Use screen time to teach kids about cultures, differences, says the Montreal organization

In an era of debate over whether screen time is bad for kids, a Montreal organization is urging them to watch more movies.

Why?

Jo-Ann Blouin, founder of the Montreal International Children's Film Festival (FIFEM), says it's one of the easiest ways to introduce children to different cultures and open their eyes to how diverse the world really is.

“The goal is to show children a panorama of the best things that are being done in the world, and also to open a window to the world to show them how other cultures live, how children live and how they deal with their problems,” he said. “If you see an eight-year-old boy standing in front of the big screen, and you see a child of his age in another country, but he has the same problem. He feels that I am not alone in this world. “

FIFEM, which works with Montreal schools, also hosts an annual film festival during spring break, where children are invited to vote for the film that most resonated with them by a jury.

Blouin says a child's world can be very small if their parents don't help expand it.

“When you are young, social networks are your parents, your teacher, your coach,” he says. “If we know how people live, it's easier to understand and accept each other.”

Blouin remembers showing a film of Africa to a group of children.

At one point, an old man was resting in a hammock with his bare feet hanging over the side after a walk.

“When the kids see his dusty feet, they start laughing, and I'm like, well, it's different, simple details (that make a difference),” she said.

Movies are more than just a visual medium; Blouin says it's one of the easiest ways to show and tell a story.

He says that at the 2024 edition of the Montreal International Children's Film Festival, they showed children a film featuring members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

“I think it's important to expose them to different cultures as young as possible,” she said. “Teachers love film because they can use it in geography lessons, history lessons, French lessons. They can use it in different forms, so I think the movie is easily accessible to children of all ages.”

It shows that parents should be involved in their children's lives and continue the conversation at home.

“They can discuss what they saw together,” Blouin said. It's a shared experience and that's why it's important. It's different from being alone in a room with a tablet or an iPhone with no one to talk to.”