Documentaries Can Offer Perfect Blend of Learning and Fun

      Taking school-aged kids to see a documentary mixes the fun of going to the movies with powerful learning opportunities.  As Vlatko, proprietor of the website Top Documentary Films, says, “gaining knowledge through several senses simultaneously is better than through just one. So, educating through watching educational videos, in this case documentaries, is really a total different experience than educating only on books.” 

            Perhaps the most commonly known brand of family-friendly documentaries is the IMAX dome (or Omnimax) movie, that delightful but sometimes overwhelming movie-going experiences in which the film is projected onto the inside of a huge dome.  From deep seas to deep space, from Everest to the Grand Canyon, these productions have been bringing the wonders of science and exploration to viewers for decades.  (This summer, Cleveland-area readers can check out IMAX films on the Hubble telescope and on sea life at the Great Lakes Science Center.)

            But Omnimax films aren’t the only documentaries available to share with young people.  A recent screening of Waking Sleeping Beauty at the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Cinematheque reminded me that family friendly documentaries are available in a variety of venues if you’re willing to dig a little.  Waking Sleeping Beauty, which is playing now through July 9, 2010, at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, offers a fascinating look behind the scenes at Disney’s animated films operation.  Directed by Donald Hahn, producer of such blockbuster animation classics as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, Waking Sleeping Beauty offers parents of upper elementary through high school-age kids easy bait for the documentary hook:  “Want to see how a Disney movie is made?”  Once they bite, kids will not only get a fascinating introduction to the history of animation and to the people who created some of their favorite animated classics, but for those who are interested, the film also offers valuable insights into the way that overinflated egos can threaten the vitality of even the most successful teams.

            As is the case with feature films, of course, not every documentary is appropriate for young people, and parents should do their homework beforehand.

            So, where, outside of IMAX films and the occasional nature doc that hits the commercial cinemas, do you find good documentaries in your area?  Museums, as well as colleges and universities, often screen films not readily available in theaters. 

            I invite readers to share experiences of taking young people to documentaries or recommendations of family friendly docs.

            Thanks, and have a great day!

            Tim