Running head: tokyo and san francisco

Observing Human development (Mari from Tokyo and Hattie from San Francisco)
James Melon
Mrs. Rodrigues
HHG4M
February 20, 2014

Author Note
Findings observed from Babies documentary, directed by Thomas Balms.

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Abstract

The purpose of this report is to identify the characteristics of human growth and development
that takes place during infancy. The observation was done in class, the material was a
documentary Babies directed by Thomas Balms. The documentary depicts the development of
four infants, starting from birth to the first year of their lives. The subjects of this observation
report are Hattie born in San Francisco, USA and Mari born Tokyo, Japan.
Keywords: human growth and development, infancy

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Observing Human development (Mari from Tokyo and Hattie from San Francisco)

Babies documentary and Human Development Observations

The growth and development of human infants has been studied by countless
physiologists and psychologists. And all of these observations made will differ depending on the
culture and geographic location of the study. The argument could be made that no medical
professional has brought awareness to these differences as much as French documentary director
Thomas Balms. The documentary in which Balms depicts these differences is entitled Babies.
This paper is compiled of observations and examinations made between the differences that two
infants (Mari and Hattie) experience as depicted in the stated documentary.
The Infants Environments1
The Maris story begins with her very pregnant mother and father sitting at home, and then cuts
to after the infants birth, when her feet are being marked by Japanese doctors to identify her.
Hattie is born in a hospital in San Francisco with her mother and father alongside her. She is
weighed and given the correct vaccinations, then sent back to her small familys private room to
lie in a specially made plastic box next to her parents. There is a general feeling of closeness and
intimacy in both of the infants first moments. It is made clear that both infants live in greatly
developed, highly populated metropolitan cities. Heavily congested roadways are shown, along
with sidewalks mobbed with people. Street cars route up and down the Victorian style housed
hills of San Francisco, while roaring sky scrapers and glass covered buildings are shown in
Tokyo. Inside Hatties home, the infant is shown being held by her mother and father, and also
sleeping next to them. A similar scene takes place in Mari apartment with her mother breast
feeding her as a pet cat greets her in a curious way. It should be noted that Mari is breast fed

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whereas Hattie is fed by bottle. The question could be asked if this makes some nutritional
difference or perhaps psychological difference in the future.
Both infants interact with their parents in different ways. Mari is pushed in a buggy
through the park by her mother and she babbles to herself as her father entertains her using a
rattle. This indicates that her language and cognitive skills are beginning to develop. Hattie is
read to by her mother, and is also taken to what appears to be a type of exercise class for infants.
Later she is seen grabbing and sucking on her grandmothers fingers, indicating that her fine
motor skills have developed somewhat. Later on Hattie is shown at a pediatricians office being
weighed and supporting the weight of her chest and head using her arms. This indicates
significant physical development. Mari is taken to a play date by her mother where she interacts
with other infants and crawls on her belly, indicating that she too has developed physically. One
could wonder that if Maris interactions with other infants are helping her language skills
develop faster. And that if Hatties infant exercise is helping her physically develop more early
on.
More physical, cognitive and social development is show in both infants. Hattie is
shown using a baby jumper to help her physically develop more. And Mari is talked to by her
pre-school teacher and her parents, to influence social and language development. Both infants
are shown supporting thier own weight while sitting as well as gripping/throwing objects. Later
both infants are shown crawling on hands and knees and supporting more of their own weight. At
this stage the infants cry, babble and sometimes use one word sentences to communicate their
wants and needs. Hattie cries when her mother bring her into their swimming pool, it can be
assumed that this is a cry of anguish, or discomfort. And Mari is shown crying out of frustration
while playing with shapes and holes.

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It is apparent that Hatties parents seem to be more protective of her, thus shielding
her from other babies, and outside influences that may affect her development. Examples of
this are when Hatties parents tend to watch her closely and keep her away from environments
that are social. While Maris parents seem to encourage outside interaction, be it from play dates
with friends, or preschool inclusion. Other examples of this are the use of public transport as well
as public pools. The question as to which style of parenting is healthier could be asked.
More physical development takes place, as both of the infants can now stand with
support. Mari is shown celebrating her first birthday with her family, while standing on a chair
while her father helps her balance. Infants are also slightly more independent now that they can
also feed themselves some types of food, for example Hattie is shown pealing and eating a
banana. Later Mari is shown using writing utensils with some effectiveness, indicating her fine
motor skill is developing, as well as her capacity to understand concepts. Both of the infants
begin able to stand with no support, and eventually start taking their first steps, obviously
indicating physical development and enhancement of fine motor skills. Having the ability to
walk also means that they now are even more independent, and is a true achievement in growth
and development. The infants now also can recognize different sounds and respond to them
accordingly, this is shown when Hattie is playing and she hears a door open. She responds by
calling out to her parents in a curious voice. The documentary then ends with a segment in which
the now toddlers Mari and Hattie are revisited.

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Conclusions

During the first year of an infants life, many different aspects of their physical, mental,
emotional and social self are constantly developing. We this when a new born cry turns develops
an infants babbling, then into two or three word sentences, this is a cognitive and social
development. We see physical development when a baby lying prone develops the ability to
support its head, and eventually its own weight until the infant can walk. In conclusion, these
infants may be from two different corners of the globe, and may be the victim of very different
circumstances, however as demonstrated in this observation of Babies, as long as they are raised
healthily, they will go through the same developing changes. Although the nurture vs. nature
argument can dispute this.

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References

Chabat, A. (producer), & Balms, T. (director). (2010). Babies [motion picture]. France: Focus
Features.