The minister for school standards in England wants to ban mobile phones in schools. As someone who works with young people and primarily sees them in school, here is a list of things Iâm able to do with young people who have their phones with them.
1) Putting my work contact details and other support agency details into their phones so they can contact someone in emergencies. This prevents them having to go through their parents to access help.
2) Downloading apps that help young people with their health, such as mood trackers, drinking diaries, anger diaries, etc. Our work is way more effective when clients have an easy way to track these things.
3) Accessing reliable websites with good quality safety information. Also, accessing poor quality websites young people have been using so I can show them why the info isnât always trustworthy.
4) Young people have shown me abusive texts and messages theyâve received, which has enabled me to take action on it.
5) Same goes for digital evidence of sexual exploitation.
6) Showing young people various things they can do as positive coping mechanisms, e.g. meditation videos, music, etc.
7) Making direct online referrals to agencies that can provide support. Showing people how they can find information on local urgent care provision, food banks, sexual health clinics, etc.
In other words, phones are a protective factor for vulnerable young people and we should be making more effort in teaching them about positive ways to use phones instead of trying to take them away.
janainaart
areudirty
andulkaphoto
kianamaiart
pixelskylines
yousharknotpass
gummygunk
romaincrisis
