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3 great history films you can watch with your kids

History
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Written by Tim Barnes-Clay

From the French Revolution to Hitler, these history films are a must-watch with the kids to help educate them.

They say if you don’t know where you came from, then you most probably don’t know where you are headed.

As parents, this means we all have a duty to ensure that we play a part in teaching our kids where we came from, as humans, as a race, as a religion and as a family. Sometimes though, reciting history may not be the best way to inform them of our (and their) past. Which is where we can make use of history films to teach our kids something about their past.

Here are three must-watch history films for kids. Remember, though, that this list isn’t exhaustive and for more inspiration, you have to visit this site.

Inherit the Wind (1960)

Inherit the Wind is a great historical film for parents who want to teach their children about the origin of human beings. It’s no secret that at some point (if it’s already not now), your child will come across text by Charles Darwin and the evolution of man. Such text will cause all sorts of confusion in your child’s mind as to the origin of mankind.

However, when you get your hands on the 1960 Inherit the Wind, you will give your child the perfect answer to any confusing questions and thoughts he might have. This is because the film puts two of mankind’s origin theories to test. Charles Darwin’s evolution of mankind is put to a test whilst the biblical theory is also put to a test. In the end, after some observations, the most believable theory will be exposed hence your child will know which to believe and which to discard.

Danton (1983)

Many historians believe that the world we live in right now was shaped to a larger extent by events that happened in France during the French Revolution of 1789-99. The ideas that were born out of the revolution of equality, liberty and fraternity are the ideas which still shape the world to this day. As such, in order to ensure that your child knows what the French Revolution is all about, how it started, the chief characters at the time, and how it subsequently changed the world, you have to get your hands on Danton.

Downfall (2004)

In 2004, Downfall was released. The film follows the life of a man by the name Hitler. Well, anyone who does history at school will most probably come across this man. Hitler was a German dictator who so hated the Jews that it led him to initiate a genocide against the Jews living in Germany.

Hitler was also ambitious, such that he dreamed of ruling the entire world. His nature was a threat to the world order and his actions influenced by his desires led to the Second World War. When you watch Downfall with your little ones, you will get to see how Hitler rose and how he subsequently failed in the process, also learning the dangers of being overly-ambitious.