Growing together … Watch me grow! Stop to listen! 2003
Distributed by Films Media Group, PO Box 2053, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Producer n/a
Director n/a
VHS and CD-ROM, color, 32 min.
K-Adult
Child Development, Food, Nutrition, Parenting, Health Sciences
Date Entered: 08/10/2004
Reviewed by Nicole Cooke, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJGrowing Together is a well thought out and produced curriculum kit that addresses and promotes healthy eating and body images in children. With disordered eating and skewed self esteem becoming increasing problems in today’s children, particularly because of the media’s constant portrayal of the perfect body type and image, early, constant and positive reinforcement is necessary from parents, caregivers and educators. A 3 part kit consisting of a VHS tape, a video guidebook, and a 4 lesson CD-ROM curriculum, Growing Together provides ample information for a class lesson or unit on healthy eating. The video begins by clearly stating its purpose and goals, and features snippets from children talking about their eating habits and brief interviews featuring authorities on healthy eating, including a nutritionist, a psychologist, a pediatrician and the president of the National Eating Disorders Association. The video moves weaves between the interviews and screen shots with bulleted lists of clear and practical information regarding the identification of eating problems and how to address them. The compact video guide reinforces the lists and information provided in the video, and the CD-ROM curriculum guide features a 50 page teacher workbook, complete with ready-to-use lesson plans, examples and student handouts.
Growing Together is about healthy eating and doesn’t focus on achieving a particular weight or body shape; the goal of these experts is to prevent and counteract nutritional, emotional and physical issues that cause disordered eating, and the best preventive measure is for adults to be healthy eating and healthy body role models.
Growing Together is current, features a diverse cast of experts and children, and it is a quality documentary style production, with fine visual and audio components. The video tape is complemented immensely by the curriculum and video guide. A well rounded curriculum kit, Growing Together is highly recommended for school systems, libraries and curriculum resource centers.