vanZutphen 1

Liliana vanZutphen
Dr. Berry
AP Literature
11 December 2018
Ted Talk Outline
I. Introduction
A. Open up with story that my mom shared with me about two sisters (5, 7) that were
locked in a RV trailer while their parents left for weeks at a time to cook meth,
leaving them with nothing but a drawer full of uncooked pasta. When they were
found, they acted as ferrell children with no psychological or social development.
They crawled as well, which shows the lack of development in these kids all
together.
1. This made me ask what was lacking in this environment that made these
kids act this way
a) Why is this topic important? Because children are the future of this
world, we want them to be as great as they can be, so our future
can be great, to have them reach their full potential
II. Artifacts
A. Artifact 1- The National Article
1. First five years of child development are most important because this is
when they learn appropriate behavior, boundaries, empathy and other
important social skills (mold them)
a) Crucial to development of social skills, personality, cognitive
skills, thinking skills, decision-making, ability to concentrate and
behavior
2. Technology is replacing human interaction (Dr. Madeleine Portwood- 25
yrs educational psychologist)
a) Kids need interaction and engagement with their parents and also
with other children (helps a lot to be exposed to many different
types of people- diversity)
(1) Learn social skills and social “norms”
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b) Rather play on iPad than to to a playground

(1) Motor/movement skills deteriorating (unathletic)
B. Artifact 2- Room, by Emma Donoghue
1. Explored a story that portrayed a similar environment as this story
2. Limited resources for the child, one room, isolated from the rest of the
world, lacking almost everything
a) Differences and improvements: one parent (dedicated and loving
and supportive) around all the time, able to teach and homeschool
Jack about the world so he had some understanding, also practiced
a “normal” lifestyle.
3. What was lacking in this new, improved environment? - nature
4. These artifacts= human interaction and support systems are necessary in a
child’s environment
C. Artifact 3- Candy Cigarette, Sally Mann photograph
1. She photographed her children playing in the nude in nature all around
their summer house in Virginia
a) Her images have a very raw and natural look: nude children
playing in elements of nature (river, trees, etc.)
(1) Kids liked it, could run freely as they are supposed to be
b) Shows the curiosity and urge to run around and explore of children
2. In this particular photograph, the postures, attitudes and facial expressions
portrays a message that they have matured and grown up
a) When looking at the big picture, all kids current day, it depicted an
entire generation, too eager to grow up quickly in our current
world of an ever-accelerating change
(1) This artifact speaks to the nature of how kids learn, by
mimicking adults and people around them,
(2) Kids are good observers- learn by observing and copying
b) The malleability of children's minds is incredible and before they
are old enough to start developing their own opinions, the are susceptible
to learn and copy what they see in their environments when growing up,
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which is a reason to why we should make sure they are the best
environments they can be
3. Children’s developing minds= 1 in 5 children have learning problems…
how can we help this? nature
D. Artifact 4- The Cleanest Line
1. Look more into how nature can positively affect a child as they grow up
2. Found a program called the Great Pacific Child Development Center
a) Here infants and children spend their days crawling, running,
climbing and exploring, mostly outdoors, while their parents work
3. Why immerse kids in nature as much as possible?
a) Raising kids with nature causes them to appreciate and care for the
Earth later in their lives and futures
b) Outdoor classrooms, gardens, play structures using nature and
many other fun advancements for the kids to be able to be outdoors
and run free as they please, like Sally Mann’s kids
c) Molds them to be stewards of the planet in the future
4. Positive effects of nature:
a) Kids calmer, happier, more focused, release energy
b) Improves motor development (Studies in scandinavian countries)
c) Helps kids relax (amsterdam study)
5. These artifacts= nature is necessary in a child’s environment
E. Artifact 5- Captain Fantastic
1. These kids, who grew up and lived in the middle of a forest, surrounded
by nothing but nature
a) Had way better skills physically
2. Strong parenting and homeschooling
a) Supportive parents, taught well with no biases, introduced them to
all books and works in history so they were smart and had well
developed opinions and minds
(1) Example- Bill of Rights scene
b) Engaged with children
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(1) No technology (extremely, limited)

3. Lack: Social skills, knowledge of social norms
a) They grew up in an environment that lacked people other than their
family, so an adjustment that could be made when perfecting this
environment would be to make it more diverse
b) Example - Bo proposing to Claire after knowing each other for
only an hour or two
F. Artifact 6- Perfect Little World
1. Ten single child families united forces and lived together, collectively
raising all of their children together as their own
a) Lived in a forest surrounded by nature
2. Good support system for the children
a) Lot of kids, family, friends
b) Kids feel safe, secure and supported
3. Brought diversity into this environment
4. Engaged with kids a lot
5. These artifacts= lots of people, other kids (diversity people-wise and
learning-wise) in a child’s environment; no biases would be ideal but not
likely
III. Conclusion
A. Name top three elements that play a big part in the development of kids and their
minds
1. Recap on each
2. End with a Billy Graham quote
a) Children will become into the person they are naturally on their
own… we can only help guide the way by providing a good
foundation for them
3. Thank you