Children’s health: Back-to-school tips for healthy phone use

As families settle into a new school year, there is more to think about than school supplies and homework. Many parents are also considering how much time their children spend on phones during the school day.

A recent Lurie Children’s Voices of Child Health survey of more than 600 Illinois residents found that nearly three out of four adults — 74% — support requiring schools to limit students’ cell phone use during class. Support was high among parents and nonparents, as well as people living in urban, suburban and rural communities.

The findings come as Illinois prepares for new school phone rules. A law signed in 2026 requires school boards to adopt policies that limit students’ use of wireless communication devices during the school day beginning with the 2027-28 school year.

The rules generally cover class time, lunch, recess and passing periods, although school districts may allow high school students to use devices during lunch and passing periods. The law also includes exceptions for certain medical, educational and other needs.

For families, the new school rules can also be a chance to build healthy phone habits at home.

“As a pediatrician, I often hear from families that they have concerns or questions about the digital environments where their children are spending time,” said Dr. Alyssa Cohen, an attending physician in Academic General Pediatrics and Primary Care at Lurie Children’s. “They worry about phones distracting kids from learning and getting in the way of sleep, or they might have concerns about the content and interactions that kids are exposed to on social media.”

Cohen, who studies how digital media affects youth health and well-being, said research shows that school phone policies can reduce phone use and distractions during the school day.

“The best available evidence suggests these policies change student behavior by reducing phone use during the school day,” Cohen said. “We know that phones can be distracting, so phone restriction policies reduce that distraction.”

Researchers are still learning whether these policies lead to better grades or academic performance. In the meantime, families can take steps to help children get used to spending more time away from their phones.

Practice phone-free time at home

One simple way to prepare is to practice spending time away from devices at home.

Families can create phone-free times or places, such as during meals, car rides or the hour before bedtime. Starting with short periods can help children get used to putting their devices away.

“This is a great opportunity for parents to re-evaluate relationships with their own devices and explore the benefits of phone-free time as a family,” Cohen said.

Parents can also use the American Academy of Pediatrics Family Media Plan to help the whole family set goals and priorities around screen use.

Use phone settings to help

Phones and other devices have built-in tools that can make healthy boundaries easier to follow.

Parents and children can look at screen-time reports, turn off unnecessary notifications, and set “do not disturb” times. These tools can help reduce distractions during homework, family time and sleep.

Practice ways to cope without a screen

For some children and teens, reaching for a phone can become a habit when they are bored, stressed or upset.

Families can practice other ways to take a break or calm down, such as taking a short walk, getting a drink of water, doing a breathing exercise, or trying mindfulness or visualization.

The goal is not to remove technology from children’s lives. Instead, children can learn that they have other ways to handle stress and take breaks.

Plan for staying in touch

“Parents are a major source of notifications to kids’ phones during the school day,” Cohen said. “Make an alternative plan to get in touch and learn about your child’s school emergency communication plans.”

Before school starts, families can talk about when they might need to contact each other and how the school shares important information. Knowing the school’s emergency communication plan can also help parents feel more comfortable with their child having less access to a phone during the day.

Keep talking

Children and teens may have different feelings about spending less time on their phones at school. Some may welcome the change, while others may worry about missing messages from friends or not being able to reach their parents.

Parents can start the conversation before new rules take effect. Ask children what they think about the changes, what concerns they have and what might make the transition easier.

Cohen encourages families to talk openly about technology and work together to set healthy, age-appropriate boundaries around phone and screen use.

“Having an open line of communication about these topics is always the first step,” Cohen said.

New school phone rules can be an opportunity for families to build healthy habits together. Parents, educators, pediatricians and schools can all play a role in helping young people develop a healthy relationship with technology.

• Children's health is a continuing series. This column was provided by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.