‘My daughter spends more time with family’

ANDIE Latchford-Healy is one parent supporting her child’s school as it takes a digital detox and said her daughter is now spending more time with her family. Ms Latchford-Healy, pictured, told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘I have one child in the school currently and she is 12 years old. We got an email from the school to request that all parents attend that meeting.

‘Now, we have all been having a battle at home constantly over screen time and the whole “my friend is allowed on this that and the other” and the “my friend has a phone”.’

She said she not let her daughter have a smartphone, but the youngster did have an iPad. ‘Now that’s been confiscated since the meeting last week,’ she added.

‘I don’t mind the children having it (an iPad) for an educational level but we have literally had to take the device.

‘We are waiting to see how it will work out and we are only in day seven of this pilot.’

Regarding her daughter, she said: ‘She had been spending a lot of time in her bedroom alone with the screen. Seven days later I have seen a huge change and she has been spending a lot of time with us.

‘She’s interested in doing family things with us again and not being alone with that screen. I fully support the Irish Daily Mail campaign, I fully support the good work your paper has been doing.’