The Wonder Year
Quality of Film
This fascinating DVD follows the first 12 months in the life of a young baby, Orson, focusing on his physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. It is part of a series of films produced by Siren Films for use as training resources to support childcare students and practitioners. The film is divided into three sections of approximately 20 minutes each, covering three developmental phases - 0 to three months, four to seven months and eight to 12 months. The film focuses on Orson's actions and the interactions he has with his family in a range of different situations during his first 12 months of life. The commentary, written by child development specialist Maria Robinson, who also features in the film in a series of short interviews, provides an explanation of what lies behind the seemingly everyday occurrences that have been very sensitively captured on film. Information on brain development is presented in a visually appealing and easy-to-appreciate format, providing the viewer with a firm foundation for understanding child development.
At the end of each section of the DVD there is a short summary recapping what has been so far, making the resource ideal to use as a foundation for focused staff training and discussion.
Accompanying the DVD is a comprehensive set of notes, including a summary of the information provided in each of the three sections, a set of questions for discussion and a complete transcript of the film commentary. A glossary has been included, giving definitions of many of the terms used, including those associated with the structure and development of the brain and nervous system.
This is a fantastic resource suitable for use with a wide range of audiences. It will be of value in the training of students at all levels from Level 2 to Level 6, for qualified staff working in day care settings and for practitioners working towards EYPS who want to increase their understanding of babies. It would also provide fascinating insight for first-time parents, adding to their appreciation and enjoyment of their baby's first year of life and helping them to see how competent their child is from birth.
