Why wait?
Wait Mate is a movement of parents who believe childhood should be shaped by real people, real-world experiences and connection before smartphones.
By connecting parents and building safe, supportive communities, Wait Mate helps parents wait as long as possible before giving their child a smartphone.
Waiting isn't saying no. It's saying not yet. Waiting gives developing brains more time before smartphones become part of everyday life.
Notifications received per day
237+
Time spent per day on smartphones
5.5+ hours
How it works
1. Join
Join the movement and choose how long you'd like to wait before giving your child a smartphone. It takes less than two minutes.
2. Connect
Meet other families in your child's school year group who are making the same choice. You decide how much you’d like to connect.
3. Build momentum
See your school community grow, receive updates and share Wait Mate with other families when you’re ready.
4. Wait together
The more families waiting together, the less pressure sits with any one parent or child. Over time, waiting can become the easier, more normal choice.
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Supporters
“Wait Mate gave me hope, I can now see the pathway to change! Before Wait Mate I thought I had to change the world but now I see I only have to change my local community.”
Nicola, Mum of 3, Gold Coast
Wait Mate Supporter
Good question!
Join the movement, choose how long you would like to wait before giving your child a smartphone, and select their school and year group. We connect you with other families making the same choice, then keep you updated as your school community grows.
You are saying you will wait before giving your child their own smartphone. You choose the school year you would like to wait until, and you can update your commitment later if your circumstances change.
No. If you are still figuring it out, you can choose “I’ll decide later” and update your commitment when you are ready.
Families in the same school year group can see the limited information needed to know who is waiting with them (child first name and surname initial).
Your email address is not shared with other families. Wait Mate only displays the information required to help families in the same school year group recognise who is waiting together. See our Privacy Policy for full details
Yes. You can manage your child, school, year group and waiting commitment at any time.
Someone has to be first. You will still be part of the wider Wait Mate movement, and we will give you simple ways to invite other families when you are ready.
No. Wait Mate is about timing, not rejecting technology. We help families wait longer before smartphones become part of everyday childhood, while recognising every family will make the decision that is right for them.