Summary
The children's commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, urges parents to turn off their phones during family time this Christmas to engage more with their children. She highlights the importance of parents setting an example by reducing phone use during key moments like meals. A new guide has been released to help parents manage children's online safety and screen time effectively.
Key Facts
- Dame Rachel de Souza is the children's commissioner for England.
- She advises parents to have "phone-free time" during Christmas to focus on family.
- A survey found nearly half of parents plan to allow phone use at the Christmas dinner table.
- Research shows that smartphones disrupt Christmas for 40% of adults.
- Dame Rachel launched a guide to help parents manage online safety and screen time for children.
- Kids aged 13 to 18 acknowledged negative online experiences and the importance of early conversations about online presence.
- Arabella Skinner suggests creating family plans for device use to promote attention to children.
- A report by Ofcom says children aged 8-14 spend about three hours online daily, with significant use late at night.
