Film festivals aren’t just for grown-ups

Foreign films are an ideal way to introduce your child to a world outside their own. At the TIFFKids International Children’s Festival (morphed this year from the Sprockets Film Festival), special readers will even deliver dialogue so less confident readers won’t sweat over reading subtitles. 

Seeing films from other parts of the world creates many opportunities for discussion with your kids, says Elizabeth Muskala, Director of TIFFKids. “You can use film as a tea ching tool. Young people can see that children everywhere experience so many similar issues – bullying, coming of age, family issues. It provides a special opportunity for parents and educators to have a dialogue with kids.” TIFF Kids runs April 10-22 in Toronto. For details visit Tiff.net/tiffkids.

• Saskatchewan International Youth Film Festival, Saskatoon, May 2012. Flicksfilmfest.org 
• Montreal International Children’s Film Festival, during March Break. Fifem.com

Originally published in ParentsCanada, April 2012