Highly recommend this documentary - especially to parents & those who plan or wish to become parents
http://www.wfum.org/childrenplay/index.html
Where Do the Children Play? is a one-hour documentary for public television that examines how restrictive patterns of sprawl, congestion, and endless suburban development across America are impacting children's mental and physical health and development.
Using the adage that children represent 20 percent of the world's population but 100 percent of its future, the film opens by examining differences between growing up today, with all its inherent obstacles and temptations, and childhood as it was lived 50 years ago.
To understand today’s children more acutely, the film team first visited Beaver Island where there are no McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Targets or Walmarts. There, children congregate by bike in the downtown area to play. All 85 students in grades one to twelve attend the only school on the island. Most use the computer as a tool for homework, but not for communication. And while they miss a lot of what their counterparts have on the mainland, Beaver Island children are keenly aware of nature and its importance to their lives and their well-being.
Second, the film looked at suburbs today, which have the greatest problems. Explosive growth patterns, massive highways, distant malls, create an isolated environment lacking in sidewalks or places to ride bikes, walk or play. Children tend to be driven indoors to computers and television for recreation, and then driven to a mall or a friend’s house by parents. Suburban kids, those ironically with the most opportunity in some areas, suffer the greatest health and psychological problems.
Third, the film team visited the city, which produced the greatest surprises as a place for children: for those not raised in crushing poverty, it still works. And surprisingly well. Despite obstacles and the media stereotypes, old neighborhoods function better than many suburbs, with parks and schools and a sense of community in which parents of different backgrounds often watch out for the safety of children, as they did generations ago when these places were built.
Finally, the film examines the impact of the media and stranger-danger television stories. But it also looks at the role of parents themselves, specifically to the over-programmed child of professionals who run their child’s life as if it were a business.
Where Do the Children Play? is a one-hour documentary for public television that examines how restrictive patterns of sprawl, congestion, and endless suburban development across America are impacting children's mental and physical health and development.
Using the adage that children represent 20 percent of the world's population but 100 percent of its future, the film opens by examining differences between growing up today, with all its inherent obstacles and temptations, and childhood as it was lived 50 years ago.
To understand today’s children more acutely, the film team first visited Beaver Island where there are no McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Targets or Walmarts. There, children congregate by bike in the downtown area to play. All 85 students in grades one to twelve attend the only school on the island. Most use the computer as a tool for homework, but not for communication. And while they miss a lot of what their counterparts have on the mainland, Beaver Island children are keenly aware of nature and its importance to their lives and their well-being.
Second, the film looked at suburbs today, which have the greatest problems. Explosive growth patterns, massive highways, distant malls, create an isolated environment lacking in sidewalks or places to ride bikes, walk or play. Children tend to be driven indoors to computers and television for recreation, and then driven to a mall or a friend’s house by parents. Suburban kids, those ironically with the most opportunity in some areas, suffer the greatest health and psychological problems.
Third, the film team visited the city, which produced the greatest surprises as a place for children: for those not raised in crushing poverty, it still works. And surprisingly well. Despite obstacles and the media stereotypes, old neighborhoods function better than many suburbs, with parks and schools and a sense of community in which parents of different backgrounds often watch out for the safety of children, as they did generations ago when these places were built.
Finally, the film examines the impact of the media and stranger-danger television stories. But it also looks at the role of parents themselves, specifically to the over-programmed child of professionals who run their child’s life as if it were a business.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by rachel on -
looks like a good one... can we watch it even when it's not on the TV lineup? (i don't have any television channels, only a DVD player and a computer).
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Permalink Reply by Bryan on -
Wait... and you guys are moving where? :)
I told Mike - in town is the place to be... better sense of community, less isolation, walk or bike all over, less dependence on high fuel prices... but then again, I'm biased...
sounds like a good documentary - i'll see if we can track it down. the library doesn't have it.
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Permalink Reply by Nicki on -
Yes, I know. :) But I liked the Beaver Island part of the film! :)
We've lived in town b4 (I grew up in the type of neighborhood you live in). We love that type of community & we did much more walking, biking, playing in parks, etc. But we have also lived on lakes twice b4 & we love that too. A very different sort of community. The neighbors & neighborhoods all have a great sense of community, people are very friendly & relaxed, lots of unstructured play time in nature, etc. The type of neighborhood we like the least is the type we live in now - but when we bought the houes we thought we'd only be here a couple years. We've probably already talked to our new neighbors on our lake lot more than we've talked to people in our neighborhood - unfortunately & not for lack of trying. :( We've debated moving back into town or to a lake. Here in TC we can't afford a home on the lake in town (imagine that!)so it looks like it'll be the lake! Yes, we'll be more isolated from some things, but I'd rather have my kids hanging out in the woods than in the mall! :)
I see the film can be purchased. Maybe I'll talk to Mike about it. We can always donate it to the library or something. That is if we can't find one to view for free elsewhere! :)
I also see there is an accompanying book - that'd make an interesting read. I might have to get that.
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Permalink Reply by Bryan on
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Just giving you a hard time. :) And I am envious of the nature you'll be enjoying... Plus you know better than I what neighborhood(s) there look like. Glad you are already connecting with people there!
I just know that when people live farther away, we tend to see them less. And I'm not trying to say we have it figured out, because we certainly don't. We just (selfishly) like when people live closer to us (including you guys!), because it's easier to get together and do stuff. And if you live in town, you don't need to have a lakefront home, because you can walk to the beach! (without having to pay for it - or is that why my city taxes are so high??) :)
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