August.
PBS presents Touchpoints, a three-part series on child development. The series, hosted by renowned pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, follows 12 real families as they raise their children from birth to “toddlerhood.” It describes the normal stages of child development, touching on such topics as sleep, feeding, discipline, and toilet training. The series is slated to run in August, but air dates and times vary by location. Check local listings.
August 1.
Turner Broadcasting System’s Network Earth airs “The Last Battle of Vietnam.” The show examines the environmental impact the Vietnam War had on that country. Among other things, scientists look at how Agent Orange, a highly toxic herbicide sprayed as a jungle defoliant during the war, has damaged both the land and the people. The half-hour special airs at 11 p.m. (EDT).
August 26.
PBS premiers Legacy, a series that examines the rise of Western and Eastern urban civilization. Host and writer Michael Woods travels back in time to show how the institutions that arose with urban civilization 5,000 years ago still affect the politics and culture of many parts of the world today, including the Middle East, China, India, and Central America. The series, shot on location in 14 countries on four continents, airs on Thursdays through September. Check local listings for times.