The mobile phone ban at school: what do parents think now?.

The mobile phone ban at school: what do parents think now?.

Since the mobile phone ban was introduced in schools in 2024, smartphones have disappeared from the classroom during lessons and in some cases from the entire school building. Chapter 3 of De Staat van de Ouder 2026 shows that many parents are positive about this, but questions remain about how the ban works in practice.

More calm and attention in the classroom

Many parents recognize the reason behind the ban. Smartphones cause distraction, both during lessons and outside of them. Notifications, videos, and group chats make it difficult to keep attention on schoolwork.

From the chapter it appears that parents expect the ban can contribute to:

• more concentration
• less distraction
• and more calm in the classroom

Socially, some parents also see benefits: students talk to each other more often when phones are less present.

Tip for parents: Ask your child what the difference is since the mobile phone ban started. Do they experience more calm? Or not? By asking you get a better view of how it works in practice.

Parents want to be able to reach their child

Besides support for the ban, there is also doubt. Some parents find it pleasant to always be able to reach their child, for example with changes in planning or emergencies.

This sometimes causes tension:

• When is a phone allowed to be used?
• What happens during breaks?
• And how strictly is it enforced?

Tip for parents: Discuss with the school what the agreements are. For example, ask where the phone stays during school time, if your child may contact you in emergencies, and how the school communicates with you as a parent if something happens. Clear agreements prevent uncertainty.

It is not just about phones

What stands out in the chapter of De Staat van de Ouder: the conversation is finally about more than just a device. It is also about habits, attention, and social interaction between children.

Because when phones are less present, space arises for something else:

• More contact between students
• Less online stimuli
• And more focus during the school day

At the same time, rules alone do not solve everything. Digital skills and careful use of screens remain important.

Tip for parents: Also look at your own phone use. Children often pay more attention to what parents do than to what they say.