The Let Go and Let Grow. A Positive Way to Combat Smartphone Overuse

Free Play and Incremental Independence

In today’s world, children are more connected to screens than ever. Smartphones, tablets, and gaming devices have become central to their lives, often replacing physical play and face-to-face socialisation. This rise in device dependence has left parents concerned about the long-term impact on kids’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Fortunately, the antidote may lie in the simple yet powerful ideas promoted by Let Grow: encouraging more free play and granting children incremental independence.

Let Grow: Fostering Independence for Lifelong Confidence

Let Grow, a movement dedicated to promoting childhood independence, encourages parents to loosen the reins and trust their kids to handle challenges, make decisions, and explore their environments. Their philosophy revolves around the belief that today’s children are overprotected and under-challenged—constantly monitored, chauffeured, and entertained by adults.

By encouraging more free play—unstructured, self-directed playtime—and allowing for incremental independence, children learn to problem-solve, take risks, and build the resilience they need to thrive. These principles are especially important in the age of smartphones, where children risk losing touch with the world around them, replacing real-life experiences with screens.

The Decline of Free Play: A Crisis for Childhood

The decline in free play over recent decades is alarming. Instead of playing outside, inventing their own games, and interacting face-to-face with peers, children are more likely to be indoors, glued to their screens. Research shows that the average child spends hours a day on devices, which impacts their physical, social, and emotional development.

Free play, the type of play that is unstructured and driven by children themselves, is critical for:

Developing Social Skills:

It teaches children how to negotiate, cooperate, and resolve conflicts without adult intervention. Children of all ages need unsupervised interactions to truly learn these skills.

Building Emotional Resilience:

Facing challenges during play—whether it’s a disagreement with a friend or falling off a bike—helps children develop grit and resilience, learning that setbacks are a natural part of life.

Fostering Creativity and Problem-Solving:

When children create their own games, rules, and adventures, they stretch their imagination and practice critical thinking, a stark contrast to the passive consumption of content on screens.

Promoting Physical Health:

Running, climbing, and exploring during free play keeps kids active, helping to fight the sedentary lifestyle linked to excessive device use.

Incremental Independence: The Let Go and Let Grow Approach 

One of Let Grow’s key initiatives is the Let Grow Project, which encourages schools and parents to give children small, manageable tasks that foster independence. These tasks—riding a bike to the shops, walking to school, or preparing a simple meal—build confidence and life skills. For children who are overly reliant on screens, incremental independence is a way to rediscover the joys of real-world exploration.

Here’s how incremental independence works as an antidote to excessive device use:

Encouraging Exploration:

Allow children to explore their neighborhood or local park without constant supervision. This gives them a sense of freedom, adventure, and connection to the world outside of digital media.

Teaching Responsibility:

Let Grow promotes giving children age-appropriate responsibilities. Allowing them to solve everyday problems—like making their bed, packing their lunch, or helping with a family project—builds self-reliance, and helps shift their focus from passive screen use to active participation in real life.

Fostering Decision-Making Skills:

Give children the opportunity to make decisions, whether about their schedule, play activities, or even their screen time. This approach helps kids understand consequences and manage their own time effectively.

Let Grow’s Approach as the Antidote to Screen Time Overload

Here’s how you can combine the wisdom of Let Grow with strategies to reduce smartphone dependency:

Create Screen-Free Zones and Times:

Designate areas in your home where screens are off-limits. Use this time for children to engage in free play or tackle a Let Grow-style independent task.

Encourage Unstructured Outdoor Play:

One of the simplest ways to combat screen time is to encourage children to play outside daily, exploring and inventing games with other kids.

Promote Hands-On Learning:

Whether it’s through hobbies, crafts, or helping with home chores, real-world activities spark creativity and teach problem-solving in ways screens cannot. When children do things for themselves, they gain pride and capability.

Gradually Introduce More Independence:

Start small, like asking your child to walk the dog or ride their bike to the park, then incrementally build up to larger tasks. The sense of accomplishment they’ll feel reduces their reliance on screens for entertainment or validation.

Reclaiming Childhood

As digital devices become more embedded in children’s lives, balancing technology with free play and independence has never been more important. By following Let Grow’s lead and encouraging children to step outside their comfort zones, we can empower them to develop critical life skills, foster emotional resilience, and reignite their love for the real world.

Let Grow isn’t just about fostering independence—it’s about giving children of all ages the tools they need to navigate life without constant adult intervention or dependence on screens. When children are given the freedom to play and the responsibility to grow, we help them become confident, capable, and screen-savvy individuals.