Wait Until 8th Letter Template
A proven template for organizing smartphone-free pledges at your school
Tip: The key to success is the community aspect - parents are more willing to wait when they know others are waiting too.
Dear Parents,
We have started a [YOUR SCHOOL NAME] Wait Until 8th pledge and want to welcome other families to join. The idea is simple but powerful: hold off on giving our kids a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade—and do it together.
These days, many kids are getting smartphones as early as 4th or 5th grade. For some families, that timing works—but for others, it feels a bit too soon. Still, it can be hard to hold off when it seems like everyone else is saying yes. The Wait Until 8th movement helps families say "not yet" together. This gives our kids a few more years to grow, play, and build real-world connections without the added pressure and distractions that come with smartphones.
One of the best parts of the pledge is how it harnesses the power of community. It only becomes active once 10 or more families in the same grade at a school sign on. That means you're not doing it alone—and neither is your child. The pledge helps connect families who want to wait. It turns what can feel like an isolated decision into a shared movement.
Please note that this pledge is for smartphones only. If you would like your child to have a basic phone that just calls and texts, you still can sign the pledge. The basic phone avoids many of the distractions and potential dangers of the smartphone.
More than 130,000 families from across the country have already said yes to waiting. If this speaks to you, sign the pledge—and feel free to forward this email to other parents.
If it's not the right fit, no problem at all. But if you're on the fence, I encourage you to check out The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.
Please feel free to reach out to me directly with questions and check out some additional resources:
Best regards,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR CONTACT INFO - OPTIONAL]