Mother Nature’s Child

Growing Outdoors in the Media Age 

Mother Nature's Child marks a moment in time when a living generation can still recall childhoods of free outdoor play. This will not be true for most children growing up today. Contemporary culture has undergone drastic change in the last three decades, forcing children indoors where they increasingly exhibit symptoms of "nature deficit": obesity, depression, and a range of learning disorders. Mother Nature's Child explores the various ways that time in nature promotes children's well-being, contributes to the future of the planet, and nourishes the human spirit.

The film investigates nature's role in all aspects of child development -- physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual -- by examining unstructured outdoor play, parental fears, risk-taking, urban contact with nature, use of media, rites of passage and environmental stewardship. From urban schoolyards to deep wilderness adventures, intimate scenes with children from preschool through adolescence are complemented by insights from parents, teachers, and a forum of highly regarded experts, including Richard Louv, author of the best selling book Last Child in the Woods. Formatted in chapters and accompanied by a brief discussion guide, the DVD inspires vigorous conversations among students, teachers, families, outdoor educators, and health professionals.