Archives for December 28, 2021

Welcome To Earth * Exciting Six-Part Documentary Exploring Far Reaches Of The Globe

It might seem humans have mapped every inch of our planet’s surface, but look closer and you’ll discover that there is still so much more to uncover — the age of exploration is far from over! Welcome to Earth, a Disney+ original series from National Geographic, follows two-time Academy Award® nominee Will Smith on an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime adventure around the world to explore Earth’s greatest wonders and reveal its most hidden secrets. Throughout the six-part limited series produced by visionary Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, Protozoa Pictures, Jane Root’s Nutopia and Westbrook Studios, Will is guided by elite explorers on an awe-inspiring journey, getting up close and personal with some of the most thrilling spectacles on the planet — from volcanoes that roar in silence to deserts that move beyond our perception to animal swarms with minds of their own. Combining breathtaking cinematography with Will’s boundless curiosity and enthusiasm, the blockbuster series is an exciting, multisensory ride through Earth’s most mind-bending portals.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Carlee S. comments, “I loved Welcome To Earth, a six-part documentary featuring Will Smith traveling to the far reaches of the globe in search of Earth’s hidden secrets. It is exciting to watch Will find himself in places few have gone before, which forces him to conquer his fears as he embarks on life changing expeditions that alter his perception, and the viewer’s, of the world we live in.” See her full review below.  

Welcome To Earth
By Carlee S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 16

I loved Welcome To Earth, a six-part documentary featuring Will Smith traveling to the far reaches of the globe in search of Earth’s hidden secrets. It is exciting to watch Will find himself in places few have gone before, which forces him to conquer his fears as he embarks on life changing expeditions that alter his perception, and the viewer’s, of the world we live in.

Audiences will follow Will from the Nambia Desert to Norway, from Brazil into the depths of the ocean and to top of a volcano, as well as to other fascinating places. He witnesses the secrets of nature in hidden places that most people don’t often see or notice. Viewers will be both educated and enchanted by the wonders they encounter in each episode, especially since the different camera angles and tricks that capture the speed of movement give viewers images of these incredible sights.

My favorite scene is in the episode called “Descent Into Darkness” when Will Smith and Melissa Marquez (a marine biologist) travel by submarine 3000 feet below sea level to a mind-blowing place that looks like another world. They explore and learn about a variety of sea creatures that live in the Twilight and Midnight zones below the ocean. It’s fascinating to learn how the animals communicate using bioluminescence, the emission of light. And since a very small percentage of the ocean has been explored, Will’s below-the-sea trip is particularly meaningful and also quite terrifying. I also appreciate how each experience has expert guides. Many of them have faced challenges of their own which makes it even more interesting. It’s eye opening to hear from multiple people on what they’re passionate about and learn about their past. Ultimately, Will Smith is an incredible host who combines humor with education and is very enjoyable to watch.

The message in this series is that you need to face your fears in order to defeat them. You can’t let your fears stop you from pursuing your goals. Will gives the advice to “work with your fear not against it.” He is constantly pushing himself and testing his limits, too. There is some mild cursing that parents should be aware of.

I give Welcome To Earth 5 out of 5 stars. This documentary held my attention and got me excited to learn more about Earth. I recommend this to ages 11 to 17, as well as to adults. It releases on Disney+ December 8, 2021.

A Guide for Children and Contact Lenses

If your child has impaired eyesight and is in need of glasses, this can be a relatively simple solution, but what happens if your children do not get on with glasses? Whether this is because they might be sensitive to having things on their face, they might be particularly active, which means glasses could feel like nothing short of a nuisance, or for any other reason, depending on their age, contacts could be an alternative solution to correcting their eyesight.

While the same rules apply for adults as they do for children for contact lenses, there are a few things that should be considered when it comes to children using contacts.

Read this piece as a guide for children using contact lenses

 

Assess Your Kids Hygiene Levels

Hygiene is an absolutely crucial component to contact lens care, and without it, contacts are just too much of a risk to use.

Age will also be a factor in this, as older children will be able to understand hygiene much better than younger children and hopefully adhere to it better.

It is up to the parent to determine if their child can handle this responsibility, as it is vital to keeping infections and other problems at bay. You will also need to make sure they understand the risks associated with using contacts and the problems they could face if they do not adhere to strict hygiene measures. 

 

Consider Allergies

If your children suffer from allergies, they might not be the best candidate for contact lenses, especially if the allergies can be particularly harsh. Streaming and itchy eyes do not make for a friendly environment for contacts, and this much is true for adults too- but children might have a more difficult time dealing with these symptoms and keeping their contacts in place without dislodging them or putting their fingers in their eyes when they have not been washed.

If your child only suffers from mild allergy symptoms and is old enough to understand to take them out when allergies flare up, then under the supervision of an optician, they could give lenses a go. Allergies are not a deal-breaker for contacts as long as the hygiene and lens rules are consistently followed. UV protection contact lenses are a great daily option for the summer months, as they also protect from UV rays from the sun, which can damage the eyes.

Lenses to Correct Vision for Children

There are some contact lenses that have been designed specifically for children to slow down near-sightedness, which can be a technological breakthrough that many kids from age 8-12 could benefit from.

They are designed to be worn throughout the day and disposed of in the evening like regularly daily lenses, but are designed to slow down myopia while they are worn. This could be life-changing for children who not only hate wearing glasses but also have a rapid deterioration of sight, potentially helping to keep them from having to change their prescription regularly.