I Am Watching Kids’ Movies To Renew The Joy I’ve Lost. Here’s What I Learned Instead.

Scenes from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," "The Wizard of Oz," "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins."

Like most activities with my kids, watching old movies together wasn’t planned. Our first, “The Wizard of Oz,” was the byproduct of my daughter becoming obsessed with the “Wicked” soundtrack. I’d play the album in the car when I missed my mom (she loved musicals), and my daughter eventually began singing along, pausing occasionally to ask questions about Elphaba and her character...