OK ladies I need some help. As we were eating lunch today my son turned his nose up at trying his soup. This is his normal and usually I just encourage him to try a bite at least. Anyways, this is not really the point. Today, being a long weekend I asked my boys if they realize that some kids in their school may not get lunch today. I explained how many kids at their school are on free breakfast and lunch at school and over long weekends often have to go hungry. While I was trying to explain this concept they were laughing about some video game and not really understanding what I was talking about. I need something that can show them the ugly naked truth. We love to watch documentaries together so I was hoping to find one (hopefully available on net flicks) that can show them the ugly truth about poverty and hunger in the US and around the world.
Added: My boys have been down to the local soup kitchen, and we donate On a regular basis to the Homeless shelter for children and families. I want them to get a look at the everyday lives of these people, not just a snapshot of one extreme. They have a hard time translating the idea of hunger and poverty and applying that to "normal" kids in their own school They come in contact with every day
To those who actually made recommendations, thank you for those and I will look them up and see what's available. Some of the rest of you seem to have not even bothered to read the question before responding. For those that thought this was about eating, reread the question, it never had anything to do we getting my kid to eat his lunch. I said in the very post that was not the point. For those that question my motives, or my cooking (lmao), Than why would you even bother to respond? I want my kids to have appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness for the things in their life, things that most kids in middle-class American families are no longer taught.
I have tried this , it does not work.
You can't guilt them into eating. If he won't eat , he won't eat, he's not going to starve. Save his dinner for the next time he eats and he can have it at the next meal until he eats it.
I think this is the one that B.D. mentioned http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poor-kids/
Kudos to you for thinking about this. I think I will try to watch this with my son as well.
Have you thrown away food? Do you eat every morsel on your plate? Have you let fruit spoil? I'm sure the answer is yes to all of them.
I understand and commend you for what you are trying to accomplish, however it probably won't work to the extent you want it to.
Your kids see this. They "have", they are not amongst the "have" nots, so it's very hard for them to understand the outside world.
It takes time and maturity for kids to really grow in their empathy. Feed my starving children is an organization that is wonderful. They showed a short film that was very powerful to my children. My kids were begging to go back the next day to volunteer.
Good luck
If you still read to your kids at night, I'll reach back to my old stand by.
The Long Winter by Laura Ingles Wilder. Don't tell them you are trying to teach them anything.
instead of a movie.... why not go volunteer at a soup kitchen or shelter? Even a food bank would be a good experience for your kids.
OK, I think it's awesome to teach kids that there are those that have little. It's awesome to teach them to help, and instill in them a heart of service and compassion. BUT, I don't agree with teaching them that, so they will eat a bowl of soup. They should feel guilty for having, because others have not.
As far as documentaries go, I've heard this series on PBS is very good. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/features/poverty-tour/
Oh, and I totally agree with volunteering.
I agree with Bug, your motivation is questionable.
Whether or not your kids know there are hungry kids in the country or world is not going to get your kids to eat whatever you put in front of them and be grateful. If your cooking isn't what they like they are going to hate your food.
I remember when I was a kid my mom saying there are starving kids in India. I would always reply then send them my dinner, I don't like it. That is how kids react to this.
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Oh no, I got your point, you didn't like that they were laughing and not listening to your lecture on hunger. They are kids! They react as kids do.
So long as you are the person you want them to be they will become that person but no movies, no lectures is going to drive the point home.
J.,
I appreciate what you're trying to do, and I hope you find a film or something else that will at least get them thinking.
But you probably should adjust your expectations a bit. Children learn gratitude and appreciation over time, and through experience. They are by nature self centered and short sighted which is why parents have struggled with this exact same issue for generations: these kids don't appreciate what they've got! these kids have it so easy! etc, etc.
So yes, continue to educate them and remind them how lucky they are but don't expect them to "get it" overnight. It's one thing to watch a film about hunger, it is quite another to be TRULY hungry. Get them involved in scouts or activities at church or some other organization where they can help the less fortunate in a consistent and ongoing way. My daughters did a lot of this kind of work through Girl Scouts over the years, and I can tell you it was very meaningful. The connections and realizations they made as they delivered clothing and food (that they had spent months collecting and raising money for) to kids JUST LIKE THEM was profound. The projects were much more involved than dropping off some old toys or serving some food. They had to learn about the families they were helping, where they lived, what they needed. Many of the girls were shocked at the things these kids didn't have that we all take for granted: shoes that fit, a coat that keeps you warm, pencils and paper for school.
The more involved you get your kids with these issues the more they will learn, and the more compassionate and appreciative they will be over time.
Found "Hunger Hits Home" about childhood hunger in America. It's a 42 min documentary. I found it on the Food Nework site, but you could check Netflix to see if it's on there, first.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/share-our-strength/package/ind...
The link for the actual documentary from this site is under the primary video with Rachael Ray.
So you're trying to instill gratitude and appreciation in you kids?
Like do they don't feel all entitled and demanding things for free?
You must be crazy!
(Eye roll)
There's a 4 part segment that Dr. Oz did about hunger in America, where 1 in 7 people are good insecure. You're right--lots of kids that depend on a hot school lunch didn't get theirs today. :(
You can google that series. Real people, NOT dressed in rags, using found stamps and explaining why their kids are getting a graham cracker with a bit of chocolate and a few walnuts for dinner.
Also:
http://feedingamerica.org/sitefiles/psa/src/videos.html
Is a good video and website with done ways your kids might be inspired to get involved.
It's not about forcing them to eat their lunch, it's about them knowing that many of their peers might go without every day.
Lisa Ling did a great documentary about the poverty in Appalachia but I dont remember the name-sorry.
Seems we can save the postage to India.
A lot of us have hungry neighbors.
Many look just like us.
Good for you for wanting to instill these values in your kids!
I just went to youtube and typed in hunger documentries and lots of stuff came up.
Check out the book "Material World, A Global Family Portrait" by Peter Menzel. It has photos and lists of all the material goods for different families around the world. It's astounding and ridiculous how much American families have versus other countries. It's a very good perspective on how very lucky we are.
Well some people can be snarky today huh. Anyway good for you for trying to make your kids see this perspective on life. Can you have your kids get personally involved with delivering food to a needy family or working in a food bank or something like that or even adopt a family. Something so that they get personally involved will drive home for them how fortunate they are. This might make it seem more real to them. And would bet that you are a good cook! :0)
I know Frontline (PBS) did a story a few years ago but for the life of me, I do not know what the title of the show was called. It very much showed the epidemic of which you speak. I still recall them showing a teenage at his home. He opened the refrigerator door and it was empty. Maybe try searching their site for something.
I actually don't think they would understand any more than they do, unless they were actually hungry. I mean, down to rice, carrots, water, tomato sauce, and maybe a can of kidney beans. Maybe if they hit that low in the cupboards and had to eat what was there, they would then appreciate it. Unfortunately, I don't think any of us understand what it is like, unless we are there.
My immediate thoughts were, Ann Frank, Frank McCourt, or Elie Wiezel, but it will likely give them the idea that it was "back then". However, there is nothing farther from the truth as far as the starving goes. You are on the right track by taking them to the shelters to help, eventually it will sink in.
Ted Talks might have something interesting. (www.ted.com)
I like the idea of volunteering at a soup kitchen, too.
