Want to delay your child's social media? You're in the right place.
Join families across East Cork choosing to delay social media together, for as long as it takes — some of us aiming as late as 16. A phone for calls and texts is no problem; it's the addictive apps we're holding off on, together.
3 Children in East Cork across 1 Primary and 0 Secondary Schools
Some schools will begin with parent-led support only. Others may later choose to support the initiative directly. Real numbers, updated as they grow.
For Parents
Find the other parents at your child's school who feel the same way you do. Add your child's class securely, see who else is holding the line, and take some of the pressure off each other — and off your kids.
Parents: Get StartedFor Schools
This isn't a campaign asking schools for anything. Where a school wants to help — by keeping class information current, or just by being visible on the site — a school user can manage that themselves in a couple of minutes.
Schools: Learn MoreHow we make it actually work
Holding off works best when there's something real to look forward to, not just willpower.
Real discos and parties
For classes that stick with it together — not just willpower, an actual celebration to look forward to.
A badge that grows
Shown next to their own code name as your child's part of it grows — a fun way to track progress, no real names needed.
Filling the gap
With real stuff: reading together, playing together, celebrating together.
Never doing it alone
That's the whole point.
It's not just about saying no
Delaying social media only works if there's something better to say yes to. Some of what we're already talking about doing together:
Read it together
Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation is doing the rounds — a school or class group reading it together, then getting together to talk it over, does more than any leaflet could.
Celebrate finishing primary
A proper end-of-year BBQ, disco or party for every family in a school who stuck with it through 6th class — a real thank-you, not just a pledge on a page.
Meet before 1st year
A get-together for the families carrying it into secondary school, so the kids walk in on day one already knowing they're not the only ones without Snapchat.
Just play, no coach required
Badminton, a kickaround, a bike spin — leave kids together in an open space and they'll happily amuse themselves for hours, no plan required. Longer term, we'd love to see proper local youth clubs come out of this too.
Is your school missing? Add it here.
Parents can request that a school be added even if the school itself has not yet engaged. If a school later chooses to support the initiative, it can be given secure access to update its own class information and contact details.
How it works
A simple local process, built around schools, classes and parent support.
Parents join at school level
Parents register under their child's school and class so support can be built in a practical, local way.
Support builds from 4th class onward
The aim is to help parents start early, strengthen support through 4th, 5th and 6th class, and carry that same group into 1st year at secondary school.
Schools may support, but parents lead
Some schools may help by confirming class sizes or contact information. Parent groups can still move forward where a school does not participate formally.
This is a parent-led initiative
East Cork Reclaim Childhood is built by parents, for parents. It is designed to make it easier for families to act together rather than alone. No school is under any obligation to participate. No child or family is judged. The aim is simply to help parents connect, reduce pressure, and support a healthier childhood.
Schools can support at their own pace
If a school chooses to support the initiative, it can nominate a secure school user who can update class sizes and school contact details. This helps keep school information accurate and reduces admin duplication. If a school prefers not to participate directly, the school can still appear on the site and be managed by admin so parents can organise at local level.
This is a local pilot. There's a national movement too.
Smartphone Free Childhood Ireland runs the national pledge and connects parents by WhatsApp group right across the country — including secondary schools not far from us. We focus on what they don't: real local schools, real classes, and real get-togethers here in East Cork. Worth signing both.
Common questions
Clear answers to the main issues parents and schools raise.
Stay informed as the network grows
Get occasional updates as more schools, classes and local parent groups are added across East Cork.
Get Updates