Young Children in Brief Separation, the Series

Young Children in Brief Separation is a classic five-film series produced by James and Joyce Robertson on the responses of healthy young children to separation from their mothers.

The Robertsons observed in detail the behavior of five children, ages 1 to 2, whose mothers were hospitalized for 9 to 27 days for the birth of a new baby.

John, age 17 months, was placed by his family in a residential nursery where his mothering needs were not met. The non-verbal cues he offered for attention were not understood by the nine nurses who changed frequently. In an institutional setting which imposed many stresses in addition to the separation from his mother, John became overwhelmed by despair, and when he was reunited with his mother, he rejected her.

Jane, Lucy, Thomas, and Kate were cared for in the Robertson family home by a fully available foster mother (Joyce Robertson) and in contrast to John they did not become acutely distressed. They were held in a state of 'manageable anxiety' and returned to their mother with pleasure and warmth.

Each film is a complete study and may be used on its own. The films, as a series, compliment each other by showing how the young child's ability to cope with separation from the mother is affected by age and by the level of maturity, the parent-child relationship and the quality of substitute care.

Filmed between 1967 and 1971 (in black and white) by James Robertson. This item is authorized for US sales only.

Five-film series includes:

Young Children in Brief Separation: John, 17 months, Nine Days in a Residential Nursery
Young Children in Brief Separation: Jane, 17 months, in Foster Care for 10 days
Young Children in Brief Separation: Lucy, 21 months, in Foster Care for 19 days
Young Children in Brief Separation: Thomas, 2 yrs and 4 months, in Foster Care for 10 days
Young Children in Brief Separation: Kate, 2 yrs and 5 months, in Foster Care for 27 days

More information is available on robertsonfilms.info.

Available As: 5 DVDs with 2 booklets
Produced By: James and Joyce Robertson
Running Time: 182 minutes