Inside: Netflix documentaries to watch with teens that will leave you thinking.
I don’t know about you, but very little in this life leaves me feeling as inspired as a documentary does. I wish I had watched more of them as I was growing up because they are so informational and entertaining at the same time.
Because of this thought process, I want to help my little sister not to feel the same way I feel now. So I have been creating a list of the best documentaries to watch when hanging out with teens. My goal is to watch every single one of these with her this year.
I made the list small because each of these movies will literally change your life. Whether it be the way that you think about yourself, your social media, our planet, what you eat, or what you can do…these documentaries cover it all.
The Benefits of Documentaries
Documentaries can have a profound impact on our society, but on a smaller level they end up having massive impacts on us as well. This is why it’s super important to show your teens documentaries at an earlier age, because there are so many benefits that come with it. According to this article,
Not only do documentaries provide an opportunity to understand and connect with the world, they are also a great way to gather together with friends to watch and engage around the important issues of our times. Watching more documentaries is important, but talking about them together in person is equally important.
This is a great opportunity to sit and connect with your children about what is going on in their minds, and this world. So when you are done, talk with them about what you watched and what it means to them.
Ready to change the world? Start with these.
Life-Changing Netflix Documentaries to Watch with Teens
A documentary can absolutely change your life. Documentaries are like concentrated little informational videos that are meant to inspire. They can actually keep teens engaged, and make some real changes to the way they think and live their life. Because of this, it’s important to choose good documentaries.
The list below are a great place to start:
1. The Social DilemmaÂ
This is one that I actually first watched because it was the assigned homework in a Psychology class I was taking. Let me tell you; it blew my mind.
This movie follows creators of some of the biggest social media platforms as they discuss the lasting impact that these sites will have on our brains. They talk about the manipulative nature of ads and how they are so personalized and geared towards the goal of getting either your time or your money.
Honestly, if there is one movie that you watch on this list, it needs to be this one. This is especially true if you are watching with teens because they are subjected to Social media in a way that the older generation is not. You need to watch this!
2. BecomingÂ
This documentary follows Michelle Obama as she tours her new book Becoming. This movie helped open my eyes in so many ways. It follows the theme that her book surrounds and goes in depth in ways I never would have expected. According to her website,Â
In her memoir, now available in paperback and as a Young Readers edition, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
I left this movie feeling so inspired. I tried to shorten the description of this book, but it was so inspiring that I had to leave every word of the synopsis.
3. A Life On Our Planet Our Planet
This documentary follows David Attenborough as he discusses how he has spent time nearly all around the world. He talks about the beauty of nature, and how deeply the human race has impacted it.
This is a pretty heavy one, but I think that now is a more important time than ever to get educated on the state our planet is in. If you want to do so, start here.
4. Kiss The Ground
Another Documentary dedicated to our worsening planet, Kiss the Ground dives deep into our stripped soils and how they affect the way we live. They also discuss what we can do to start turning things around.
5. Take Your Pills
This is a wonderful look on the pill problem that the youth today faces in America. These drugs are readily available and most of the time PUSHED into the hands of teens.
I think this is an important one to discuss because it is informing your teens about the dangers these drugs face early on.
6. Brene Brown A Call To Courage
I am such a big fan of Brene Brown. I love watching her ted talks and I have read all her books. I cannot encourage you enough to sit down and watch this documentary with your teens.
She discusses the courage that it takes to be yourself in today’s society and how being vulnerable is the bravest thing that you can do.
7. What the Health
Okay, watch this one if you want your world to be ROCKED. What the health follows Kip Anderson as he uncovers insane health truths about the food we eat today. He also discusses how we can use food to treat many diseases that are considered to be chronic.
I was assigned this one in a health class that I took, and it has shaped the way I consume products in my everyday life. This is an important one to watch.
I promise you that these movies have the power to change your life. At the very least, they are going to shift your perspective of the world around you. I hope you enjoyed this list of the best documentaries to watch with teens. My hope is that not only will they enjoy and learn from them, but you will as well.
Sometimes, the hardest part about making change is the fact that we don’t know any better. As parents, I am sure that you are striving to help your teens live long and healthy life. Helping them become aware of their habits and the world around them at such a young age can definitely help with that.
These documentaries changed my life, and I know they will do the same for you. If you want to open your mind up about some more things in this world, then you need to check out this list of some more documentaries that I did not mention in this article.
I am Natalie, the eldest sister of two teens. I hope to bring not only a fresh outer perspective but an internal one as well when writing here.