Television Reviews : Ecology Show Focuses on Untapped Resource: Kids

Kids have a big stake in the future of the planet--it’s going to be theirs in a few years--so a primer in Earth stewardship seems entirely appropriate, in the wake of Earth Day. That’s what KCET Channel 28 offers in “Kid’s Eye View of Ecology” at 2 p.m. today.

Host for the cheery documentary is Hollywood songwriter-entertainer-environmentalist Michael Mish, who has long maintained that “kids are our greatest untapped resource.” With three young companions (Michaela Beckworth, Caitlin Mchaffey and Damion Stevens), Mish leads a half-hour trek through environmental problems and solutions, including a recycling center tour, a tree-planting session and an inventory of the household environmental evils lurking in an innocent kitchen.

The KCET co-produced documentary, interwoven with animation and special effects, is loaded with helpful information (although aerosol cans get an unfair bad rap) made even more palatable by Mish’s own upbeat songs.

Its message is empowerment. “Love the planet just like you would your best friend,” summarizes Mish, and a final list of 25 things to do that help the environment (“Use both sides of a piece of paper”) emphasizes that even little kids can make a difference.