Film Fest - M'S GEMS

By: Melissa Goldberg

During the summer we can’t get enough fun in the sun, but sometimes your family craves an activity that brings you inside and allows you to beat the heat. These days, it is too common to see families sitting in the same room but completely immersed in their own activities. Kids are on the Leapster or the DS, mom is on the laptop, and dad’s watching TV, so a movie night is probably essential for a family more then ever. An opportunity to come together as a unit and enjoy a flick at home on the couch or at the theater. Just like we are constantly faced with making decisions about what to feed our children, we should also take time to monitor and filter what our children are watching. Now I understand why my mom always covered my eyes during the kissing scenes in movies. She was filtering.

Do you remember the first time you went to the movies? I hope it was as memorable to you as it was to me. My experience wasn’t quite like Little Orphan Annie in the movie Annie, when Daddy Warbucks closed out Radio City Music Hall. I remember the feeling of being in a dark theater, the smell of the popcorn and the magnitude of the screen was just as exciting. Now, as the parent, I was thrilled to share this experience with my children, except I quickly learned there is a bit of preparation and planning required for the experience to be a great one.

You can’t just go the movies and expect it to be a great time. There are several considerations to make for it to be a positive experience. Many factors need to be assessed before buying your tickets. The type of movie. The length of the movie. Is the movie age appropriate? Is it something your children will understand and be captivated by?

This week we had a very special guest, Granny Ranny (Ranny Levy). 20 years ago, she created KidsFirst/Coalition for Quality Children's Media. If there is one gem to take away, it’s to check out her website www.kidsfirst.org or log onto www.blogtalkradio.com/mommaspearls and listen to this weeks discussion about the joy of cinema and some considerations before finding your seats or hitting the play button on the DVD.

Poll Viewing - This is an important practice when it comes to television selection as well. With television, make sure to sit down and view a sample of what your children are watching. This way you understand the content of the show and if the material is appropriate for your children's age. Movies may be a bit trickier since often times you will be viewing the film for the first time after you buy your tickets and step into the theater. Perhaps ask around and get some opinions from other parents who have seen the movie or use on-line resources like Kids First.

Not All Children’s Films Are Children Appropriate - You know your children best and you will be able to decide what content your children will be able to understand. Children differ in maturity and understanding. Although my children have watched Finding Nemo for years it wasn’t until just recently that I allowed them to watch the first scene in the movie (spoiler alert: when the Barracuda attacks Nemo’s family). I felt my kids were older and they were very familiar with the movie. I felt they could now understand the scene and not be so overwhelmed about that scene since they knew what was to come.

It’s an Adults Point of View and That’s About It - This is where keeping the lines of communication open are critical. If we don’t ask our children questions and discuss their experiences we won’t understand them. If you notice your child is sad or scared during a movie find out what exactly made them feel that way. An adult’s perception often times is very different than a child. My friend’s son was very frightened watching Toy Story 3. She wasn’t sure what exactly frightened him and when she asked him, he said he didn’t like the stuff touching him. (They were watching it in 3D) So, it wasn’t the content that he was scared of it was the 3D feature that he didn’t like. They left the theater and waited for a non 3D showing. In the end, he did enjoy the movie and they had a lovely afternoon.

Have Your Children Be a Critic - Don’t leave the story in the theater. This is one of the most wonderful aspects of movies, we can take them with us and use them as communication tools with our children. Think of questions you can ask your child after the movie and see what questions they have. Ask them what they liked and didn’t like about the movie. Who was there favorite character? Ask about how they felt during a sad time? A scary time? Talk about a location in the movie, is it a real place or a made up place? Talk about the different accents the characters had or the costumes they wore. It's a great opportunity to have them dive deeper into learning about new people, things and places. If your child loves critiquing films you should check out Kids First! upcoming search for children's film critics.

Animation Versus Real Actors - This is a huge difference for younger children. I was watching an episode of Barefoot Contessa, (Food Network) my daughter was captivated watching her make some butternut squash. She looked up at me and asked if she was real. I was a bit confused by the question, but I guess this type of show is so realistic since it is set in a kitchen and seemed so realistic to her. For a minute I was caught off guard and got to thinking about my children's perceptions about television and what they are watching. A child may be able to handle a scary scene better in animation because they know it is not real. But there are some very scary animated characters!! I’ve also noticed my children ask a lot more questions in movies with actors versus animated characters. Keep that in mind when making a movie selection.

Don’t Be Afraid To Say No - Stand by your principles. If you feel you do not want your children to watch a show or movie then don’t let them. This usually becomes an issue with older kids when they say things like “ but all my friends watch that show...” You are the parent and it’s important to stand your ground if you think something is inappropriate. There is a cartoon aired on a children’s network that I just don’t like. I explained to my children that I do not like the way the main character behaves and talks and so we don’t watch it in our house. Children will respect your boundaries if you stick to them.

Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world ~ Jean-Luc Godard 

~ M’s Gems