Mother Nature's Child: Growing Outdoors in the Media Age

Filmmaker Camilla Rockwell's documentary examines the effects that time spent in the natural world has on children's emotional and physical development, contrasted with spending far more hours indoors—playing video games, watching TV, or engaged in highly structured “play dates.” Interspersed among the footage featuring kids and teens engaged in recreational activities and unstructured exploration (schools and neighborhoods in Maryland, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., are featured) are interviews with experts, educators, caregivers, parents, and expedition guides. Yale University's Stephen Kellert, professor emeritus of social ecology, states that “we are hard-wired to love nature; we need it.” Outdoor play provides the opportunity for physical exercise, encourages imagination, and helps develop critical thinking skills. Others who take their charges outdoors testify to additional benefits, including resilience, adaptability, and self-reliance. Passive indoor activities, on the other hand, may be related to increased rates of obesity, bullying, and conditions like attention deficit disorder. Author Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods), who affirms that he doesn't oppose technology (“I love my iPhone”), also believes that children who've had a transformative experience with nature are more likely to become conservationist-minded. While the positives are clear, Rockwell also addresses pitfalls and dangers, such as injury, abduction (not as common as people think), and economics (the costs of gear for low-income families). Like the similarly-themed Play Again (VL-5/11), this is a thoughtful and thought-provoking documentary on an interesting and relevant topic. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Fennessy)