5 of the Best Educational Christmas Films

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without hours of good old-fashioned TV watching. Settling down on the sofa and putting on a festive film is a break from cooking, present-prepping, school work, and the usual family squabbles.

And while learning might be the last thing on anyone's mind, you can use this time to keep topping up your students knowledge - while still getting your well-deserved holiday chill time.

So, when you're sitting back and letting Christmas entertainment wash over you, try chipping in with these surprisingly educational Christmas films.

1. Home Alone (1990)

Not a Christmas goes by without at least one - or 4 - of the Home Alone films gracing our screens. How could Macaulay Culkins' parents leave him behind that many times?! That's a question for another day. If you've seen any of the franchise, you'll remember that our child protagonist Kevin is a master of setting traps for escaping from baddies.

2. Elf (2003)

Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn't fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father.

3. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

It's a fun film with a serious message. Of all the dramatisations of the Dickens original, this Muppets 1992 version is the truest to the original text. As you watch the muppets breaking into song and the great Michael Kane performs, see if your teen can talk about how the Victorian family is shown in the film.

4. The Grinch (2000)

Is the Grinch really to blame for stealing Xmas? Sure, it was his idea to ransack Whoville and he executed his devious plan perfectly (and with style!). But the Whos have not always been the most welcoming. In school, they bullied the Grinch for being different and even humiliated him during a secret Santa gift exchange.

5. The Polar Express (2005)

An inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

There you have it! Who knew that Christmas TV could teach you so much. That's our round up of the best educational Christmas films out there.