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Kid Nation Reality Show President Carolyn Jaramillo de Montoya addresses Kid Nation Reality Show... On Wednesday, September 19, 2007 CBS will be airing Kid Nation, a children's reality show. This series follows 40 children ages 8 to 15 charged with building a town in 40 days. The location, a western movie ranch in New Mexico, is without running water or electricity. At issue is whether or not the movie company violated child labor laws by calling the experience a "camp" rather than work and if these children were endangered during the filming. The production company lists a pediatrician, child psychologist, outdoor expert, medic, kitchen manager and animal expert as being present during the filming. No parents accompanied the children, however any child who requested to leave was allowed to do so and no children were "voted off" as is the case in many adult reality series. It has been widely reported that one child was splattered in the face with grease while cooking and four other children needed medical attention after accidentally drinking bleach. Although the experience was listed as a "camp" the children were paid $5000 for the 40 days. In addition one child was selected every three days by an elected town council (of children) to win a gold star worth $20,000. Not actually having seen the program or being present during the filming it is difficult to determine the true safety issues surrounding this experience and if the children were exploited. However, it is important to raise the issue of the wisdom of allowing children to participate in any reality series and in particular one in which parents are not present. Although consent was given by the parents for their children to participate it is difficult to comprehend how children as young as eight could adequately understand what the experience entailed. Additionally the consent form signed by the parents released the production company from virtually any liability in regards to the children's health and well-being. Essentially, the contract gave the production carte blanc regarding these children. Some may argue that the experience of being completely responsible for daily activities in a less than "ideal" environment would be a character building experience for the children. I would argue that there are more appropriate ways to build character such as serving meals at a homeless shelter or participating in Habitat for Humanity(R). These kinds of projects can involve the entire family and help to develop a sense of altruism in children rather than encouraging projects which have the acquisition of money as the ultimate goal. The series has been filmed and the children who participated have returned to their normal lives. It would seem that there is not much to be done at this point. I would, however, encourage Pediatric Nurse Practitioners to watch the series and if you decide that these children were placed in danger or exploited then I encourage you to write individual emails and letters of protest to your local CBS affiliate, where you can leverage your power as a local consumer. Let me know what you hear, send me email at president@napnap.org. I can assure you that NAPNAP will be watching and responding accordingly. 
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