From The Head - Friday 14th March 2025
The digital world and the impact on children have been in the headlines again this week with the chief executive of Roblox stating that parents who are worried about their children gaming on Roblox should not let them use it. There have been reports of bullying and grooming and fears that children are being exposed to explicit or harmful content, on the site, which is the most popular platform in the UK among gamers aged eight to 12.
Roblox’s co-founder and chief executive told the BBC that the platform was vigilant in protecting its users, and said “tens of millions” of people had “amazing experiences” on the site. But he added: “My first message would be: if you’re not comfortable, don’t let your kids be on Roblox. That sounds a little counterintuitive, but I would always trust parents to make their own decisions." Gaming and digital platforms can be an absolute minefield for parents who are torn between allowing their children to participate in activities they enjoy with their friends and keeping them safe from harm online.
In a recent staff training on this subject, information was shared about recent research which suggests that children who were exposed to longer than two hours a day of recreational screen time on smartphones and playing video games had worse working memory, processing speed, attention levels, language skills and executive function compared with those who did not. Too much screen and video game time is also known to negatively impact the quality of sleep. Screen use has been found to start as early as six months of age. One in five children aged between three and four years old have their own mobile phone, increasing to one in four children by age eight and to almost all children by age twelve.
While there is clear evidence that there should be a limit and tight controls on children having devices and the time spent on screens, we are also conscious that technology can be very beneficial and we are committed to ensuring that children are able to use it safely and competently to enhance their knowledge and educational experience.
The new AI creative writing platform we have introduced to the curriculum is one example of how technology can have a very positive impact on children's learning and we are delighted to be offering a parent workshop next week to showcase what can be achieved when AI is used mindfully in an educational setting.
As with most things we do in life for pleasure, moderation is key along with quality over quantity, and if we want our children to be happy and healthy, both mentally and physically, keeping control over their access to technology is imperative.
Enjoy this week's newsletter and happy weekend!
Julia Langford.
Headteacher