Canadian parents: Would you like to spend a few minutes socializing with other adults this holiday season? Help has arrived. Below is more than an hour of entertaining and thought-provoking stories you can plug kids into with a clear conscience. Deputize a child to hit “play” and “full screen,” and get thee back to the grown-up table!
* * *
How to Build an Igloo What’s the ultimate cold-weather skill? Easy—making an igloo, using only snow and a knife. This classic film demonstrates the the surprising architectural skill of two Inuit men in Canada’s far north.
* * *
The Log Driver’s Waltz In this beloved Canadian folk song, sung by Kate and Anna McGarrigle, a young girl who loves to dance chooses a log driver over more well-to-do suitors. Why? Because driving logs down the river has made him the best dancing partner to be found.
* * *
The Cat Came Back This hilarious animation is based on the 100-year-old folk song of the same name. Old Mr. Johnson makes increasingly wild attempts to get rid of a little yellow cat. (Spoiler alert: It just wouldn’t stay away.) The National Film Board of Canada sing-along won the 1989 Genie Award for best animated short film.
* * *
The Black Hole What would you do if you found a black hole the size of a dinner plate? To a sleep-deprived office worker, the possibilities seem endless. Will greed get the better of him? Check out this award-winning Canadian short film.
* * *
Peep and the Big Wide World The first of a series of Canadian films to feature Peep the Chicken, Chirp the Robin, and Quack the Duck. On their travels, they meet a cat, a ladybug, a turtle and a frog. Narrated by Peter Ustinov, these films are great for young children aged 3–5.
* * *
How Do They Make Potato Chips? Every kid loves potato chips. And they’ll love to learn how they’re made. (Bet you can’t watch this video just once.)
* * *
How its Made: Bowling Balls Don’t tell us you’ve never thought about how bowling balls are made. Take a look. We bet you’ll be bowled over!
* * *
How its Made: Chains An absorbing look at the big industrial machines that shape steel and create the chains we use every day.
* * *
