Mobile phones at summer camp: rules, reasons and how to reach your child
Key takeaway: at friLingue, phones stay put away during the day. Children get them back for an hour every evening after dinner to keep in touch, and keep them during excursions for safety reasons and to take photos. If your child needs to call you, they can do so at any time, and if you want to reach them, a simple call to the camp leader is all it takes. We've applied this rule since 2020, and we've had time to see its effects: children get used to it very quickly, play together much more, and even those who grumble on the first day end up recognising the benefits.
"But will they still be able to call me?" This is probably the question we hear most often on the phone when a parent discovers our mobile phone rule. And it's a completely legitimate question. Sending your child away from home for one or two weeks is already a small leap into the unknown. So imagining not being able to send them a message whenever you want can be a little scary.
In this article, I'll explain in concrete terms how things work at our camps: what the rule says, how to stay in touch with your child, and above all why we made this choice. Spoiler: it's not to annoy the children, it's to give them something that phones often take away without us even noticing.
In practice, what is the rule?
When they arrive at camp, phones are collected by the team and stored in a safe place. Don't worry, they don't disappear for two weeks. Here's how a typical week works.
Every evening, one hour after dinner. Each evening, children get their phone back for an hour. It's the time to call mum and dad, tell them about their day, reply to messages from friends back home or catch up on what's happening in the world. One hour is more than enough to stay connected, without the screen taking over.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, excursion days. During outings, children have their phone with them. First of all for safety reasons: in a city or in the mountains, it's reassuring that everyone can be reached. And let's be honest, it would be a shame to go on an excursion in the Alps without being able to take a photo to show the family.
The same rule for everyone. This is the most important point, and it's what makes it work. Nobody gets special treatment, nobody keeps their phone "just for music". When everyone is in the same boat, there's no jealousy or feeling of unfairness, and children adapt much faster than you might think.
How can I reach my child during camp?
This is the question that reassures parents most, so let's be very clear: you never lose contact with your child.
If you want to reach your child, you can call the camp leader at any time. They can give you news, tell you how the week is going, and of course put your child on the phone if needed. The team's phone numbers are sent to you before departure.
If your child wants to call you, they don't need to wait until the evening. Camp leaders can give them their phone back at any time of day if they want to talk to their parents. Feeling a bit down, good news to share, an urgent question: all they have to do is ask.
In practice, calls outside the evening hour are fairly rare. Days are so full that most children happily wait until the evening to tell you everything at once. And an evening call with a whole day to talk about is often much richer than a dozen scattered little messages.
Why we put phones away
We don't put phones away on principle or out of nostalgia for a time when they didn't exist. We do it because, at camp, the screen takes the place of three essential things.
Children play together. Without phones, free time becomes real free time again. Children play cards, start a football match, invent games, chat on a bench. And since they come from different regions and countries, it's exactly in these moments that they practise the language without even realising it. A child who spends their break on TikTok is a child who isn't talking to anyone.
Camp leaders are truly available. It's an effect we hadn't necessarily anticipated, but the rule applies to us too. Our teachers and camp leaders don't take out their phones during their free time when they're with the children. The result: they're more attentive, more available, and they play with the children instead of watching them from a distance. It's hard to explain to a child that the phone can wait if the adult in front of them is scrolling on theirs.
The week is well filled. It's also worth putting things in perspective: free time isn't that long. Between morning classes, afternoon workshops, bonus classes for those who chose them and excursions, the days are already very full. Unscheduled moments are precious, and that's exactly where friendships are made.
Nobody stays on their own. We know the first day isn't easy for everyone. The shyest children don't yet dare to approach others, and without a phone to hide behind, that could be difficult. That's why on Monday, we organise an activity all together before the workshops, to break the ice. And it's quite striking: from Wednesday onwards, we no longer need to organise anything. Children have fun on their own before the workshops even start.
Swiss schools are following suit
If this rule seems strict to you, your child may already be used to it. More and more cantons are banning phones on school premises. Since the start of the 2025 school year, almost all pupils in French-speaking Switzerland have to put away their connected devices during lessons, break time and sometimes even in the canteen. In German-speaking Switzerland, Nidwalden and Aargau have done the same, and Ticino extended the ban to all of compulsory schooling in spring 2026. And in Zurich, the cantonal parliament approved a motion in the same direction at the end of August 2026.
What we've observed since 2020
At friLingue, we introduced this rule back in 2020, well before the big wave of school bans. With seven summers of experience, we can tell you what we actually see, and not just what we hope for.
Children get used to it very quickly. On the first day, there are always a few long faces when it's time to hand over the phone. By the second or third day, most of them don't think about it anymore. They simply don't have the time.
They socialise much more. Groups mix, children who speak different languages talk to each other, shy children find their place. It's striking when we compare it with what we saw before 2020, when everyone could hide behind their screen during breaks.
Even the most reluctant see the benefits. We've made a habit of discussing it with the children at the end of their stay, and their answers often surprise us. Let's be honest: most of them remain opposed to the rule, and we won't pretend otherwise. But a fair number end up finding it fair after a few days. And above all, they all agree that it helped them make more friends, enjoy the activities more and make the most of camp.
So, should you worry?
Not at all. Your child can call you every evening, and at any time if they need to. You can reach the camp leader whenever you like. And during excursions, they have their phone with them. What they lose is mainly the reflex of pulling out their screen as soon as they have two minutes to spare. What they gain are friends, fits of laughter and a language they practise far more than they would have with their eyes glued to their phone.
