With running this website, being extremely active on social networks, and making a large part of my living from “new media” over course of the past decade, it often surprises people when they learn that I’m not big on tech for kids. Yes, I share news on the latest Apps and App-enabled toys, but I do that for the majority – the folks that are into that sort of thing, a large portion of my friends and readers. While I won’t rule it out for the future, I do not own an iPad, nor do I own a tablet of any kind. While my little ones do, on rare occasion, get to check out an App or video on one of our Windows Phones, I’m not into giving them a “device” or “screen” to occupy their time, and would prefer them to embrace imaginative play, spending time outside whenever they can. I’ve spoken a bit about this before, and now comes a movie that hits me right in the sweet spot: PROJECT WILD THING. It’s a British film created by a Dad – a film that encourages families to swap some “screen time” for some “wild time” – time spent outdoors. Watch the trailer and learn more below…
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About the Film:
David Bond is a filmmaker and a father. Things have really changed since he was a kid. His children are hooked on screens and don’t want to go outdoors. They want iPads, TV and plastic toys. The marketing departments of Apple, Disney and Mattel control his children better than he can. Determined to get them up and out, David appoints himself as the Marketing Director for Nature. With the help of branding and outdoor experts, he develops and launches a nationwide marketing campaign to get British children outside. But the competition is not going to lie down and let some upstart with a free product steal their market. PROJECT WILD THING is the hilarious, real-life story of one man’s determination to get children out and into the ultimate, free wonder-product: Nature.
Somewhat ironically, there is a Wild Time App for the iPhone that can help families track their amount of time spent without a screen. Unfortunately, PROJECT WILD THING is not yet available for viewing here in the U.S., but I’ll be keeping track of it to find out when it will be. The film was just released in theaters and VOD in the UK, so hopefully it gets here sooner than later.
For more on the film, or to join the WildTime movement, check out the official website.
“Turn off the TV, switch off the internet, put down the smartphone, hide the tablet, open the door, look up and get outside.”
