I Am Your Child

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I Am Your Child
I Am Your Child poster - Rob Reiner.jpg
Directed by Rob Reiner
Written byRob Reiner
Produced by
Production
company
American Broadcasting Company
Distributed by American Broadcasting Company
Release date
  • April 28, 1997 (1997-04-28)(United States) [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

I Am Your Child is a television film and partial documentary directed by Rob Reiner and distributed by the American Broadcasting Company. It is about the importance of early childhood development, and features an ensemble cast of guest appearances, while Tom Hanks hosted the programme. It was supported by a campaign launched in the White House for childhood development.

Contents

Premise

The film blends comedic skits featuring the guest cast in fictional scenarios depending on how their early childhood development affected them, and a documentary film interviewing three families in Hampton, Virginia who have benefitted from government funding of childhood development programs.

Cast

Production

Rob Reiner directed, produced, and wrote the film, [2] while his wife Michele Singer Reiner co-produced it. [3] Rob Reiner became interested in the influence early childhood development had on a person and the "nature versus nurture" debate in the 1980s. [1] Tom Hanks joined as the host of the television documentary film, and Barry Manilow composed the theme song, "I Am Your Child". [1] It was distributed by the American Broadcasting Company. [3]

The film was also supported with a campaign of the same name. The campaign was launched at a conference in the White House in mid-April 1997, and was headed by Rob and Michele Reiner. It aimed to bring attention to the importance of early childhood development, and was supported by research from a 1994 report by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. [4]

Release

The film premiered on the American Broadcasting Company on April 28, 1997. [1] [4]

Reception

Hal Boedeker for Orlando Sentinel criticized the film for its disorganized structure and choice of segments, particularly its use of real-life stories mixed in with skits featuring prominent celebrities. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gill, Suzanne (April 26, 1997). "'I Am Your Child' shows how you can make a difference". Florence Morning News . p. 29. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Tonight's TV highlights". Knight Ridder . Lancaster New Era. April 28, 1997. p. B6. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Boedeker, Hal (April 26, 1997). "'I Am Your Child' more irritating than englightening". Orlando Sentinel . The St. Augustine Record. p. 5C. Archived from the original on January 27, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "National campaign calls attention to how children develop". Tulsa World . April 28, 1997. p. 11. Archived from the original on January 27, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
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