WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

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Hi, I’m Arcelia González
for Common Sense Media.

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The Ideal MEALS activity is a fun 
way to get parents and caregivers

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thinking about how to create a healthy
balance of activities for their children,

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with and without media and tech.

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One of the best ways to visualize
the right balance for your family

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is by filling out the Ideal MEALS pie chart.

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This involves coloring slices of the pie illustration.

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You can use our pie chart, or simply draw
a circle on a blank piece of paper and divide

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it with four lines to create the eight-slice pie chart.

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The different colors you choose
for the various slices should reflect the

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unique activities you’d like your
kids to engage in every week.

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Examples could include playtime, 
reading, house chores, listening to music,

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family game night, outdoor sports, 
educational apps, or any other

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activity that's important to you.

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When you’re done, take a look
at the activities listed and

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think about how media and
technology fit into each of them.

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Any activities that can involve 
technology to support or 

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enhance the experience
should be marked with a T.

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Activities that you’d prefer 
your child do without tech

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or screens should be marked with an X.

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If you’re doing this activity
with a group, compare your charts

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to others’ and notice how they’re
similar and how they’re different.

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You might notice that no single
formula works for everyone.

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Each family is different, and every child
is unique, with specific interests and needs.

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What’s important is that
children have a healthy

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mix of activities throughout the week.

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And that screen time doesn’t
replace activities that are important

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for healthy development
like playing outside or reading.

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As long as you’re keeping things
in balance, you, as a parent or caregiver,

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can trust yourself to determine
healthy routines based on your

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own family values and each
of your children's needs.

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To learn more about how 
to use media to support your

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child's healthy development, visit
commonsense.org/families.