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Wait Mate invites Adelaide families to put down their phones, be present and play at the first ever Scroll Less, Fringe More initiative at Adelaide Fringe on Saturday 21st February.
Powered by Wait Mate and hosted at Fool’s Paradise, the one-day event offers subsidised $5 tickets for kids and families, alongside a stack of hands-on, family-friendly activities designed to remind everyone just how fun Fringe (and everyday life) can be when phones are put away.
Why?
The event comes as Wait Mate begins working with school communities across South Australia to help parents support one another to delay smartphones for their kids, made possible through South Australian Government funding. Wait Mate empowers parents to hit pause on smartphones with an online pledge - parents are invited to pledge their commitment to delay smartphones and be connected with aligned families in their child's school year group.
“Childhood looks very different to how it did 20 years ago,” said Emily Harrison, Wait Mate’s South Australian Lead. “We see this at festivals and events where people are no longer immersed in the moment but more focussed on capturing photos and memories than living them in real time”.
In a city that prides itself on creativity, community and showing up for one another, the idea that we need our phones to have fun at Fringe doesn’t fit. Scroll Less, Fringe More invites families to try something different and shift the norm together.
How?
So how far will participants take the challenge? They may leave phones in their bags and resist the urge to take photos. Or even better, leave them at home altogether and dust off the old credit card and maps. However families choose to take part, this opportunity is there to help parents be part of the change.
Why it matters
Kids learn more from what we do than what we say. Seeing adults laugh, listen and engage without distraction reinforces the heart of your Wait Mate pledge: life is richer when we’re present.
We’re deeply grateful to Bill Manos and Theo Maras for helping make this day possible. As parents and now grandparents, they understand the value of shared experiences with phones down.
Thanks for being part of the Wait Mate community and for helping kids be kids for longer. If you want to help us champion Wait Mate at your school, please reach out.
The magic doesn’t have to stop at Fringe.
If you’d like to bring this same spirit of connection into your school community, get ahead of your Wait Mate presentation by activating parents early so the talk sparks real change, not just a good conversation.
Curious?
Come and chat with us at our tent in Fools Paradise, or email us.