As parents, we all want to give our children the best shot at success - academically, emotionally, and socially. While it may feel like “everyone” has a smartphone these days, research suggests that delaying smartphone ownership may be one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s cognitive development and learning.
Here’s why: even when a smartphone is turned off and sitting quietly in a backpack, it’s still a source of distraction. Scientists call this effect “brain drain.”
A landmark study from the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research (Ward et al., 2017) found that the mere presence of a smartphone - without even touching it - reduces working memory, attention span, and problem-solving ability. The brain stays partially engaged with the idea of the phone and works to resist the urge to check it: notifications that might arrive, social connections waiting, or simply the habit of reaching for it. It’s a constant, low-level cognitive tug-of-war.
For children and teens, whose brains are still developing, this split attention can be particularly damaging in classroom settings. They’re learning to concentrate, regulate impulses, and build deep thinking skills - abilities that are weakened when part of their attention is quietly being drained by the phone in their bag.
Another study by the London School of Economics showed that schools that banned mobile phones saw a 6.4% improvement in test scores, especially among students who were previously underperforming. It’s a clear signal: fewer phones, better focus.
Why Delaying Is Powerful
By delaying when your child gets their first smartphone, you give them more time to:
- Strengthen focus and attention span without the constant pull of a device
- Build academic confidence and executive functioning skills
- More time for experiences in the real world, supporting healthy development
Many parents today are joining the movement to delay smartphones until at least age 14 or beyond - not out of fear, but out of informed, research-based caution.
What You Can Do
- Wait to introduce a smartphone. Consider simpler phones or watches for communication needs.
- Create tech free zones and times in the home. Especially during homework and study.
- Talk to your child about the science. Help them understand how their brain works and why boundaries matter.
- Build a supportive parent network at your child's school. Talk with other families about creating a shared approach to smartphone readiness using the Wait Mate pledge and connect platform.
Delaying smartphones isn’t about cutting your child off from the world - it’s about giving their brain the space to grow, uninterrupted. In a world full of noise, less tech and more focus might just be the smartest start.
Sources:
- Ward, A. F., et al. (2017). Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research.
- Beland, L. P., & Murphy, R. (2016). Ill Communication: Technology, Distraction & Student Performance. London School of Economics.