EXTON, PA — Parents looking for ways to keep their children connected without handing them unrestricted access to smartphones will have an opportunity to explore alternative devices, meet technology providers, and hear from researchers at an upcoming family-focused event in Chester County.
The Greater Philadelphia Alternative Device Fair will take place Sunday, Nov. 8, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Chester County Scouting Center in Exton. Organized by PA Unplugged and My Phone by Ooma, the event will bring together approximately a dozen additional vendors and speakers to introduce families to communication devices and strategies designed to encourage healthier technology habits.
The fair comes as parents, educators and community organizations increasingly debate when children should receive their first smartphones and how families can balance digital connectivity with concerns about screen time, online distractions and unrestricted internet access.
Rather than asking families to abandon technology altogether, organizers hope to demonstrate how simpler devices and more intentional technology choices can help children stay in touch with parents and friends while limiting exposure to potentially harmful online experiences.
Attendees will be able to examine products, speak directly with exhibitors, and explore alternatives to conventional smartphones. The event will also feature tools and resources for adults interested in changing their own technology habits.
Educational presentations will complement the product demonstrations, giving parents an opportunity to hear about research and practical approaches to managing technology use at home and in schools.
Among the scheduled speakers is Jill Anderson, who holds a master’s degree in educational psychology and has 20 years of classroom experience. Her work focuses on helping families, schools, and communities raise healthy, independent children through mindful technology use.
Researchers from Angela Duckworth’s laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania will also participate. Their presentation will draw on surveys involving tens of thousands of educators nationwide, offering insights into what happens in school environments when students’ access to phones is restricted.
PA Unplugged co-founder and co-lead Alex Bird Becker believes delaying smartphone ownership can play an important role in children’s development.
“Mounting evidence shows that delaying smartphones is a key lever in supporting healthy brain development for children,” Becker said.
The event will also explore how digital habits can affect behavior and well-being.
Organizer Loretta Cohen, a social worker with a master’s degree, brings an addiction prevention perspective to the discussion, focusing on concerns about excessive screen use and the brain’s reward system.
“Parents today have tough choices to make when it comes to technology in their homes, and these companies are making it easier,” Cohen said.
The fair is intended to provide families with practical options rather than a single approach to managing technology.
Exhibitors will showcase devices and services designed to offer communication capabilities without all the features and distractions of traditional smartphones. Families can compare options, ask questions, and consider which tools best fit their children’s ages, needs, and routines.
The event also emphasizes the importance of community support. PA Unplugged is collaborating with local grassroots organizations, including West Chester Unplugged and Wait Until 8th Phoenixville, to connect families interested in establishing healthier digital boundaries.
Those partnerships reflect a growing interest among parents in making technology decisions collectively, particularly when children face social pressure to own smartphones at increasingly younger ages.
For families considering delaying smartphone ownership, connecting with other parents who share similar goals can make those decisions easier to navigate.
Event Details
- What: Greater Philadelphia Alternative Device Fair, featuring smartphone alternatives, family-friendly technology demonstrations, educational presentations, vendors, and resources for healthier digital habits
- When: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Where: Chester County Scouting Center, 1 Scouting Way, Exton, PA
- Cost/Tickets: Admission pricing was not specified in the event announcement. Advance registration is encouraged, and preregistered attendees will receive extra raffle tickets for a chance to win kid-friendly products.
- More Info: Register at https://tinyurl.com/PHLaltdevicefair. Additional information about PA Unplugged is available at www.paunplugged.org.
Visitors will have opportunities to explore products firsthand, speak with exhibitors, and learn about research concerning children’s technology use.
Advance registration offers an additional incentive, with extra raffle tickets available for attendees who sign up before the event. Prizes will include products designed for children.
PA Unplugged, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, advocates for policies and cultural practices that prioritize personal connections and healthy relationships with technology.
The statewide coalition brings together parents, educators, and advocates who believe families and communities should have a greater role in shaping how technology is introduced and used.
For Chester County parents wondering whether a smartphone is the only practical way to keep their children connected, the Greater Philadelphia Alternative Device Fair offers an opportunity to discover other options, hear from experts and connect with families facing similar decisions.
The goal is not simply to find a different device, but to help families make more informed choices about the role technology plays in their everyday lives.
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