Common Sense #1- Media Balance

To make a healthy media choice for yourself, what's one thing to consider?

• How far?

• How tall?

• How much time?

• How are you?

Healthy media choices are:

• Always the same for every person.

• Usually different for every person.

• Never really much fun.

Read the following scenario, then answer the question. Mia stayed up late on a school night and watched six episodes in a row of her favorite show. The next day at school she felt really sleepy. She was so tired that she nearly fell asleep during her class’s art activity and didn’t finish her project! She felt sad, because art is her favorite subject. Which choice could Mia have made to have media balance?

• Not watch the show at all. It is not a good choice.

• Watch fewer episodes of the show so she could get a full night’s sleep.

• Watch the same amount of episodes, and just don't worry about not finishing her art project.

What is digital media?

• Content or devices that allow people to share information, communicate, and collaborate over the internet or computer networks. (text, audio, images, video)

• Time spent watching, listening to, reading,

  or creating media

What does media choices mean?

• The time you choose to spend watching, listening to, playing on, reading, or creating media

• Using media in a way that feels healthy and in balance with other life activities (family, friends, school, hobbies, etc.)

What does media balance mean?

• Using media in a way that feels healthy and in balance with other life activities (family, friends, school, hobbies, etc.)

• All the ways that large groups of people get and share information (TV, books, the internet, newspapers, phones, etc.)

1. Sam is within reach of getting a high score in a popular video game. Sam also has homework. Bedtime is in 30 minutes. Imagine you're Sam. What should you do?

• Play on! You can probably get your homework done on the school bus.

• Log off. Do homework first and then play as late as you like to get that high score.

• Play on! If you win, share your score before you go to bed.

• Log off. Next time, plan to do homework first, play a game or two, and "unplug" for 30 minutes or more before bedtime. Research shows you'll sleep better.

2. Chris likes to create art. Making things by hand feels good. But lately, Chris is so busy keeping up with friends online that there never seems to be enough time. Imagine you're Chris. What should you do?

• Wait to see if your schedule slows down again, such as when the school year ends.

• Use a sketching app while watching videos or while someone else is talking.

• Schedule times for making art by hand, invite interested friends and turn off your phones.

• Cross this activity off your list, because you can't do everything.

Check all the "unplugged" activities.

• You Tube

• Playing soccer

• Swimming

• TikTok

• Cooking

What is a "red-flag feeling"?

• When you don't feel right about a situation.

• When you can't swim in the ocean.

• People oversharing on social media.

• When you are hungry.