Denmark is changing its laws to make your childhood last longer — parents find relief in new rules

With the global concern over the increase in children's screen time, Denmark has decided to ban smartphones in schools entirely. Following recommendations from a group formed by the Danish government to look after children's well-being, the education minister announced the administration's decision in February 2025. Mattias Tesfaye, the minister for children and education, as per the BBC, said that the ban would restrict kids from using mobile phones or tablets both in class and during breaks. Emma Sánchez Andrade Smith, a mother who goes by @emmitasandrade on Instagram, shared how this historic move by the government aims at protecting children's innocence, safeguarding them from overexposure and toxicity.

"No phones in schools, no personal smartphones before 13 — Denmark just made a bold move to protect childhood," Smith said, going on to explain how beneficial this initiative can be for children's overall well-being. Further, she shared that research proves that screen time not only negatively affects their concentration but also fuels anxiety in kids. "But we can change it, of course. We can create a world where their wonder isn't filtered through a screen. A world where their hands are busy again — building, painting, and climbing," Smith said, urging people to work towards creating a world where children no longer live through screens.

Moreover, the woman explained that the Danish government said that they would change the existing legislation and prohibit children between 7 and 17 from using phones in schools. Notably, as per a report by DemandSage citing Slick Text, around 45% of students confess to being online at all times, even during lessons. Besides, 20% of the students said that they actively use their smartphones during class for non-academic purposes.

Meanwhile, the video received an overwhelming response on social media, especially from parents who praised Denmark for the incredible initiative. For instance, @lisacefalu1 commented, "Well done! The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) just started allowing no phones in school. My son is a senior and was dreading it for months. After the second day, I asked him how it was going, and he said, 'I actually like it. I can see why they did this. My brain didn’t want to accept it, but it’s a lot nicer not having my phone.'" Similarly, @its_mandagram shared, "The fact some parents choose to give their under 13s a smartphone in the first place shocks me. I work with this age group and see the harm it causes on a daily basis. Let kids be kids!" @las_0777 said, "The electromagnetic waves alone from phones are physically damaging! Especially to small bodies. I'm glad they have implemented this. Hopefully, the rest of the world will follow.

@bebe222262 said, "It's achievable! Parents can bring about this change by voicing their concerns and advocating for better early years programs in elementary schools." On the other hand, @downthevintagelane wrote, "Love this! This will allow them to get their creativity back! So much better for them and a lot less stressful!" @littlecrowphoto commented, "Everyone at every age could absolutely benefit from less screen time. I fear for what it's doing to our grasp on reality with social media riddled with bot accounts and AI deepfakes. Truthful, factual information on the internet is dying. I often say the only lie-free zone left is nature. The more time spent there, the better off we'll be, and maybe we'll understand how absolutely vital it is to protect it."

For more lifestyle content, you can follow Emma Sánchez Andrade Smith (@emmitasandrade on Instagram).