While you are locked up with your teenager day after day after day after day after day (after day), you can run out of things to occupy your time. Could there be a more perfect solution than family movie night?! But what movies are both entertaining and yet provide an opportunity for you to discuss important issues with your child. …
Family Time Movie Theater: 13 Reasons Why
Drama: This video series, based on a best-selling teen novel, is the story of a 17 year old girl who commits suicide and leaves 13 tapes for each of the people who contributed to her decision to commit suicide. There are 13 episodes, one for each tape. Everyone is talking about this series; kids because they love it, adults because they …
Thirteen Things To Talk To Your Teens About 13 Reasons Why: Introduction
[Note: It has recently come to light that the author of the book this video series was based on has been expelled from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for violation of their harassment policy as reported by Deadline.] In 2007, Jay Asher wrote 13 Reasons Why about a teenage girl who committed suicide but not before leaving 13 …
Family Time Movie Theater: Girls Who Are Tough, Boys Who Are Sensitive
Movies are notorious for promoting stereotypic views of masculinity and femininity. How about settling down with your kids to watch some movies that go against gender stereotypes (and encourage more well rounded expressions of maleness and femaleness). Spider Man 3 (PG-13) Feminine Masculine. All of the spider man movies feature a hero that is moral, sensitive, gentle and a bit …
Family Time Movie Theater: Resilience
Take a look at these movies to watch with your kid that show boys and girls who demonstrate tenacity and determination when life tries to keep them down. Rudy (PG) A young man pursues his dream formed at the age of ten to play football for Notre Dame despite being small and having little real ability. Never say quit! Great …
Family Time Movie Theater: Problem Solving, Adaptability & Initiative
Why not sit down with the kids and watch some movies that demonstrate 21st century work skills? These movies provide some examples of problem solving, adaptability and initiative. Where the Red Fern Grows (PG) It is a hard life growing up in the back woods. Billy scrimps and saves to buy a pair of hunting dogs who brighten the lives …
Family Time Movie Theater: Communication, Creativity and Work Ethic
Here are some movies that address communication, creativity and work ethic. And one even includes kites! Mary Poppins (G) You already know about this Queen of kid movies. But you may not have paid attention to the lessons that are integrated throughout the movie. There is fun, frolicking, discipline, empathic parenting (or nannying as it were), dancing penguins, carousel horse …
Family Time Movie Theater: The World Down Under
To prepare for your spelunking family adventure (or place of it), here are some movies for family movie night that will take you down into some amazing caves from around the world. (Do NOT watch any of the horror movies that take place in caves unless you want to have claustrophobic nightmares for months!) Giant Crystal Cave (probably G) In …
Family Time Movie Theater: Great Documentaries
There is something mesmerizing and soothing about documentaries, even when you are watching Mother (Parent?) Nature in all her brutality and gore. Who says education is boring? Planet Earth (G, 2006) Breathtakingly beautiful. Fascinating. Educational. View the wonders of the planet we live on. Each of these eleven 50-minute episodes is a masterpiece. No matter your interest, age or attitude, …
Family Time Movie Theater: Dealing with Death
Death doesn’t get addressed in American society. Consequently, we have little help in dealing with the grief that comes from the death of someone you love. This leaves parents with the task of finding ways to help their kids to have an understanding of death and, as importantly, about the importance of grief and grieving. Here is a list of …