Let’s Start a Movement
Empowering communities through collaboration, resources, and real conversations to transform how we live with technology.
Our Mission
Turning Life On’s mission is to transform societal norms surrounding tech use by supporting, empowering and uniting parents, local ambassadors, school leaders, and leading professionals across Massachusetts and beyond.
Through our ongoing commitment to understanding local needs, Turning Life On empowers communities by providing community leads with the tools and guidance necessary to sustain a grassroots movement. Regular meetings connect community leads, allowing them to share best practices, build relationships, and offer mutual support.
By maintaining strong relationships and partnerships with leading professionals in multiple fields, Turning Life On is poised to co-create resources and refer these professionals to local communities. These connections support local events and the sharing of information, and have the potential to significantly raise awareness and impact change.
Turning Life On also continually works to expand its base of annual philanthropic support to award grants to communities, enabling them to fund initiatives.
Our Philosophy
Technology usage exists on a continuum - from excessive engagement to complete disconnection. Our goal is to help families, communities and schools shift away from constant, addictive use toward a healthier, more intentional, age-appropriate relationship with technology.
We are not anti-tech!
We recognize the value technology brings and support individuals and communities no matter where they currently fall on the continuum, or how far they choose to move along it.
Meet the Team
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Adrienne Principe
FOUNDER
Adrienne is a certified Child and Teen Coach with a background in media, communication, and political science. A passionate advocate, she works with parents, educators, and community leaders to support intentional, research-based approaches to digital wellness. Adrienne is a founding member of the Screens in Schools Working Group, and an active voice for the Distraction Free Schools Movement in MA. She also serves on the Emerson Health Foundation Board and contributes to national efforts through writing, speaking, and podcasting. Adrienne lives in Concord with her husband, their four kids, and their dog, Gus.
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Jennifer Henderson
VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Jennifer Henderson is Vice President and Director of Policy and Advocacy at Turning Life On. A certified Digital Wellbeing coach, she began her advocacy journey in 2021 and is committed to changing norms around tech use. She co-chairs the Distraction Free Schools Policy Project, with the ambitious goal of ensuring that all schools in MA become phone-free, and serves on the board of Smartphone Free Childhood U.S. Jennifer is Head of Supply Chain at a rare disease pharma company and brings strong leadership to both her professional and advocacy work. She lives in Stow with her husband, daughter, and energetic Australian Cattle Dog.
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Jeff Miller
TREASURER
Jeff Miller is Treasurer of Turning Life On and an advocate for Wait Until 8th and phone-free schools in Arlington, MA, where he lives with his wife, two children, and two dogs. Concerned about tech’s impact on childhood and community, Jeff works to share ideas and resources across towns. He is EVP of Strategy and Acquisition at Acxion Foodservice and has served on 10 corporate boards. He also sits on nonprofit boards including Smartphone Free Childhood U.S., the Arlington Libraries Foundation, and the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard and MIT. Jeff holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard.
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Wendi Hoffer
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Wendi Hoffer is Co-Secretary and Director of Community Engagement for Turning Life On. A passionate advocate for a more human, less digital childhood, she lives in Lexington, MA with her husband and three diversely-abled children. Wendi brings a personal lens to her work, especially around the risks of cyberbullying and tech’s impact on mental health. She leads local efforts to foster mindful tech use and community connection. Wendi works for a nonprofit and has experience leading one, channeling her drive to create meaningful change for families and vulnerable communities.
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Emily Lines
Emily Lines (she/her) is a dedicated advocate for community-based programming and resources that empower parents, caregivers, and schools in making intentional and developmentally-aligned technology decisions. She is deeply committed to protecting childhood, supporting mental health, and strengthening family and community connections. Emily holds a Master’s degree in Animals and Public Policy and brings a multidisciplinary professional background spanning finance, nonprofit leadership, and strategic consulting. Emily lives in Concord, MA with her husband, three children, and rescued pit bulls.
Our Story
Turning Life On began in Concord, MA, with a simple promise among parents: delay smartphones - and access to social media, internet and gaming - until 8th grade. That promise—The Concord Promise—was about more than tech. It was about reclaiming childhood and raising confident, connected kids in a digital world.
What started as a local effort quickly grew into a national movement. Since 2017, we’ve listened to families, learned from experts, and built a community of parents, educators, and professionals working to “keep tech in check.”
In 2025, we expanded our board, reinvigorated our mission and reconnected a network of local leaders to support one another to create healthier norms around technology. Today, we help communities spark real change—one family, one school, one town at a time.
Turning Life On is about more than screens. It’s about living with intention, nurturing real-life connections, and giving kids the chance to grow up in a world that puts people first.
We’re glad you’re here.
Where we stand on tech
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Before age 11: No or very little personal electronic device use (any device which connects to the internet and provides access to the internet, social media, gaming and an app store)
Middle School: Limited personal electronic device use for calling, texting and video chatting only
Early-High School: Limited and gradual access to internet browser and gaming. No social media
Age 16+: Consider gradually adding social media, one app at a time. Launch pad for more independent use
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No social media before age 16. Gradual introduction after 16.
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Online, violent video games are not recommended at any age.
Before 5: No gaming or games.
5-11: very limited (no more than 20 minutes/day) supervised (in the same room), non-violent, pro-social, age-appropriate video games on a gaming console only (not a small device). Be cautious: most games that claim to be educational are not. Roblox is NOT a game, it is a form of social media. Examples include Wii Sports and Let’s Dance.
11-14: very limited (no more than 45 minutes/day) non-violent, pro-social, age-appropriate video games on a gaming console only (not a small device). Be cautious: most games that claim to be educational are not. Roblox is NOT a game, it is a form of social media.
14-18: limited (no more than 60 minutes/day) non-violent, pro-social, age-appropriate video games on a gaming console only (not a small device) and/or OFFLINE violent video games that are appropriately rated.
Some parents find it much easier to say no than to manage video game usage. You will have to be the physical boundary between your child and a video game. Give them warnings and then remove the controllers. If you notice troubling behavior, speak to your pediatrician and hide the gaming console!
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Personal Electronic Devices must be INACCESSIBLE on school grounds and during school sponsored activities to reduce distractions, maintain environments focused on learning and protect the privacy and safety of students.
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Turning Life On fully supports EverySchool Best Practice for EdTech, including:
Embrace Printed Texts and Handwriting
Embrace Transformative Technology
Limit gamified apps and platforms
Limit digital worksheets
Don’t use screen time for behavior management
Don’t use social media as a teaching or communication tool
Protect early learners from too much screen time
Building on developmental appropriateness, students younger than 6 grade should not have access to devices during the school day. Middle school should be limited and not taken home. High school students should have access to 1:1.
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AI is a relatively new technology that has not been properly researched. It is also changing very quickly. Therefore, it is irresponsible to issue recommendations, and we advise families and schools to proceed with extreme caution when introducing AI.
0-18: No AI use
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We believe that it’s easier to fill the day with screen free activities than it is to restrict screens. Therefore, parents should prioritize the following:
Basic Needs
Eating, sleeping, self-care
Activities for Development
Family Time
Free Play
Nature and outdoor time
Chores
Literacy
Quiet time
Team sports and activities
Our approach to technology use is grounded in current research and guided by three core principles: developmental appropriateness, holistic health, and values-based parenting. Together with our vision, these principles form the foundation of our philosophical platform, which defines our position on key issues.
Remember, personal electronic devices and social media are optional… for everyone!
Our Resources
At Turning Life On, our work is rooted in three core principles: understanding how technology affects development and health, and helping parents use values-based parenting to raise resilient, connected kids. We’ve spent years analyzing research on child development, values-based parenting and the impact of technology across six key areas of health.
Our resources are designed to simplify that research and offer practical, age-appropriate guidance for families. Because let’s face it—this isn’t just about screen time. It’s about how technology is shaping all of us, including parents and grandparents.
By focusing on developmental needs, healthy habits, and values-based decision-making, we empower parents to be confident guides—not just in the digital world, but in every part of their child’s life.
Holistic Approach to Keeping Tech in Check
Through extensive interviews with leading professionals in the multiple fields, we created a holistic approach to keeping tech in check with Emerson Hospital. This approach looks at the 6 areas of health and how technology supports or contradicts those areas.
Recommendations based on Development
If you’re wondering what skills your child is developing and what you can do to maximize that development, we’ve got you covered! Years and years of research on how kids develop at each age and stage has guided these screen time recommendations.
Values-based Parenting
Let’s be honest — you can’t keep up with every app or post your kids see online. Instead, focus on what you can control: your family values. Talk about them, help your kids spot when digital content goes against them, and guide them in putting your values first. Our 5 Principles will help you get started.