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09th Mar 2017

‘Greet your child with a smile NOT a mobile’, UK school urges parents to put their phones away

Niamh Maher

This will make you think… how do you greet your child?

Admittedly we’re all on our phones, ALOT. Well, a primary school in Middlesborough has come up with a novel idea to remind parents to look up from their screens.

Three signs have been erected on the grounds of St Josephs Primary School in Longlands, they feature a figure with a mobile phone crossed out in a red circle. The aim is to encourage parents and pupils to take part in meaningful discussions at the end of the school day.

Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, Headteacher Elizabeth King said the signs were not in response to a particularly bad problem, she added: “We are trying to develop our speaking and listening, and we thought it was a really simple way to get the message across.”

Credit Tom Wilkinson PA Wire

The general response to the signs is positive, with parents saying it’s made them think twice about how they engage with their children.

The signs may also be introduced elsewhere in the town, which comprises of 43 primary and 8 secondary schools.