Minister: Parents must get off phone and teach children

Spend one-to- one time without gadgets, says Education Secret ary

PARENTS are being urged by the Government to put down their mobile phones and help their children with learning at home.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds appealed to mothers and fathers to cut back on their screen time, saying it was ‘a scandal’ that many children ‘are starting school unable to communicate effectively’.

He told parents that spending ‘one-to-one time without gadgets’ – and ‘playing with numbers to songs and poems’ – could reap dividends for their youngsters’ education.

His call comes ahead of a summit in London this week with major companies, including Lego and Disney, to address what he called the ‘last taboo’ of tackling educational disadvantage – advising parents on how best to educate their young children at home.

Ministers have already raised the alarm over children spending too much time glued to their phones, with calls for headteachers t o ban t hem from schools.

Last night, Mr Hinds went a step further.

He said: ‘As the vast majority of children’s time is spent at home, we need to think about how we support parents with learning in the home environment. This could be seen as the last taboo in education, and certainly no one wants to be lecturing parents.

‘But it is a persistent scandal that too many children are starting school unable to communicate effectively, and we know that what happens at home makes a big difference in that.

‘Working with businesses and organisations, we are looking to support parents with practical help and advice. This includes the development of a set of easy, everyday activities for all families, from playing with numbers to songs and poems, in order to support children’s development.’

He added: ‘As a parent, I’m conscious that while we think about screen time limits for children, we find it harder to limit it for ourselves.

‘ But that one- to- one time without gadgets getting in the way is so valuable.

‘The pressures of work and the modern world mean putting phones away is far from easy. But I think it’s an important area to talk about, particularly as we consider ways to support parents with children’s learning at home.’

He stressed that technology was not ‘ the villain of the piece’ and t hat well used, it could ‘ actively support a child’s learning’.

His officials pointed out that more than a quarter of children finish reception year without the basic early communication or reading skills they need to thrive at school.

The summit, which will also involve the National Literacy Trust, will aim to bring together business leaders, the media and technology companies to explore ways of helping parents with early learning at home.

Mr Hinds’ comments on parents’ screen time came after Cabinet colleague Matt Hancock revealed that he did not allow his three young children mobile phones, saying: ‘Why do they need phones? They’re children, they’re 11.’

Speaking last summer before he was promoted from Culture Secretary to Health Secretary, Mr Hancock said he admired headteachers who did not allow the use of mobile phones during the school day and called on more head teachers to follow suit.