In a heartfelt move to address the growing concerns around children's screen time and online behavior, Joe Harris Elementary School (JHE), in partnership with its parent-teacher organization, recently launched a first-of-its-kind initiative called “Less Scroll, More Soul.” Taking place from March 3 to March 9, the weeklong campaign focused on helping families reflect on the role of technology in their children’s lives while offering practical tools and opportunities to create meaningful, screen-free connections.
“Less Scroll, More Soul is about creating space to reflect on the impact of untethered and unmanaged technology use,” said JHE principal, Trent Heffner. “We’re not anti-technology; we’re pro-kid. This week was about encouraging real connection, curiosity, creativity, and the essence of childhood, while exploring how technology can safely support, not replace, those experiences.”
Throughout the week, families participated in engaging, screen-free events such as Outdoor Day, Family Art Night with artist Mark Kistler, and Family Game Night. A highlight of the week was STEAM Night, featuring hands-on activities from local science and education partners, along with free internet safety sessions for parents. The school also introduced digital safety tools like Bark, Circle, and BrightCanary, and offered a 20% community discount on Bark subscriptions. Families received step-by-step guides for setting up parental controls on devices and were encouraged to watch Childhood 2.0, a powerful documentary highlighting the risks kids face online. As the week wrapped up, families were given a choice board of weekend screen-free activities to continue the conversation at home.
At the end of the week, parents were presented with the "Less Scroll, More Soul Pledge," an optional but powerful commitment to continue awareness of the potential consequences of technology use in the home and at school. Those who took the pledge agreed to commit to at least one of the following actions:
Setting screen-free zones in the home
Creating screen-free time to spend with family
Using parental controls and filters on existing technological devices
Delaying the use of social media and smartphones for their children
Leading by example
JHE’s “Less Scroll, More Soul” initiative marks a meaningful step toward building a more mindful and connected community—one where childhood is protected, balance is prioritized, and technology serves as a tool, not a distraction. The project was a large-scale success, made evident by both high levels of participating during the week and substantial positive parent feedback afterward. JHE hopes to continue the project in coming years by expanding on successful elements and bringing new ideas to life.