He loved Zebras.

He loved his stuffed animal friends.

He loved martial arts.

Corey was a little boy who loved many things.

But more than anything, Corey loved staying home

because at home, he was surrounded by technology.

Corey's mommy knew technology could be amazing, in moderation, but she also wanted him to expand his horizons beyond their house and their neighborhood.

She wanted him to understand that the world was much larger and more complex than just what he could experience within the walls of their home or within the world of a video game.

During summer vacation, Corey's mom realized that he was spending an excessive amount of time in front of screens. So, while she cooked up some deliciously delectable dishes for dinner, she also cooked up a plan to get her son away from the temptations of technology and using his imagination.

The next morning, at breakfast, Corey's mommy told him that they were going to spend the day together and that they would be visiting several new places.

"Come on, Corey," Mommy said. "Today I am going take you somewhere exciting."

"Alright, I guess," Corey sighed. "I'd really rather stay home and play, though."

Mommy assured Corey that it would be fun.

When they got in the car and headed into town, Corey felt confused. They did not drive far. They did not go to a big city, for a drive in the country, or even to somewhere unfamiliar to him. He felt like his mommy had tricked him.

FILL EM UP

Instead, Mommy took Corey on a drive around their small town. She said she wanted to show him all the important sites.

Their first stop was the gas station.

"Corey, do you know why I brought you to the gas station?"

"No, Mommy."

"Gasoline is a fuel that we convert into energy. We use this energy to power our cars and get us where we want to go."

"We only have so much energy, just like with our bodies, so we need to use it wisely. It is important that we do not spend too much of our energy on any one activity if it means we sacrifice other important things in the process."

Next, Mommy drove Corey to the grocery store where they bought mostly healthy foods like vegetables and whole-grain bread. However, Mommy let Corey choose a few yummy snacks, too.

Food Mart

At the grocery store, Corey's mommy taught him about a different kind of fuel. She said that what we put into our bodies is the fuel that keeps us going throughout the day. She explained how it is very important that we are fueling our bodies with healthy foods and our minds with activities that promote creativity and critical thinking.

She also told Corey that it is fine to have a cookie after dinner, but that it is not okay to have ONLY cookies for dinner.

Likewise, Mommy explained to Corey that it is okay to spend SOME time playing video games or watching television, but it should not be the main focus of his daily life.

She said she wanted Corey to set sail on pirate ships

and to walk down sandy beaches, watching the palm trees sway in the salty sea air.