The Pause and Play Program by Julia

The Pause and Play Program by Julia - June 2026 Scholarship Essay

When you look around the world today, what is the one thing that is a common denominator among all groups of people? I'll give you a hint, it's either in their purse, their back pocket, their hand, or on their work desks or family dinner tables. It's the smartphone. This tiny device has had a big impact on everything around us today, and whether that is a good or bad thing is yet to be seen. I personally believe that the smartphone is killing our sense of community, and that is why I would like to suggest a project that would hopefully begin to reverse the effects of this device.
But before I get into the logistics of this project, let’s first understand the problem it is addressing. It is becoming more and more socially acceptable for children under the age of 10 to own their own smartphone, tablet, or other kind of digital device. According to the National Environmental Education Foundation, children spend more than four hours a day on screens. They spend only four to seven minutes outside. If this doesn’t concern you, then I suggest you get off your own screen and look at the world around you. This constant need to “doom scroll” is leading our communities to become disjointed and individualistic.
So, how would we solve this problem you ask? How do we get our youths off their tablets and back in parks or recreational sports? Simple. I would like to introduce to you the Pause and Play Program, a community run initiative that encourages children to “Unplug. Explore. Enjoy.” This program would make recreational sports less expensive for financially disadvantaged families and help to refurbish the parks that the city has long since left to rot. Just these two small steps would give children the opportunity to go and have fun while unplugged. Another concern that this program would address is the parents’ knowledge of how screens are negatively affecting the developing brains of their children. This can be through a simple website (or, for a more kid-friendly option, a pamphlet) or a free educational course that encourages parents to be proactive about their children’s digital well-being.
I firmly believe that limiting children’s digital presence and encouraging outdoor activities will positively impact the course of our society. What do you think?