How to help kids break free from social media? Build offline communities

Playground squabbles, academic stress, and the challenges of making friends are all part of growing up. But for today’s children, these experiences are magnified by a new layer of complexity: the influence of smartphones, social media, and online gaming.

Over the past decade, the rise of digital technology has transformed the way kids interact with each other, and not always for the better. Studies from child development experts consistently show that prolonged screen time and social media use can have damaging effects on young minds, from increasing anxiety to weakening social bonds.

Matt Dagan, Primary School Principal at Riverside International School in Prague, sees these challenges firsthand. “The toothpaste is out of the tube,” he says. “We can’t undo the pervasive role technology plays in kids’ lives, but we can focus on how schools and parents respond.”

If your young child has ever come to you begging for a phone, claiming that if they don’t have a device, they’ll miss out on what’s happening online, you’re not alone. No matter where your child is enrolled, the pressure to conform starts early, says Dagan.

And while many parents withhold phones for younger kids, the fear of missing out—real or perceived—can create significant stress for children and parents alike. “Even if they aren’t truly missing out, the perception alone can be enough to cause anxiety that does manifest itself in very real ways,” he notes, adding that you can hold out for as long as possible, “but the time will eventually come.”

So what can parents and educators do early on to introduce phones reasonably and responsibly and avoid bad habits later?

Many schools, including Riverside are making e-safety a core part of its curriculum with lessons that cover safe online behavior, peer interactions, and the psychological effects of social media.

Schools can implement phone-free policies, but can’t control what happens at home. This creates a ripple effect: social media interactions outside of school often spill over into classrooms, affecting students’ mental health and dynamics with peers.

Dagan emphasizes that tackling these challenges requires more than just classroom intervention. “Schools can educate students, but all staff and parents must prioritize it, too.”

Riverside, which has early years, primary, junior, and senior high school campuses around Prague 6, regularly hosts seminars for parents on e-safety, emotional well-being, and the risks posed by AI. These events aim to equip families with tools to support their children’s mental health and set healthy digital boundaries.

The school is also among a growing number of educational institutions in Czechia and abroad that are banning the use of phones during school hours—to positive effect.

Laia Torres Juncadella, an emotional well-being counselor at Riverside, says such policies are a step in the right direction. “Transitioning to a phone-free environment has a direct and positive impact on students’ relationships,” she says.

According to Torres Juncadella, the promise of connection through social media is often a paradox. “Teenagers may have many online friends, but the quality of these interactions is shallow. Evidence shows that as smartphone and social media use increased, so did rates of anxiety and loneliness among teens.”

Encouraging children to spend time offline is crucial. Whether it’s through team sports, creative activities, or simply hanging out with friends, face-to-face interactions help kids build meaningful relationships and reduce their reliance on screens.

Schools can also help by fostering a sense of community. At Riverside, events like the annual Fun Run and International Week bring students together to celebrate teamwork and the 50-plus nationalities that make up its student body and teamwork.

“Wellbeing is a core part of our school’s improvement process,” says Dagan. “It is something we take very seriously. We aim to understand and support the mental health of every student, not just react when problems arise.”

By being proactive and collaborative, parents and schools can create environments where children thrive—online and offline.

If you want to learn more about the Early Years School program at Riverside International School in Prague, the school will host an Open Day on Jan. 21, 2025.