St. Helens MS Social and Emotional Learning Center

Media Balance & Well Being

Watch this video about how being connected is a "24/7" part of our culture.

What are the benefits of being connected 24/7

Real-time access to weather helps plan outdoor activities, clothing, etc.
Social media and messenger apps allow immediate communication and updates with other people.
Search engines help people find information and solutions for things.
Music apps enable people to create, share, and listen to playlists of their favorite music.

Digital Media

All the activities in the video are examples of using digital media, which is content (text, audio, images, video) or devices that allow people to share information, communicate, and collaborate over the internet or computer networks.

Not all the actions in the video involved using digital media. Did you catch any that didn't?

What are some of the benefits of doing things offline ... that don't involve digital media?

Participating in sports is fun because you get to exercise and compete against others.
Going into nature can teach you about the world and help you feel relaxed.
Hanging out with people in person helps you build relationships and get to know people.
When you're in nature or with people, you experience everything with five senses. When you're online, you usually only experience them with two (sight and sound).

So being disconnected from digital media has some benefits, but being connected has benefits, too. What is the best way to balance the two?

Media Balance

Media balance is using media in a way that feels healthy and in balance with other life activities (family, friends, school, hobbies, etc.). In today's lesson, we're going to think about ways we can find our own sense of media balance.

Activity

Online, Offline Activity

Complete part 1 and part 2. (Make a copy of google doc to fill in sections)

Grade 6 - Finding Balance in a Digital World - Online, Offline Student Handout

Part 1

Read the directions and complete Part 1.

Part 1 refers not only to “being on the internet” but to all activities involving digital media: watching television, gaming, using apps, etc.

Part 2

Fill in part 2.

When you are not online, what activities add something fun or important to your life?

Find the balance

Complete Part 1 and Part 2

Grade 6 - Finding Balance in a Digital World - Balancing Act Student Handout

Part of having balance means being aware of how different activities make you feel. If certain activities result in not-so-good feelings, that is a red flag. When you experience a red flag feeling, it is important that you think about what's causing it and what you can do about it.

Refection Questions

One helpful thing might be to find ways to "unplug." What do you think it means to unplug from online activities?

What are some specific times that you might want to unplug? How would you know when to do it?

What could you do in that situation to unplug?

Tips on helping kids manage their media lives

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