Local Chapters
Across the country, moms and dads are championing the Wait Until 8th pledge by launching local chapters in their communities.
The beauty of this movement is that it’s parent-led. While support from PTOs, booster clubs, and school administrators is always welcome, you don’t need official approval to get started. If you’re ready to bring Wait Until 8th to your school or town, you can take the lead.
Watch the short video above to see how a local chapter in Summit, NJ made an impact. Then, explore our Local Chapter Guide below. To start your own chapter, email us for a custom Wait Until 8th chapter logo.
We’re grateful for the incredible parents across the country who are leading the way and inspiring others to delay smartphones together!
Local Chapter Leader Guide
1️⃣ Welcome & Introduction
Thank you for stepping up to lead a local chapter of Wait Until 8th! We’re thrilled to have you as part of this growing movement to delay smartphones until at least the end of 8th grade. Your leadership is essential—you’re creating a local community of parents committed to protecting childhood and delaying smartphones.
This guide walks you through how to launch and grow your chapter, from getting started to sharing resources and celebrating wins. Whether you're leading at a single school or citywide, we’re here to support you every step of the way. 💪
2️⃣ What Is a Local Chapter Leader?
Your role is to be a friendly, encouraging presence in your community—sharing the message, spreading awareness, and helping parents take the pledge with confidence.
As a local chapter leader, you:
✅ Build awareness of the Wait Until 8th pledge
✅ Share trusted resources with parents and schools
✅ Use social media and/or events to create a local presence
✅ Encourage open, honest conversations
✅ Celebrate milestones and progress
3️⃣ Getting Started
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—we’ve got tools ready to go! 🙌
Suggested First Steps:
📖 Read through this guide and watch the videos linked below.
📱 Set up an Instagram or Facebook page for your local chapter.
🖼 Browse and download starter social media tiles from our website.
🎨 Use Canva (free and easy!) to customize posts.
🔍 Check out awesome examples of local chapters like Wait Until 8th Westwood, Wait Until 8th Wilmette, Wait Until 8th East Cobb, Wait Until 8th Fairfield, and Wait Until 8th Charleston.
Community-Building Ideas:
📬 Share the pledge in school/PTA newsletters
☕ Host a coffee meetup or info night
👩⚕️ Team up with pediatricians, teachers and counselors
👨👩👧👦 Form a small parent team to spread the word at schools
Key Resources (click to access):
How Can You Rally Other Families to Delay the Smartphone with You
Learn from another local Chapter by watching this video!
Flyer you can customize with your local chapter name here .
Local chapter logo – request one from us via email.
Shop with yard signs, magnets, and merchandise
(Note: This shop is independently managed, and all orders are fulfilled by local printers)
4️⃣ Creating Content & Outreach Ideas
One of the most powerful things you can do is keep your community engaged through consistent, authentic content. Keep the tone encouraging, inclusive, and shame-free.
Content Ideas
💬 Share your personal “why” for taking the pledge
📚 Post articles, research, and inspiring quotes
🔁 Repost aligned content (tag the original account!)
🎉 Celebrate every win—big or small
🗣 Highlight parent testimonials from your area
Key Messages
📵 This doesn’t have to be the norm.
Most kids now get smartphones by 4th or 5th grade—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. When even a few families take a stand and say, we want something different for our kids, it can shift the culture of a school or community. Together, we can reset the norm and reclaim childhood.
🚫 Smartphones were not made for kids.
Smartphones—and especially social media—weren’t designed with children in mind. These tools are powerful and persuasive, and young, developing brains are especially vulnerable to their addictive and manipulative features. Let’s be honest: even adults struggle.
🎯 Built to Be Addictive
Tech companies are pouring billions into making sure kids stay glued to their screens. The longer they scroll, the more money is made. It’s not a fair fight—and our kids deserve better.
🧠 Young minds are struggling because of smartphones.
More and more research shows that heavy screen use is linked to anxiety, depression, self-harm, and loneliness. What’s even more alarming is the content kids can access—everything from violent videos to explicit material that they’d never be allowed to see in person.
📵 Smartphones Can Block Real-Life Experiences
Smartphones often pull kids away from what matters most—free play, face-to-face friendships, time outdoors, and imaginative exploration. These are the building blocks of confidence, curiosity, and resilience. When kids are immersed in screens, they miss out on the moments that shape a strong childhood.
🌱 By saying “not yet” to smartphones, parents can say “yes” to what truly counts.
Delaying smartphones isn’t just about what we’re turning down—it’s about what we’re making space for. We’re saying yes to childhood, to real play, to boredom that sparks creativity, and to friendships built face-to-face.
📞 There are smarter ways to stay connected.
If parents need to reach their kids, it doesn’t have to mean giving them a fully loaded smartphone. Simple, purpose-built devices—like basic phones or smartwatches with limited features—can keep families connected without exposing kids to constant screens and distractions. We have some great basic phones and smartwatches featured here.
🤝 There is strength in numbers! There is power in community!
When families try to delay smartphones alone, kids often feel left out: “I’m the only one without one.” This makes saying no feel impossible. But when parents come together and act as a group, they remove the pressure and change what’s normal. Collective action is the key to breaking this cycle.
🌍 Join the growing wave of change!
Over 115,000 families have taken the Wait Until 8th pledge—and that number keeps rising every day. Communities nationwide are coming together, united in the mission to delay smartphones. Parents are discovering strength in numbers and changing the definition of what’s “normal” for childhood.
Content Inspiration
Get inspired by following these Instagram accounts and share your favorite posts:
@ProtectYoungEyes
@DefendYoungMinds
@BetterScreenTime
@ScreenSanity
@JonathanHaidt
@digitalmomming
5️⃣ Chapter Housekeeping
📝 Only one parent per household needs to sign the pledge.
🔁 Parents should only sign the pledge once. All pledges on July 1st are automatically aged up one grade.
🏫 The school lookup tool on the pledge form uses the mailing city/state for the school. It is important the parent enters the mailing city /state of the school not their home. If this is not entered correctly, the school will not show.
📧 Updates to active pledge groups are emailed on Thursdays if someone new joins the group.
📣 New pledge groups are spotlighted regularly on social media and in our newsletter.
📊 Track your school’s progress by checking pledge numbers monthly. Email us for a pledge report.
📸 Share local photos/events with us! To share a win, email us a short blurb and a photo at info@waituntil8th.org.
6️⃣ Community Guidelines
As a leader, you help set the tone for respectful, inclusive conversations. Our movement is about supporting—not judging—families. We ask all chapter leaders to uphold a commitment to kindness, empathy, and unity.
Our Guiding Principles:
💛 Lead with compassion – every family is on a unique path. We respect differences in parenting choices, trusting that parents are doing their best with the knowledge and resources they have.
🚫 Avoid judgment – approach conversations with understanding, not shame.
🗣 Foster open dialogue – share evidence, not pressure.
💬 Explain your “why” – express your concerns and build group support.
7️⃣ Contact & Support
We’re cheering you on! 🎉 Whether you have a question, want to brainstorm, or want to share a local success, get in touch:
📩 Email: info@waituntil8th.org
📸 Want to be featured? Send us photos, events, or milestones!
Thank you for being part of the Wait Until 8th movement. Your voice and leadership matter. Together, we’re building stronger communities—and giving kids more time to just be kids!
