Parents' Guide to

Backyard Wilderness

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Nature triumphs over devices in inspiring nature docu.

Movie NR 2018 45 minutes
Backyard Wilderness Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 5+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Dad2X
Dad2X Adult
January 1, 2019
age 6+

Nature Appreciation

Light on the science, but rather poetic 43 minutes about the beauty and cycles of nature outside (and inside in the case of the mouse and the people) a house in upstate New York. I paraphrase, "There are no victims in nature. . . Only predators and prey." as we see coyotes about to give chase to a flock of dear. Other stunning visuals (their are countless) include for example the flight of a bluejay, newborn ducklings leaping out of a tall tree before they can even fly, great mouse-eye view of the inner house travels of mice, time lapse of ferns pushing up through the soil and uncoiling, and salamanders crossing a country road to mate in a vernal pool (you'll learn what that is if you see the movie.) My four year old loved the first half, but got restless by the second half. My 6 year, my wife and I enjoyed the whole thingI We only saw the 2D version, but it almost seemed 3-D anyway.

This title has:

Great messages
LLee22
LLee22 Parent of 7-year-old
August 3, 2018
age 4+

Must see for all ages!

Beautiful depiction of what we can see right outside our windows if we just take the time to really look!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

BACKYARD WILDERNESS is a nature documentary wrapped in a fictionalized narrative about an 11-year-old girl who learns to appreciate the animals in her backyard and then becomes an observer and advocate for local wildlife. Directed by husband-and-wife filmmakers Andrew Young and Susan Todd and filmed on and around their family property in Croton-on-Hudson (about 45 minutes north of New York City), the movie follows Katie (Annie Fabian), a typical upper-middle-class kid who lives most of her life inside and online, along with her older brother, Ben (Bobby Axelrod), and her parents (played by Young and Todd). When Katie's school assignment asks her to pick an animal and research its life cycle and ecosystem, she's inspired to choose the spotted salamander after a magical encounter with them. The experience opens Katie's eyes to all the wildlife that lives literally outside the door of her family's home, including deer, foxes, coyotes, ducks, raccoons, various birds, the salamanders, and even mice.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

An ideal pick for nature lovers and budding environmentalists, this documentary is a tribute to the magical pull of nature right outside our homes and communities. The story uses narration and dialogue, but the real focus is always on nature. Katie, Ben, and their parents represent many Americans -- glued to their devices during most of their leisure time. The kids clearly suffer from what Last Child in the Woods author Richard Louv (whose work inspired the documentary) calls "nature-deficit disorder" ... until Katie learns to appreciate all of the flora and fauna right at her doorstep.

The visuals are impressive and memorable, like when a duckling takes its first leaps with Tom Petty's iconic "Free Falling" playing in the background. There are plenty of other breathtaking moments detailing births, deaths, and the power of seasons on animals' lives. Be ready to see salamanders mating, a fawn's birth, animals hatching, and fox hunting a deer. At a brisk 45 minutes, the movie is a true circle-of-life experience. Kids will understand Katie's story arc from a screen-obsessed technophile who's uncomfortable without her phone or tablet to a nature-friendly animal lover. The documentary's messages should hit their mark and prompt kids (and their parents) to explore their nearby green spaces, woods, animal sanctuaries, and more outdoors.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about nature documentaries. How does Backyard Wilderness compare to other nature documentaries you've seen? What do you like about them?

  • What is the movie saying about device use and screen time? Why is balance such an an important part of digital life?

  • What do you think about the narrator's statement that, in nature, there are "no villains or victims, just predator and prey"? Why do you think animals are often given human motives for hunting that make them seem sinister when they're just trying to eat?

  • What did you learn about the importance of being curious about the natural life around you? Why is curiosity a character strength?

Movie Details

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