Great documentaries educate us and sometimes even inspire us to take action. Here are five docs for your little eco-warriors:
1. Arctic Tale (2007)
This National Geographic film follows a polar bear cub and a walrus pup as they grow into powerful adults, all the while showing the audience how tough things are in the Arctic now that the ice is melting. You had us at polar bear cub. But seriously, the idea that the Arctic home of all these amazing animals is in trouble is very scary. Think of the polar bears and walruses that could be saved if kids today grow up to be better caretakers of the planet than we are?
Chimpanzee follows an adorable baby chimp named Oscar
Chimpanzee opens next week, but if you’re in Toronto, you can see it now as part of TIFF Kids. We’re sworn to secrecy until April 20, but we can tell you we’re sort of in love with little Oscar. There are a few scary parts, so use your best parenting instincts to determine if this is a good fit for your kids. Are other Disney movies way too scary? Maybe wait for the DVD. Is your family super into the zoo and Discovery Channel? Get yourselves to the movies next week!
I played hookie from school and went to the zoo with George and Junior. We figured Owen would get a kick out of seeing the animals since he loves our cats so much. His first word was ‘cat’ after all.. Luckily for the animals, they would be out of his reach so he couldn’t get pull-y with their tails like he does with our poor and patient cats.
We envisioned Owen staring at each creature with mouth agape but that’s not exactly what happened. Sure Owen looked at some animals. He even waved at a few. But he’s 17 months old and waves to the toilet paper butt bears on commercials. If George and I were honest with ourselves, that trip to the zoo was for us. Read more...
Joanna Goldbergsends communiqués from Kenya, where she’s living with her kid
I’ve been trying to raise Cameron as a lover of all life forms since day one. So far, I believe I’m succeeding. She’ll report to me if she sees kids purposely stepping on ants. She’s told off any number of class mates for poking the chickens in the school playground (this is Nairobi, remember) with sticks. She isn’t afraid of any insects apart from daddy long-legs and picks up everything from worms and spiders to moths and beetles. In fact, I caught her cuddling and – eek – kissing a worm before. We’re vegetarians, of course, and since she was old enough to talk she’s been declaring “We don’t eat meat. We be nice to animals!” But living in Kenya with Cameron has brought her appreciation of creatures big and small to a new level, enabling close encounters with everything from echinoderms to ungulates.Read more...
Joanna Goldbergsends biweekly communiqués from Kenya, where she’s living with her kid
The rough life of a volunteer on the front lines of international development sometimes involves some harsh sacrifices. Like going to a posh, award-winning eco-lodge surrounded by stunning vistas and amazing wildlife for the weekend, for instance.
Il Ngwesi Lodge is Kenya’s only lodge both owned and operated by the Maasai community. It costs about $350 a night per person. I believe Will and Kate visited once or twice. It’s a place I wouldn’t dream of being able to visit on my meagre allowance, but a fellow VSO volunteer works for Il Ngwesi and invited about 20 of us to take over the lodge for the weekend at a fraction of the regular cost. Finally, my daughter Cameron would have her chance to have a jumping competition with those who really put their heart into it. Read more...
Parent-kid movie critic teams review the latest flicks
Check out the review after the trailer
So what Colin and Ella think of the orphaned baby orangutans and elephants documentary?
Want to be considered to film your own Big Thumb Little Thumb and take your kid to a fancy media screening of an upcoming movie? Email meghan@bunchfamily.ca
