Movies have the power to transport us to another world, to allow us to experience something new, and to teach us lessons we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives. That’s why it’s so important to watch movies with your child, especially movies about child development. Watching these movies with your kid can be a great way to spark conversations and to learn about life together.
In this blog post, I’ll explore the benefits and impacts of watching movies about child development with your child, provide tips for choosing them for your kid, and list some recommended ones.
Benefits & Impacts of Watching Movies About Child Development with Your Child
When it comes to movies, it’s important to choose those that will help your child grow and learn. Watching these movies with your kid can help them better understand their emotions, learn how to solve problems, and gain insight into the world around them. Here are a few ways movies about child development can benefit your child:
Develops Emotional Intelligence
Watching movies about child development can help your kid develop their emotional intelligence. These films can help understand and express their own emotions, as well as understand and empathise with the emotions of others. These skills will serve your child well throughout their life.
Builds Self-Confidence
Movies about child development can also help your child build self-confidence and encourage them to take on new challenges. By watching them, your child can learn that they are capable of achieving their goals, even if they face difficult obstacles.
Improves Problem-Solving Skills
Child development movies can also help your kid improve their problem-solving skills. By watching them, your child can learn how to approach and solve problems in a systematic and efficient manner. This can help prepare your child face real life personal and professional challenges in the future.
Teaches About Life
Child development films can also help children learn about life. With their help, your child can learn about the world around them and gain insight into how people interact with each other. This can help your child better understand the world and how to navigate it.
Promotes Critical Thinking
Films about child development can also help your child develop critical thinking skills. These movies can teach them to question what they see and hear and to think critically about the world around them. This can help your child become more aware and open-minded, which will serve them throughout their life.
A List of Recommended Movies About Child Development
If you’re looking for movies about child development to watch with your child, here is a list of some recommended ones:
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American fantasy film directed by Victor Fleming and based on the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The story follows Dorothy and her friends as they embark on an adventure to find the Wizard who they believe can grant their wishes. Along the way, they meet a host of characters, including a talking scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion, all of whom help Dorothy reach her goal.
The Wizard of Oz is an iconic film that has been loved for generations and continues to be a timeless classic. It’s very likely that you have seen it as a child (or a grown-up, in my case). This film is suitable for all ages, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you can enjoy the shared joy of watching a marvellous movie with your child.
The life lessons of The Wizard of Oz are timeless and relevant to both children and adults. The main lesson is that there’s no place like home, and reminding us to treasure the people we have in our lives. The movie also shows us that we have what it takes to succeed and encourages us to follow our own path and not be afraid to dream in colour.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 German-American fantasy film based on the novel of the same name by Michael Ende. The movie follows a young boy named Bastian who escapes reality by reading a magical book and embarks on a journey to save a mysterious land called Fantasia. Along the way, he meets a variety of creatures and learns valuable lessons about courage, loyalty, and friendship.
I watched this movie as a child, not once, but several times! The magic of a book that transfers the reader from ordinary life to a fantasy world fascinated me. I remember hoping to find a similar book that does the same job. This is possibly still my aspiration when I pick up a book to read. So, if you wish to help your child befriend books, perhaps it’s a fabulous idea to watch this movie about child development with your kid.
The NeverEnding Story teaches several life lessons to kids. It conveys the message that imagination makes us free and wise, and encourages kids to fight when sadness drags them down. The movie also instils the values of dreaming and hoping, which helps keep us safe from despair. Finally, the film emphasises the importance of self-esteem, an inner strength that helps us believe in ourselves and our ability to overcome adversity. This movie is suitable for all ages, as it is a timeless classic that delivers essential life lessons.
Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story is an animated film released in 1995 and produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It follows the adventures of a group of living toys as they try to avoid being replaced by newer toys. The film was the first feature-length, computer-animated film and was directed by John Lasseter. The voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen feature as the lead characters, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, respectively. The film was a massive economic and artistic success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1995 and winning numerous awards.
Toy Story teaches kids some important life lessons, such as jealousy being a great way to make yourself and others miserable, not everything revolves around you, and what seems like a better place may just be a misunderstanding. This movie is suitable for viewers of all ages and can provide an enjoyable and educational experience.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is a 2003 American computer-animated adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios. The film follows the journey of Marlin, an overprotective clownfish, who searches for his missing son Nemo in the Great Barrier Reef. Finding Nemo was released to critical acclaim and made over $936 million at the box office worldwide.
Finding Nemo teaches children the importance of perseverance, courage, and true friendship. The film also emphasises the value of family and the importance of building relationships with those around you. Additionally, the movie encourages children to stand up for themselves and be brave when facing difficult situations. Finally, it shows that it is okay to make mistakes, but you must learn from them and try not to repeat them in the future.
Inside Out (2015)
Inside Out is an animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and written and directed by Pete Docter. The story follows an 11-year-old girl named Riley Anderson, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Inside Out explores a young girl’s emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear—who try to guide her through this difficult change in her life. The film was acclaimed by critics and won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Inside Out teaches children a variety of valuable life lessons. It shows the importance of expressing and understanding emotions, as well as how to deal with difficult situations such as loss and change. It also encourages children to embrace the complexity of life and appreciate the beauty of the world around them. Additionally, it conveys the idea that it is crucial to ask for help when needed and to appreciate the people in our lives who support us.
Hugo (2011)
Hugo is a 2011 3D family adventure drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. Based on Brian Selznick’s 2007 children’s book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, it tells the story of a boy who lives alone in the walls of a Paris train station and attempts to unlock a mystery left behind by his late father. Hugo was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, ultimately winning five.
If you’re an avid moviegoer, you’d probably know George Méliès, the great filmmaker of the early years of cinema. Hugo, to some extent, is also a biography of Méliès’s latter part of life. Martin Scorsese meant to give homage to this great filmmaker with Hugo. It’s definitely, a movie all age groups would like to watch. So, I guarantee you will enjoy watching it together with your child.
Hugo provides a number of lessons for children, including the importance of family, friendship, and perseverance. The movie also showcases the power of creativity and imagination and the importance of embracing mistakes and learning from them. Above all, the film emphasises that everyone has the potential to achieve great things given the right motivation and opportunity.
Children of Heaven (1997)
Children of Heaven is a 1997 Iranian family drama film written and directed by Majid Majidi. The story is about two young siblings, Ali and Zahra, whose poverty-stricken family cannot afford new shoes for Zahra when hers are lost. To get Zahra’s shoes back, the two children make a pact to share Ali’s shoes in turns while they search for her lost ones. The movie highlights the resilience of the children in the face of their difficult circumstances. It has won multiple awards worldwide and is considered one of the most successful films from Iran.
As you might have guessed, Children of Heaven is not an English-language movie. But fortunately, this film has been dubbed and subtitled into English and other languages. Watching it with your child can introduce them to different cultures, which is very important in their development.
Children of Heaven teaches kids the importance of family, friendship, and resilience. It also demonstrates how people can come together in times of adversity to overcome difficult situations. Additionally, the movie emphasises the importance of always doing the right thing, even when it seems difficult or impossible. Finally, the film encourages children never to give up hope and to keep striving for their dreams.
Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987)
Where Is the Friend’s House? is a 1987 Iranian drama film directed by Abbas Kiarostami. The film is set in rural Iran and follows a young boy, Ahmad, who is desperately trying to return his friend’s notebook before the teacher punishes his friend. The film is both poetic and thought-provoking, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and responsibility.
Where Is the Friend’s House? Is another marvellous foreign language film. But unlike Children of Heaven, it is unfortunately not dubbed into English. However, the movie is available with multiple language subtitles, including English.
The movie Where Is the Friend’s House? has several life lessons for kids. One of the main messages is that friendship takes time and effort to form and is not something you can expect to come quickly or easily. It also shows the importance of perseverance and the power of true friendship to overcome obstacles. Additionally, the movie teaches children about loyalty and the importance of trust in relationships.
Mulan (1998)
Mulan is a 1998 American animated musical film produced by Walt Disney. It is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. The film was directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook. It follows a young Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a male warrior to save her father.
A live-action adaptation of Mulan directed by Niki Caro was released on Disney+ in 2020. It would be fun to watch both animated and live-action movies with your kid. However, keep in mind that the live-action version is rated PG-13 due to some scenes of violence.
The 1998 movie Mulan is an excellent example of a positive portrayal of strong female characters in a children’s movie. This classic Disney movie helps children understand the power of courage and determination, as well as the importance of standing up for what is right. It also shows that everyone can be courageous, regardless of their gender. Furthermore, Mulan teaches kids to stay true to themselves and never give up on their dreams. In short, Mulan is an inspiring film that encourages kids to be brave and to always strive for their goals.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 2005 musical fantasy film directed by Tim Burton based on the 1964 British novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The movie stars Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs Bucket. The story follows Charlie and four other children who win the golden tickets and visit Wonka’s factory. The film was a box office success and received positive reviews from critics.
Roald Dahl’s novels are a perfect starting point for children’s familiarisation with reading. They’re easy to read, imaginative, and entertaining. So, perhaps, your child can start by reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book and then watch the movie together with you. Like the novels, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie is a fun and imaginative film that captures the hearts of children and adults alike.
The 2005 version, directed by Tim Burton, teaches children the importance of following rules, having good manners, being kind to others, and the power of imagination. The film also has important lessons about respecting the environment and not taking things for granted. It is suitable for all ages and anyone who loves a good story filled with fantasy and adventure.
How Can Safes Protect Your Child While Watching Movies Online?
If you have any concerns about the content of the movies your child is exposed to, you can use the Safes parental control app. Safes parental control app helps you monitor and control the content your child comes across online. That means, for example, if your child tries to access websites that host age-inappropriate movies, you’d be able to block their access and protect them. Moreover, you can monitor how much time your child spends watching movies on their phones, tablets, and computers. If you believe their screen time to be too much, you can limit it using the Screen Time monitoring tools that Safes offers. f
Concluding Movies About Child Development
Movies about child development can be a great way to spark conversations with your kid and learn about life together. Watching them can help kids better understand their emotions, learn how to solve problems, and gain insight into the world around them. Additionally, it can help them develop emotional intelligence, build self-confidence, improve problem-solving skills, teach them about life, and promote critical thinking.
If you have any concerns about the content your child is exposed to, you can use the Safes parental control app. Safes helps you monitor and control the online content your child is exposed to. Feel free to give Safes a try by download it from our website.
Movies can be a great bonding experience and a great learning opportunity. So, make sure to take advantage of them and watch movies about child development with your kid!
