Babies Outdoors
The images depict a world of wonder for these babies in ordinary, everyday events outdoors. Stunning photography draws attention to tiny aspects of interest for babies both in the natural and man made environments, for example the image of Ko's view of the stone surface under a wooden bench.
The commentary draws attention to salient points of the baby's development and also highlights important ways in which mum and the key person support. Comments and observations are straightforward and authoritative but offered in a gentle low key manner which serves to emphasise and interpret significant messages rather than detract from them. The length of this commentary is just right, giving plenty of time for students to view the footage and listen to interactions.
The observations of 5 babies ranging from 6 weeks to 12 months makes the audience aware of different stages of development and the extended observations of Bobby over four months vividly highlights the rapid pace of change at this very early stage in his life (given the right conditions for this to take place)
However I also found the shorter sequences absorbing. The brief but delightful clip of 6 week old Miles draws attention to the benefits of him waking up gently outside with his mum close but having access to a rich source of sensory experiences. This clip in itself could provoke some useful discussion about the relative benefits of providing different environments for babies to sleep.
The structure of each sequence ends with a clear and informative summary of the main points in each baby's development. This serves as a helpful memory aid for students
By filming babies from different nationalities and heritage this DVD demonstrates the universal steps in child development and the common benefits to each baby of being outside and having close attachments.
Each sequence includes messages about the baby,s particular stage of development. We learn that at 3 months Bobby's hearing is her most developed sense and two months later she begins to babble when interested and relaxed. Complex theories such as 'joint attention' become clear when we see Bobby at 7 months moving her attention between an object of interest and her mum's face.
Like other Siren films this DVD is relevant and important to a number of audiences.
There is often little awareness of the value of an outside environment for young babies and how the close adult can bring the outside world alive. This DVD makes the case so well, simply by showing the possibilities of what can happen and as such it is an essential training resource. New parents will find these clips invaluable and students at all levels will enjoy the case studies and inevitably learn.
