A Sydney girls’ school is offering students in Years 4 to 8 an age-appropriate alternative to smartphones that some parents are calling “a godsend”.
Pymble Ladies’ College’s (PLC) ‘Pymble Wise Phone initiative’ enables parents to give their daughters a ‘Wise Phone’ which restricts internet and social media access until Year 10 or the age of 16, depending on any changes to the legal age for social media use.
So far, the response from parents and students has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% take-up among Year 6 and 7 families.
While parents remain responsible for their daughter's SIM card and phone plan, the College will manage Wise Phones in consultation with students to ensure safe, practical features tailored to each age and year group.
Parents also have the option to forgo a phone entirely or activate a Wise Phone later when it suits their family.
“We understand that mobile phones play an important role in keeping families connected with their children,” Principal Dr Kate Hadwen said. “However, the negative impact of social media and smartphone addiction on young people is well-supported by research.”
Dr Hadwen said PLC is in a unique position to work with its families and address this issue by providing a solution that promotes responsible and appropriate use of technology and allows girls to learn, play, and develop positive relationships in real life and online.
Year 6 student Gabriella Hanna expressed excitement about starting Year 7 on a level playing field regarding technology.
“At the moment, it’s like there’s a big disconnect between people who have phones and those who don’t,” Gabriella said.
“The Wise Phone is a great option because it will allow us to contact our friends and families when we need to. It will also allow the school to add our My Pymble app and any other things we actually need for Year 7.”
Her mother, Luisa Hanna, described the initiative as a relief for parents.
“I felt like we had no options: our daughter is beginning Year 7 next year and, if we wanted her to feel included, we would have had to give in and get her a smartphone and deal with the repercussions of that decision,” she said.
“This has been a godsend; the answer to our prayers.”
Luisa said it was a thoughtful initiative that not only protects children from premature exposure to social media but also gives parents peace of mind about their child's safety and ability to focus on their development.
“It allows us to give our daughter a phone that is age-appropriate and allows her to test the waters of responsibility for having a phone without all the apps and worrying extras like social media, which are hard to navigate at her age.”