Have you seen Babies?
I watched Babies yesterday and I can't get it out of my head. I was deeply touched by it. All this documentary is, is a collection of clips showing four babies from around the world on their first year of life. There is no verbal narration, only beautiful images of adorable babies in gorgeous yet completely different environments. The audience has to draw their own conclusions. One point seems obvious: no matter how they are raised, all babies reach the same milestones at the same age... But it is certainly more profound than that or I would have moved on already. So what was it?
Did you watch this movie? What effect did it have on you?
Totally agree with you. In fact I found the Namibian and Mongolian babies the most beautiful, clever and lovable.
- Estelle, May 28, 2010
2 Answers
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Hi, I'm curious how interesting is Babies for children? Would kids enjoy watching this documentary or be awfully bored? What age do you think would be appropriate?
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We finally went and saw this! In answer to Juan's question, our kids (age 3 and 1.5) were mesmerized. It's the first time my 1.5 yr old watched anything for more than 10 min in a row.
I was super-impressed by the aspects Estelle and Alana noted above and also, honestly, the realization that spending an hour and a bit seeing the world almost from the baby's perspective - at least with the baby center-stage - was entirely different than living with babies for the last 3 years. That, plus the different languages, and environments, it felt I could see more clearly what was interesting and impactful and what wasn't.
One takeaway - babies don't need toys. Or really much of anything else. They invent their own world by interacting with whatever's in it.
Still thinking about this movie...! Even more precisely on the "babies don't need toys" point... actually they do, here, now, because we put them in antiseptic kid-friendly indoor environments and there's nothing intrinsically there for them to do - other than play with the toys we provide to simulate real-world development activities. I found myself thinking about this again, today, as our youngest went back again to stack the (plastic) cups in the cupboard and how fortuitous and unintentional it was that they happen to be at her height.
- andrea, Jul 5, 2010
We may have been at the same showing! I really liked the movie too. What I can't get out of MY head is that there are so many different ways to parent and they all have their pluses and minuses, depending on who you ask. Without spoiling the film for those who have yet to go see it, did you happen to notice the different environments for nap time, playtime and eating? If anything, the film is making me back off, get down on the floor more but also observe as my son plays and, finally, not be so hard on myself to find the RIGHT WAY to be a parent.
I agree with you on your conclusion that all babies reach the same milestones at the same age, somehow. What was lovely to see in the film is that you don't need fancy stuff or a degree in parenting to raise a happy, healthy, let's-see-what-the-world-has-to-offer-me child. :-)
- Alana, May 27, 2010