Visual learning is a cornerstone of education, and films bring this concept to life. Films have emerged as a powerful tool not just for entertainment but also for education. Children, with their natural curiosity and love for visuals, find films to be an engaging medium that can make learning a delightful experience.
According to a study, visuals in educational materials can improve learning outcomes by up to 400%. For children, who are still developing language and cognitive skills, the visual appeal of films becomes a powerful tool for conveying complex concepts in a digestible manner.
Take for example, the movie Inside Out is celebrated not only for its narrative structure but also for its emotions and human connection, portraying moral beauty through acts of compassion, kindness, forgiveness, gratitude, love, bravery and self-sacrifice.
How do Films Impact Children?
These are the four meaningful ways in which film stories impact children, delving into their social intelligence, opportunities for experiencing moral beauty, gaining insights about life and drawing inspiration for resilience.
- Fueling Social Intelligence: Children engaged with films, navigating the feelings, motives and behaviours of characters, enhancing their social intelligence including an awareness of the motives and feelings of others, fostering empathy.
- Opportunities for Experiencing Moral Beauty: Films provide children with moments of moral beauty, where acts of compassion, kindness, love and bravery resonate with them. Acts of self-sacrifice can be perceived as beautiful, further emphasising the importance of understanding motives and experiencing mixed emotions.
- Gaining Insights About Life: Children, while watching the film, follow the journey of the protagonist and gain insights parallel to hers. The significance of emotions like fulfillment and sadness become a shared revelation for the children, highlighting the collaborative nature of emotions for a fulfilling life.
- Inspiring Resilience: Children admired the perseverance of the protagonist, finding inspiration in the determination of the character, inspiring them to never give up in their own lives.
Overall, films serve as an accelerated pathway for children to gain life experience and wisdom. To facilitate this learning, parents or guardians can engage children with open-ended questions, encouraging them to explore the emotions and behaviours of characters, reflect on challenging aspects of the story, appreciate acts of moral beauty and draw lessons to inspire resilience.
In conclusion, movies offer more than entertainment- they become a powerful medium for children to navigate complex emotions, encounter moral beauty, glean life lessons and find inspiration for resilience on their journey of growth.
Smile Foundation’s 10th Edition of SIFFCY: Films for Children
The Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY) is gearing up for its monumental 10th edition, set to captivate audiences from April 9th to 15th, 2024. This year, the festival takes a unique approach by embracing a hybrid model, ensuring that the magic of cinema reaches every nook and corner of India. The festival promises an unforgettable week of cinematic excellence, combining physical screenings with virtual accessibility.
SIFFCY’s 10th edition is designed to be inclusive and audience-friendly, with a hybrid model that transcends geographical boundaries. While the PHD House on Khelgaon Marg, New Delhi, takes center stage for major events like the opening and award ceremony, the festival will simultaneously unfold in 100 locations across India. This approach ensures that children and youth from diverse backgrounds can partake in the cinematic extravaganza.
The 10th edition boasts a diverse lineup of films, carefully curated to cater to the varied tastes of young audiences. From animated adventures to impactful documentaries, the festival promises an engaging and enriching cinematic experience. The detailed programme, schedule and agenda for the week-long celebration will be shared soon, building anticipation for an unforgettable cinematic journey.
Get ready for a week of cinematic magic with Smile Foundation that knows no limits!
