12 documentaries to inspire and entertain your bright child
It’s the kind of guilt-free screen time we all need right now
By Katy Bowman
Those of us who are still spending much of our school, work, and down time at home may find ourselves pining for, to quote Princess Jasmine from Disney’s Aladdin, “something more beyond these palace walls.”
And as the nights get longer and weather gets colder, families will be searching for ways to pass the time indoors while keeping kids connected to the real world. Documentaries — nonfiction stories told through film — can be an enlightening solution for bright kids, who commonly exhibit traits like empathy, insatiable curiosity, and a heightened sense of morality and justice. Like magic carpet rides, these films can show us the world, wonder by wonder — all from the comfort of our couch.
“Documentaries can help children discover new aspects of the world, of nature, and of the universe,” said Andreas Anestis, a biologist, filmmaker, and professor who has taught The Art and Science of Filmmaking at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) for several summers. “Children can go beyond reading about events; they can also see them, see the real places, even see and hear from people that participated in these events.”
Stephanie Mastrostefano, who has also taught film and media courses at CTY and the University of Oregon for several years, said these narratives can help us make clear connections between information and its applications in the world.
“Documentaries have the potential to give voices to communities that are otherwise unheard, and to allow children to see spaces they wouldn’t typically get to see,” she said.
Luckily, there’s a growing menu of family friendly documentaries available through streaming services like Amazon, Disney+, Hulu, and Netfix that can provide the nourishing blend of education, entertainment, and escapism we all so badly need right now. Here are some favorite films for bright kids and their families, along with recommended viewing ages from Common Sense Media.
Apollo 11 (2019)
Rated G, recommended for ages 5+
Previously unreleased audio and stunning video footage from the 1969 space flight and moon landing has been unearthed and restored to help young viewers experience this thrilling, groundbreaking event for the first time.
Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World (2015)
Rated PG, recommended for ages 7+
Kids who dig superheroes will fall for this film about San Francisco residents who work together to make a 5-year-old leukemia survivor’s dream come true. Anestis calls it “a hymn to humanism and the great potential of our species.”
He Named Me Malala (2015)
Rated PG-13, recommended for ages 12+
Malala Yousafzai, a human rights activist and Nobel Prize winner from Pakistan who has spent much of her young life advocating for educational equality, is the subject of this gripping portrait of triumph over tragedy.
Hoop Dreams (1994)
Rated PG-13, recommended for ages 13+
This film, which tops the International Documentary Association’s list of the best documentaries of all time, follows two Chicago teens who dream of playing professional basketball. It’s an exploration of race, class, passion, and perseverance that will keep the whole family’s hearts pounding until the last buzzer.
Jane (2017)
Not rated, recommended for ages 8+
Young animal lovers and budding scientists will be mesmerized by the never-before-seen footage of famed primatologist Jane Goodall working with chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park in the 1960s.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2012)
Rated PG, recommended for ages 11+
Jiro Ono, who rose from poverty to become a world-renowned Tokyo sushi chef, is the subject of this subtitled story that will ignite in youngsters an appreciation for the art and power of cooking.
Living on One Dollar (2013)
Not rated, recommended for ages 10+
Four college students set out to live on $1 per day to experience life in poverty-stricken rural Guatemala, in this film that will spark empathy and a call to action in viewers young and old.
Mad Hot Ballroom (2005)
Rated PG, recommended for ages 8+
This lively film will sweep kids off their feet as it follows a group of New York City fifth-graders who experience the highs and lows of performing in a citywide ballroom-dancing competition.
The Pixar Story (2007)
Rated G, (Common Sense age recommendation not available)
Artists and dreamers will love following along behind the scenes, from the drawing board to the board room, during the early days of Pixar Animation Studios, the launchpad for beloved family films like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Incredibles. Mastrostefano calls it “a traditional story of closed doors, missed opportunities, and the value of hard work and perseverance.”
Science Fair (2018)
Rated PG, recommended for ages 8+
Bright teens might literally (or figuratively) see themselves in this film about high school students from around the world who converge to compete for prizes and prestige at the 2017 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Their incredible projects will educate young viewers about the scientific method and may even inspire them to commence their own research.
Spellbound (2002)
Rated G, recommended for ages 8+
Reading the dictionary takes on an intensity level rivaling any sporting event as eight American kids from diverse backgrounds hit the books to prep for the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Winged Migration (2001)
Rated G, recommended for ages 7+
Outdoorsy kids will delight in this film which takes viewers along for the ride as birds from all seven continents embark upon on their spectacular annual quests for warmer surroundings. Anestis calls it “an introduction to the incredible beauty of the world, unprocessed, with only sunlight and nature being the art designers and cinematographers.”
Want to recommend a family favorite documentary that’s not on our list? Leave a comment below!
