It happened. The year that brought so much unhappiness to many people around the globe has passed. Goodbye, 2020. Hello, 2021. They say, “Time heals all wounds.” Hopefully, over time the suffering and pain from 2020 will subside. Hopeful for the future. One of my favorite Italian words that reflects this sense of hope is avanti—full steam ahead.

During the global pandemic I had the privilege of learning from people from around the world about issues impacting young children and their families resulting from COVID-19. The diverse group was brought together by UNESCO. An advocate for children’s rights and humanitarian issues, Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands said, “Children are NOW!” She said she was fed up with people saying, “children are the future.” I am hopeful NOW for the road ahead, because I know how resilient we are. Children are NOW!

In addition to child advocates, filmmakers have done incredible work to help better understand children NOW. If you’re interested in checking out their films which explore child development, I’ve got three to share with you.

1. “Becoming You”

2. “Babies”

3. “7Up”

“Becoming You” is available on Apple+ and released in 2020. This docuseries focuses on the first 2,000 days of life. The Becoming You series is directed by the creative brain of Tom Barbor-Might. His cinematic skills takes us on a visually stunning journey. Becoming You is narrated by Olivia Colman who plays the Queen in the “Crown.” There is one season of Becoming You with a total of six episodes which I’ve described next and indicated how long the episode runs.

1. Who am I? (39 minutes)

2. Moving (43 minutes)

3. Making Friends (43 minutes)

4. Feeling (41 minutes)

5. Talking (41 minutes)

6. Thinking (41 minutes)

All six episodes of Becoming You are fabulous but my favorite is the one about talking. Check it out and learn about the “Seuss boost,” what the brain thinks about rhymes, multilingualism, how deaf families use hand babbling with their babies learning sign language, and the amazing little girl named Riley who is from South Florida. My friend told me about this resource. I hope you tell your friends too. Thank you for always thinking of me to pass on this cool stuff, Tonya Schadle.

“Babies” is available on Netflix and released in 2020. This docuseries is focused on research related to child development. The latest and state-of-the-art research is presented in an interesting way with relevant information parents and early childhood educators can use. Like the Becoming You docuseries, the Babies docuseries will take you around the World to gorgeous countries. In addition to the on-location sites, Babies and Becoming You will introduce you to the most precious children and their families. What a treat to meet these people who are sharing their homes, culture, and languages with us viewers. There are two seasons of Babies with a total of twelve episodes which I’ve described next and indicated how long the episode runs.

Part 1.

1. Love (48 minutes)

2. First Food (52 minutes)

3. Crawling (53 minutes)

4. First Words (51 minutes)

5. Sleep (49 minutes)

6. First Steps (50 minutes)

Part 2.

1. What Babies Know (55 minutes)

2. Movement (53 minutes)

3. Senses (50 minutes)

4. Relationships (52 minutes)

5. Nature and Nurture (47 minutes)

6. Toddlers (46 minutes)

“7Up” is available on Amazon and/or other places where you get your documentaries. The Up Series is directed by Michael Apted who sadly died on Friday at the age of 79. Apted started this series in 1964. He and his team followed the same children over time into adulthood. Every 7 years the conversations with participants would pick up where it left off. We get to know 14 British children who are interviewed by Apted in seven year intervals. There are multiple episodes of the Up Series which I’ve described next and indicated how long the episode runs.

1. 1964 – 7 Up (31 minutes)

2. 1970 – 14 Up (53 minutes)

3. 1977 – 21 Up (100 minutes)

4. 1984 – 28 Up (40 minutes) Part 1

5. 1984 – 28 Up (62 minutes) Part 2

6. 1984 – 28 Up (74 minutes) Part 3

7. 1991 – 35 Up (116 minutes)

8. 1998 – 42 Up (134 minutes)

9. 2005 – 49 Up (136 minutes)

10.2012 – 56 Up (47 minutes) Part 1

11.2012 – 56 Up (47 minutes) Part 2

12.2012 – 56 Up (50 minutes) Part 3

13.2019 – 63 Up (47 minutes)

I first started watching the Up Series when I was a graduate student at the University of Oregon in the early 2000s. One of my professors recommended it to me when we were discussing longitudinal research designs. I was hooked.

“Becoming You,” “Babies,” and “7Up” examine issues related to early childhood development. Do yourself a favor and take a master class by watching one, two, or all these fantastic docuseries in 2021. What will we do with what we know? We must address the needs of young children NOW. Avanti!