigating these decisions — and what support is out there for parents trying to find the right balance between connection and protection.

You’ll hear from three guests with unique perspectives:

• Rosalind McLean, from Smartphone Free Childhood – Northern Ireland, explains why so many parents feel stuck between peer pressure and their instincts — and how the movement is helping families delay smartphones with confidence and community.
• Craig Johnson, Vice Principal at Lisneal College, shares how a phone-free school policy has changed student life and why their approach has had strong support from both parents and pupils.
• Wayne Denner, online safety expert and parent, offers practical tools for setting boundaries at home and explains why families don’t need to be tech experts to manage smartphone use well.

We explore:

• How smartphones are becoming more common in primary school — and the questions that raises for families
• Concerns around screen time, online content, and social media
• Ways to set age-appropriate boundaries around tech at home
• What schools can do to support digital downtime
• Alternatives to smartphones that still help children stay connected safely

Whether your child already has a phone or you're still deciding, this episode offers calm, practical advice and real-world stories to help you make informed choices.

📲 Links & Resources:

• Smartphone Free Childhood – Northern Ireland
• Wayne Denner – Online Safety & Digital Wellbeing
• Lisneal College
• Parentline NI: Free, confidential support for any parenting concern — call 0808 8020 400 or visit https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/parentline/

🔖 Tags:

#ParentlinePodcast #SmartphonesAndChildhood #SmartphoneFreeChildhoodNI #DigitalParenting #OnlineSafety #WayneDenner #LisnealCollege #ParentingSupport #KidsAndScreens