iPad generation is missing human skills, head warns

August 14, 2017

• Topical

from The Times

A prep school head says children are growing up unable to read people’s body language or facial expressions because they are glued to their mobile phones while in public places.

Martin Stott is holding a “digital detox” week to try to wean children, and their parents, from online devices. He wants pupils to read, look out of the window on car journeys, play cards and people watch, instead of being absorbed by technology.

Mobile phones are banned at the Old Hall School in Wellington, Shropshire, but Mr Stott wants to extend this to home life for a week. While not opposed to technology, he believes today’s generation risks missing out on key skills.

“We don’t allow mobile phones in school and are very careful about how we use digital media,” he said. “When we take school trips or holidays, we don’t allow mobile phones. We’re hoping to challenge children to live without their mobile devices for a week.”

During the digital detox week, the school will encourage pupils to work on problem-solving activities, spend time reading books or talking to friends. “You often seen children in restaurants with iPads to entertain them while mum and dad chat over dinner.

“It erodes family time and they’re missing out on messages from body language and emotions in facial expressions from those around them. People watching is a great pastime for many but I think that’s been lost to a degree. When you look around at airports and train stations, everyone has their head buried in a phone or device.”

The school, which has pupils aged four to 11, uses digital technology during lessons and teaches basic programming and coding.

Mr Stott said he had spoken to families who were keen to rent cottages in the holidays that they knew would be away from a phone or wi-fi signal, so they could escape the internet and emails.

“There’s something quite nice about being under the radar. To come home from work and switch off their mobile phone would be a good thing for parents to do, and I’d love to give parents an excuse to join in [the digital detox].

“I think, increasingly, parents would find it more difficult than their children, especially as a lot of business is done via mobile phones. I’m not saying people shouldn’t phone each other, but don’t go on the screen for games and leisure. Spend more time talking to each other instead.

“When I said children couldn’t take their phones on a school trip, I was asked what they were supposed to do on a coach on the way to France. We expect them to look out of the window, talk to one another, read books and play card games.”

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