TED Talks Daily Sunday Pick: The science of raising kids (Part 2): How to raise healthy kids with Dr. Shari Barkin | from TED Health
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Feb 22, 2026 
Dr. Shari Barkin, a pediatrician and academic leader who works on community-focused research, offers practical ideas for raising healthy kids. She talks about small, contextual changes at home and school. Topics include phone-free family rituals, family-based group programs, partnering with community resources, and simple parent-child habits to model healthy behavior.
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Phone-Free Family Time
- Put phones away together for 30–45 minutes to force family connection instead of device distraction.
- Use a visible basket so adults and kids model mutual presence and conversation.
Health Extends Beyond The Clinic
- Children's health is shaped by concentric layers: family, community, and society, not just clinical care.
- Leveraging civic infrastructure like parks and libraries multiplies health impact beyond clinics.
Families Forming Social Safety Nets
- Barkin describes grouping families to build weak social ties that spread healthy behaviors and mutual support.
- The groups even checked on an absent family and discovered a member in major depression, enabling community intervention.