All Aboard!
Internet and Technology Use Agreement

Smartphones and online technology are now part of everyday life, but they expose children to serious risks. As a school community, we want to support parents in creating a safe, informed, and responsible approach to children’s technology use. There is growing pressure to buy smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles, especially at Christmas, but united, we can protect our children from unnecessary harm.

Childhood should be happy and carefree, yet many children now experience anxiety linked to online activity. At Ard Rí CNS:

• a large majority of parents feel pupils should be older than 6th Class before having: a smartphone (61%), social media (86%) and play online games (40%).
• 79% of pupils agreed that people should stick to the age restrictions for games and websites. Overwhelmingly, 90% of pupils agree that while some games can be fun to use, online safety and wellbeing is more important.
• 84% of pupils agree that parents should be able to see what children are doing online.

Our Term 1, 2025 Targets

For all pupils, devices should be co-owned by parents and used in open spaces in the home, where parents can supervise, monitor and observe. There should be no screen time in the bedroom.

For children in Junior Infants to Third Class, we encourage families to renew their commitment to keep their child’s Primary School years smartphone, social media, and online-gaming free. You will receive a permission request via Aladdin. Families who sign up to this agreement will receive a certificate to display in a prominent place at home.

By 19th February 2026 170 families (83.3%) with pupils in Junior Infants to 3rd Class have agreed to keep their child’s primary school years smartphone, social media and online gaming free.

Our Term 2, 2026 Targets

Daily time limits should be set for smart devices. Not all screen time is equal, so WHAT your child is doing online is as important as HOW LONG they spend online. Think not just about the quantity of screen time but rather the quality of activities your child may engage in. Minimise time spent doing passive sedentary activities like scrolling or mindless gaming. For children under 12, best practice suggests that gaming and online activities should be limited to short, offline periods at weekends only. There should be no screen time before school and none within one hour of bedtime.

Please review and closely monitor your child’s online interactions on TikTok, Roblox, Fortnite, Snapchat, Just Talk Kids – there are no benefits to your child being on these games and socials.

Yours sincerely,
Darragh Roe, School Principal
Agree to Agree Committee