It's Ok to Delay! 

You're Not Alone - It can feel like "everyone has a phone," but that's not true. Many families at CRES and in our community are choosing to wait until at least 8th grade (or later) to give smartphones and allow social media. You don’t have to go it alone. We’re here to support each other.

We are working with the other elementary schools in the Langley High School pyramid to help spread this collective grass-roots effort. Our hope would be that kids are less pressured to ask for phones or social media when their peers do not have access either. 

We want our kids to run, play, imagine, talk, and connect in the real world. 

You know what is best for you child -- we are only here to remind everyone that it is OK TO DELAY.

What Can You Do?

• Join the Wait Until (after) 8th pledge. 

• Choose a basic phone. If your child needs a way to stay in touch, consider a flip phone or a talk/text-only device.

• Talk to other parents. Coordinate with friends to create shared expectations so kids don’t feel left out.

• Start the conversation early. Let your child know your values and expectations about screen time and devices.

Why Wait?

More and more research shows that early access to smartphones and social media can lead to:

• Increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem

• Disrupted sleep and attention issues

• Exposure to inappropriate content and cyberbullying

• Reduced face-to-face social skills and real-world problem-solving

Kids need time to grow without the pressures of digital life.

Dear CRES Families - please consider signing the Wait Until 8th Pledge. 

The idea is simple but powerful: hold off on giving our kids a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade—and do it together.

These days, many kids are getting smartphones as early as 4th or 5th grade. For some families, that timing works—but for others, it feels a bit too soon. Still, it can be hard to hold off when it seems like everyone else is saying yes. The Wait Until 8th movement helps families say “not yet” together. This gives our kids a few more years to grow, play, and build real-world connections without the added pressure and distractions that come with smartphones.

One of the best parts of the pledge is how it harnesses the power of community. It only becomes active once 10 or more families in the same grade at a school sign on. That means you’re not doing it alone—and neither is your child. The pledge helps connect families who want to wait.  It turns what can feel like an isolated decision into a shared movement.

Over 115,000 families from across the country have already said yes to waiting. Will you join us?

Learn more and sign at www.waituntil8th.org .

If this speaks to you, sign the pledge—and feel free to forward this email to other parents.

If it’s not the right fit, no problem at all. But if you’re on the fence, I encourage you to check out the Atlantic article “End the Phone-Based Childhood Now.” 

Thanks for considering this,
Firoozeh Mofakhami