Mother Nature's Child

This is a documentary film that explores nature’s role in children’s health.

The Portsmouth Library, in partnership with the NH Children in Nature Coalition, NH Project Learning Tree, UNH Cooperative Extension—4H and the US Forest Service, will host a screening of “Mother Nature’s Child” as part of Spring Cinema.

 
“Mother Nature’s Child”explores nature’s powerful role in children’s health and development through the experience of toddlers, children in middle childhood and adolescents. The film marks a moment in time when a living generation can still recall childhoods of free play outdoors; this will not be true for most children growing up today. The effects of “nature deficit disorder” are now being noted across the country in epidemics of child obesity, attention disorders, and depression.
 
“Mother Nature’s Child” asks the questions: Why do children need unstructured time outside? What is the place of risk-taking in healthy child development? How is play a form of learning? Why are teachers resistant to taking students outside? How can city kids connect with nature? What does it mean to educate the ‘whole’ child?
 
Discussion to follow film.

Refreshments provided by NH Children in Nature Coalition. 

For mor Information contact Susan Cox at 603-868-7706 or at smcox@fs.fed.us.