Can a community-wide smartphone pause protect childhood? ⠀ A year ago, schools in St. Albans, U.K., asked parents to delay giving smartphones to kids under 14. The concern? Skyrocketing anxiety, body image issues, school avoidance, and “TikTok brain” in children as young as five. ⠀ Inspired by The Anxious Generation, school leaders took a bold step—and it worked. 📉 In one school, smartphone ownership in 10–11-year-olds dropped from 75% to just 12%. 📉 In 9–10-year-olds, from 30% to 4.8%. 📈 Kids are more present. Parents are more engaged. ⠀ The results aren’t perfect, but they’re promising. A reminder that when adults lead with intention, kids don’t lose—they gain back pieces of childhood. #TheCrucialYears #DigitalParenting #SmartphoneFreeChildhood #RaisingKids #MentalHealthMatters #ProtectChildhood #ParentingChoices