Community Stories
SUFFIELD, CONNECTICUT
When the Suffield, CT chapter of the Balance Project launched, we set out to build a community that intentionally reclaims childhood independence and digital wellness. What started as a small local conversation became a town-wide movement with over 50 families quickly signing on. We’ve turned that early momentum into big wins, including launching an active Play Club in partnership with Suffield Parks and Recreation, and partnering with our local school district to plan an upcoming digital wellness event series. The response has been incredibly validating, drawing in parents, educators, and town leaders who are all eager to shift social norms together.
Our growth has been entirely fueled by organic connection. Our most effective strategy has been a simple, relational ripple effect: relying heavily on word-of-mouth, inviting friends, and asking those friends to invite their friends. To keep everyone engaged, we send out regular updates packed with actionable resources, clear next steps, include occasional surveys, and consistent opportunities to gather locally. The Balance Project’s national framework has supported us every step of the way, giving us the tools and shared blueprint needed to turn individual family goals into a powerful, visible community story. We are proud to show that when a town comes together, we can successfully reshape the landscape of childhood for the better.
CENTRAL VIRGINIA
In just a few months, a handful of parents in Central Virginia has become a real movement. We've gathered the support of more than 2,800 parents across Henrico, Chesterfield, and Richmond City supporting life/tech balance and intentional use of technology in the classroom. We packed our community kickoff this month with parents, educators, and advocates united by one belief: kids deserve more connection and less screen time.
That momentum is powered by real partners including school leadership in Henrico and Chesterfield counties, the Chesterfield County PTA, the Chesterfield Education Association, and Public School Strong: a cross-section of families, teachers, and administrators working toward the same goals.
Two projects are in the works to support kids in and out of school. Unplug & Play, launching soon, is a screen-free classroom break-box program built around connection, creativity, and play — ready-made options for indoor recess and transitions. We're gathering feedback from Henrico and Chesterfield school leadership on their needs first and hope to roll this out in the fall.
We're also organizing multi-generational play groups with local schools, where elementary and middle schoolers enjoy free play, high schoolers help oversee it, and parents gather for a book study: a few hours where every age connects and no one is on a screen. None of it would have happened without The Balance Project: the national framework, ready-to-use resources, and the power of belonging to a movement bigger than our county gave us instant credibility and a clear path forward.
The effort has sparked conversations all across the region and caught the attention of local media:
Henrico Citizen — Henrico parents make urgent plea to school board: Limit technology use in schools
WRIC ABC 8News — Central Virginia parents urge schools to balance technology and hands-on learning in classrooms
Richmond Times-Dispatch — Henrico parents push for new tech guidelines, fewer devices in schools
CBS 6 (WTVR) — Chesterfield parents push schools to cut screen time, return to paper learning
SHREWSBURY, NEW JERSEY
The Shrewsbury Balance Project Community has been booming. Since we launched in early 2026, we’ve seen a wave of parents coming together to create a new landscape for childhood for our kids. Perhaps our biggest victory has been showing parents that they are not alone in this and opening up what had previously felt like a fraught and taboo “pro” or “anti-tech”camps and instead turned those into conversations. We’re building networks of parents who are being intentional in their IRL and group chats with other grade level parents to get other parents to come out of the woodwork and talk about all this. We’ve also established a strong Tin Can network that is further growing through Balance Project parents being brave and starting conversations. We’ve even got groups of parents reading The Amazing Generation together, paying their kids to read it, and planning a book club discussion with their kids.
Our Play Clubs saw excellent turnouts, where kids had space for mixed-age unstructured play and the parents were connecting to one another and discussing navigating tech in a judgement-free space. We were also invited by our mayor to speak at a borough council meeting and introduce ourselves to the local government and garner their support. And our presence was made known at our town’s centennial parade when we proudly marched with the Balance Project banner, shirts, and handed out and blew bubbles with Balance Project stickers on them. We’re making our goal to reclaim the lost things of childhood known in our community. We also built a relationship with the PTA and had an “Unplug, Unwind, & Dine” event with custom placemats we designed for parents and children to enjoy together at our local diner. I don’t know who enjoyed our event more — the parents, the kids, or the restaurant owner.
Just this week we met with our incoming superintendent, where we gained his partnership on our Break Box Library Initiative to put screen-free alternatives into the classrooms for early finishers. Looking forward to continuing to build our relationship with him as we work on the school end of our mission.
We’re so excited to keep building community and connection throughout our town. I’ve been waiting for this moment for years. We’re so thankful that the Balance Project handed us a board so we can catch the wave of change with them. We couldn’t have done it without their support. So proud to be a part of this community and movement.
ALEXANDRIA, MINNESOTA
We are most proud of the positive feedback and shifts we've seen within our school district. We met with school administration last summer about cell phone policies and the middle school was very responsive and has enacted a phone-free policy for this school year. One of our elementary schools had a screen-free day recently and also has an "Anxious Generation" teacher workgroup.
Alexandria is a fairly small community in a remote part of the country so we don't have access to a lot of outside resources. For our group it was really beneficial to find a core group of parents that were passionate about this movement and who were willing to just start talking about our ideas and concerns around technology and our kids. We started by slowly spreading the word, hanging up flyers, and we are now beginning to collaborate with other organizations in the community to reach more families -- through church groups, preschools, school events, and community education.
PASCACK VALLEY REGIONAL, NEW JERSEY
The Pascack Valley Regional community is looking forward to a productive and meaningful year together through the Balance Project. What initially drew us to the initiative was its emphasis on achieving overall balance in a technology-filled world. We appreciate its focus on using technology purposefully while also prioritizing time spent with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, and embracing real-life experiences and connections.
As we have become more involved, one of the most rewarding aspects has been the opportunity to connect with other families who share similar values and goals. Through conversations and shared experiences, we have continued to build relationships and strengthen our sense of community. We are excited to continue this journey and work together to support healthy, balanced lifestyles for our students and families throughout the coming year.
FORT MILL, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Fort Mill chapter launched in early 2026 with a community event that drew more than 30 families in the community. Since then, our reach has grown through local parent groups, neighborhood networks like a nearby pediatric office, and youth activities including the community swim team. Our local leadership team (Maria, AnaMaria, and Natalie) has found that parents are increasingly ready to talk openly about phones, social media, and screen time, and that interest has continued to build through personal conversations, local Facebook groups, and the "More Summer, Less Bummer" campaign.
The response from families has been genuinely encouraging. Parents often share that they've had the same concerns but didn't know where to start. They appreciate that The Balance Project's approach is positive, practical, and grounded in families working together rather than top-down or prescriptive. Connecting with swim families, neighborhood parents, and local groups has helped us reach people who are already looking for a shared framework.
What's worked best is simple: personal invitations and one-on-one conversations. Flyers, QR codes, social posts, and lighthearted challenges shared through existing community spaces have extended that reach. The online hub, campaign materials, and community-based language have given us the tools and credibility to show up as a resource rather than just a message.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood, New Jersey
The Balance Project’s Scotch Plains–Fanwood chapter started with a casual coffee meetup and a shared desire among parents to navigate the modern challenges of childhood together, rather than alone.
While we’re still in early stages, we’ve since grown to 43 local members, helped facilitate community conversations, and launched a Healthy Technology Intentions pledge that dozens of families have signed so far.
We’re excited by the momentum among our own local families and neighboring communities. The Balance Project provides us with invaluable tools to help us connect with a broader network of likeminded parents, and turn concern into meaningful action.
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA
WETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT
One of the things that has worked best for our community has been partnering with organizations that already share our vision for healthy, connected childhoods. In one of our early events, we represented The Balance Project at the Wethersfield Early Childhood Collaborative's community event, where we shared a booth with the Wethersfield International Moms Group. Their children's activities created a wonderful opportunity to engage with families, introduce them to The Balance Project, and have meaningful conversations with parents throughout the day.
Experiences like this have shown us the power of collaboration. By connecting with other community organizations, we've been able to expand our reach, build new relationships, and grow awareness in an authentic, grassroots way. The Balance Project has supported us throughout the process with resources, guidance, and a network of like-minded communities, giving us both the tools and the confidence to keep building momentum locally.
CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY
Although our community is only 9 months old, we have been able to build a supportive and growing group of families. We are 130+ families and growing! Over these 9 months we held a launch gathering, a documentary and panel discussion, a sold out Toy Story 5 screening event, planned a summer event with our town library, held and planned future meetings with our Superintendents and are looking forward to so much more! The best part is that we have found a supportive community in TBP, other local chapters and in one another. Knowing we are not alone in the work towards a tech/life balance is priceless.
OCEANPORT, NJ
The Oceanport chapter of The Balance Project is incredibly grateful for the immense family and community support we have received over the past year and a half. Our monthly Play Clubs have become a true strength for our community, providing vital opportunities for connection.
By partnering with our school community to host open play sessions after school and fostering a growing relationship with the Recreation Department, we are successfully building bridges and spreading our message. Our goal remains focused on helping children find a healthy balance between technology and real-life experiences.
In collaboration with several neighboring towns and the Oceanport PTO, we also recently partnered with the DopaMind Kids. We helped host student, educator and parent education designed to help students, educators, and families understand the role of brain science in supporting healthy development and overall well-being as it connects to technology.
We have hosted parent information sessions on keeping kids safe in the online world and worked to bring crucial knowledge to families in our community. We are very excited to continue to grow our efforts and continue to support our growing community with fun and engaging ways to bring life and technology into balance in our own community.
MONMOUTH BEACH, NEW JERSEY
The Balance Project Monmouth Beach Chapter has focused on serving as a quiet catalyst for change, helping bring together parents, educators, community leaders, and local organizations around a shared vision of healthier childhoods and stronger community connections.
This year, we hosted an introductory community meeting with school administration in attendance, creating an opportunity for dialogue around the challenges facing children and families in today’s digital world. We also held a parent Coffee Chat where families came together to discuss modern parenting, technology, and practical ways to support children’s well-being.
Working alongside our school and community partners, we helped bring the Dopamind Kids presentation to every student in grades Pre-K through 8th grade. We also organized an after-school hangout that brought together students of different ages, creating opportunities for mentorship, leadership, and connection. Older students naturally stepped into leadership roles, helping younger children navigate the park, and some even formed relationships that led to babysitting opportunities.
Our local library embraced many of the ideas aligned with The Balance Project’s mission by expanding its young adult book collection, adding a community puzzle table, and highlighting books that encourage connection, resilience, and healthy development. At the school level, the elementary summer learning program shifted from computer-based assignments to traditional paper-and-pencil packets, providing students with a screen-free learning experience during the summer months.
Most recently, we created “The Amazing Monmouth Beach,” a community-wide list of twenty activities designed to encourage children and families to explore the outdoors, engage with neighbors, develop independence, and rediscover the simple joys of childhood.
While many of these accomplishments were made possible through the efforts of our schools, library, parents, and community leaders, The Balance Project has been proud to serve as a partner, resource, and advocate behind the scenes. We are encouraged by the momentum building in Monmouth Beach and excited to continue supporting efforts that help children thrive both online and offline.
FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY
The Freehold community is just getting started! We had our initial planning meeting with 6 local moms and planned our first play club which is coming up this week! We also just kicked off our More Summer Less Bummer challenge in our town with several families participating. We are looking forward to meeting new faces and spreading the word throughout the summer!
WALL TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY
Wall Township has embraced The Balance Project in ways that have exceeded our expectations. What started as a conversation among a few parents has quickly grown into a broader community effort, with support and engagement from families, educators, school counselors, community leaders, and members of the Wall Township Police Department. One of our biggest early wins has been bringing together people from different parts of the community who share a common goal of supporting children and families.
In just a short time, we’ve hosted a successful community playgroup meetup, been featured in Wall Township Magazine, collaborated with chapters from surrounding towns and secured opportunities to participate in upcoming events including National Night Out and Kids Day America. The support from The Balance Project’s resources, leadership, and network has been invaluable in helping us launch locally and build momentum. Most encouraging of all has been the response from parents, who consistently express a desire for greater connection, practical support, and a stronger sense of community around raising children in today’s digital world.
LITTLE SILVER, NEW JERSEY
Since launching in our first community, Little Silver, in November 2024, we've worked to bring meaningful opportunities for connection, learning, and action directly to local families.
What began with just a handful of parents has grown into a vibrant community that has partnered with incredible organizations like Let Grow, Sticks and Sprouts, Dopamind, The Mattering Institute, and many others, creating experiences that support healthier, more balanced childhoods in our communities.
Together, we've hosted expert panels and webinars, alternative device fairs, school assemblies, cyber safety education, high school phone-free challenges, independence-building events, programs to support digital wellness at key “tech leap years”, programs supporting independent travel, mind and body awareness and unstructured play. We’ve also hosted screen-free family gatherings, book clubs, play clubs, and are having active parent and school leader discussions.
Lastly, we’re also actively working to support our community with data to help support independent travel for kids across the town, and are starting conversations about how to optimize existing outdoor spaces for kids of all ages, especially older kids and tweens.
We are proud to say that 1.5 years later, our community is very engaged in the conversation. There is a broad awareness of this topic, we have a very vibrant (and growing!) TBP community and we are excited to continue creating opportunities that strengthen our community for years to come.
