Use screen time pointedly to educate kids about diverse cultures, different families, says Montreal organization
In the era of debate over whether screen time is bad for children, one Montreal organization is actually encouraging them to watch more films.
Why?
Montreal International Children's Film Festival (FIFEM) Founder Jo-Anne Blouin says it's one of the easiest ways to expose children to different cultures and open their eyes to how diverse the world truly is.
"The goal is to show kids a panorama of the best of what's being done around the world, but also open a window on the world to show them how other cultures live, how the kids live, how they deal with their problems," she said. "When you have an eight-year-old in front of a big screen, and you see a kid his age in another country, but he has the same problem. He feels that, OK, I'm not alone in the world."
FIFEM, which works with schools across Montreal, also holds an annual film festival during spring break in which a children's jury is invited to vote on the movie that touched them the most.
Blouin points out that a kid's world can be quite small if their parents don't help them expand it.
"When you're a kid, your social network is your parents, your teacher, your coach," she said. "If we know how people live, then it's easier to understand each other and accept each other."
Blouin recalls showing a group of children a film from Africa.
At one point, an older man rests in a hammock with his bare feet hanging over the side after having walked around.
"When the kids saw his feet, that were dusty, they started laughing, I was like OK, it's the different, simple details like this [that make a difference]," she said.
Films are not only a visual medium; Blouin says they are one of the easiest ways to show and tell a story.
She points out that at the 2024 edition of the Montreal International Children's Film Festival, they showed the children a movie depicting members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
"I think that it's important to show them different cultures as young as possible," she said. "Teachers love cinema because they can use it in geography, in history classes, in French classes. They can use it in many forms, so that's why I think that cinema is easier to reach out to kids at any age."
She points out it's up to parents to participate in their children's lives and continue the conversation at home.
"They can discuss what they've seen together," Blouin said. It's a shared experience, and that's why it's important. It's different from being alone with your tablet or your iPhone in your room alone, not talking to anybody."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Baby and grandparents killed in wrong-way crash involving police on Ontario's Highway 401
An infant and the child's grandparents – aged 55 and 60 – were all killed when a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 in Whitby, Ont. caused a crash involving at least six vehicles, the Special Investigations Unit says. The driver of the suspect vehicle also died.
Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
This is how many dentists have actually signed up for Canada's new free dental program
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a east London suburb early Tuesday, killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring four others, authorities said.
Police searching for 'armed man' in Dartmouth, N.S., residents asked to shelter in place
Residents in the area of Gaston Road in Dartmouth, N.S., are being asked to shelter in place as police search for an armed suspect.