LincolnWait
Wait Until 8th in Lincoln, MA
Our Mission
We're the new Lincoln chapter of the national Wait Until 8th organization. Our goal is to empower parents to delay giving their children smartphones until 8th grade.
What if we said "not yet" together?
Wait Until 8th
What is "Wait Until 8th?
A national movement to connect parents who want to delay giving their children smartphones.
How does it work?
By signing the online pledge, you promise not to give your child a smartphone until at least 8th grade* as long as at least 10 families total from your child’s grade and school pledge.The pledge is anonymous until it becomes active; once 10 or more families from the same grade and school sign, the pledge becomes active, and you will be notified along with the other parents who have signed from the grade in a group email.
Wait, didn't I already sign a pledge?
Maybe! That was likely an organization called "Turning Life On" or "Lincoln Promise," both of which have become inactive. We're reviving this movement in Lincoln with the support of the national Wait Until 8th network. Please sign up again to be included.
Sounds great, I'm on board! What's next?
Click below to sign the pledge!
Okay I'm interested, but I need more convincing.
Great! Scroll down for more info.
NOTE: For kids younger than 6
The pledge is designed for kids starting in Kindergarten. If you've got younger kids but would like to stay in touch with LincolnWait until they're in the Lincoln Schools, add your email below!
Let Lincoln's kids be kids a little longer.
Why wait?
So many reasons! There's a great comprehensive list on Wait Until 8th website. But the problems with giving kids smartphones include:
Mental health decline
Fewer in-person peer interactions
Academic distraction
Sleep impairment
Cyberbullying
many more
Pre-teens began to receive smartphones around 2010, and statistics show an alarming jump in dangerous behaviors in the last decade. (Note that all three of these graphs are pre-pandemic; many of these numbers have likely worsened since.)
Adolescent Self-Harm
The introduction in 2010 of smartphones to adolescents (10-14y/o ) matches a dramatic rise in ER visits for self-harm: +48% in boys, and +188% in girls.
Depression in Teens
Nearly 30% of girls (and over 10% of boys) now report major at least one depressive episode in their teens, more than double both rates in 2010.
Adolescent Suicide
Rates of suicide among 10-14 year olds have risen sharply. Since 2010 suicides among boys has risen 91%, and in girls has risen 167%.
*(Note that for children with diabetes, smartphones have become an incredible tool for monitoring and managing their condition; we are of course fully supportive of this, and celebrate the tremendous technological advancement this represents!)
Collective action is key.
The overwhelming reason most parents buy their child a smartphone is so their's isn't the only one in the class without one.As long as a critical mass of parents agree to wait, your child won't be left out.
Next Steps!
Convinced and ready to get involved? Great!1. Sign the WT8 pledge
Once 10 families in your child's grade have signed you'll all be connected. We at LincolnWait will help organize these connections. We plan monthly emails providing resources, education, smartphone alternatives.
2. Spread the word
Collective actions is key – the more families on board, the easier this becomes for all of us. Share this site and the pledge with other Lincoln families via word of mouth and social networks (digital or otherwise).3. Educate yourself
The Wait Until 8th website has tons of great resources on reasons to wait, smartphone alternatives, further reading, and advice on establishing healthy digital habits.
As a small town, we have a real opportunity to create a critical mass of likeminded parents. Let's work together to protect Lincoln's kids.
About LincolnWait
Who are you?
We're a group of Lincoln families just like you! We include local pediatricians, child psych professionals, lawyers, tech executives, volunteers, entrepreneurs, stay at home parents and more – but most importantly parents of kids growing up in Lincoln MA who are concerned about the negative power of smartphones.We're not anti-tech.
Technology, even smartphones, can be used for tremendous good; (for instance, you visiting this website!) But just like you wouldn't let your 10-year-old drive your car or order a beer, smartphones are just not for kids.Many parents delay phones of any kind until high school, but for those families who feel their kids need to be in contact, there are great alternatives (dumb phones, watches, etc). Here are some ideas.Want to volunteer?
We'd love help! Email us at [email protected]
Active Pledge Grades
Grades in Lincoln where the pledge has gone active (10+ families) as of 12/18! (updating)
Kindergarten (almost!) 👌
First Grade 👏
Second Grade 👏
Third Grade 👏
Fourth Grade (almost!) 👌
Sixth Grade (almost!) 👌