How To Pick The Best Movies For Children
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Do You Need Help Picking A Movie That is Entertaining and Age Appropriate For The Children In Your Life?
The first example that comes to my mind is Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters is rated 'PG,' which means parental guidance recommended. On the surface, this movie seems like a fun, friendly choice and, as an extra bonus, it is related to Halloween, a subject for which we were always searching for movies that were appropriate for our children. We started to watch this movie and I was flabbergasted at the scene which takes place between Bill Murray and a ghost on a bed...I'll leave your imagination to fill in the details rather than be explicit here. Seemed like a wonderful choice but definitely, in my opinion, NOT.
A second example is when my ten-ish year old son was invited to a friend's birthday party where they were going to be watching horror movies. I fully understand that some tween boys and girls yearn to watch scary movies and horror movies. They really do want to be scared. However, most horror movies are NOT appropriate for children and I definitely did not want my son watching the movie choices that were being offered that afternoon. To complicate matters, my ten-year old son's brother had been invited to the party, too.
Anyway, this page is meant to be a resource to help YOU find the BEST MOVIES for your children. If you could you use a little help picking a movie, I know that the resources on this page will help you and your family find your next movie adventure as well as find some excellent movie resources that you will come back to again and again.
This page should also be helpful to the other people who want to buy a movie for the children in their life for whom they, too, only want to make an excellent, entertaining and appropriate choice. Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles, this page will help you find a movie gift for the young children in your life.
Click here to order
your copy of Toy Story 3
on blu-ray or DVD or even both formats
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Contents at a Glance
- Protect Your Children From Inappropriate...
- The Motion Picture Association of Americ...
- Family Movie Reviews
- The Best Family Friendly Movie Guide Boo...
- The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies
- The Best Old Movies for Families: A Guid...
- Talking Pictures: A Parent's Guide to Us...
- The Best Children's Movies on Blu-ray (a...
- Toy Story 3
Picture by Flickr photographer gabys_pics.
Protect Your Children From Inappropriate Movies
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Check out the ratings of a movie BEFORE you bring it home.
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Know that the MPAA ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17) are defined by how much material in the movie is going to be objected to rather than on whether or not they are age appropriate. Use them as a starting point only.
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Remember, the information on the movie box is designed to SELL movies not to share the information you need to make a good movie choice.
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When in doubt, watch the movie BEFORE you show it to your children.
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Watch with your children. Don't present a movie and walk away.
- If you are watching something that you don't like, TURN IT OFF. That is what happened in my house with the Ghostbusters movie. I'm not sure at what age I would have found the scene mentioned earlier appropriate. My children are 17 and 18 now and I might still be uncomfortable watching Ghostbusters with them.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Ratings Explained
G means 'General Audiences. All ages admitted.' These movies are considered suitable for all ages. However, young children are often not ready to watch full movies and should watch material that is recommended for their ages.
PG means 'Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.' A movie that is rated PG may have some swear words, violence and/or tense moments.
PG-13 means 'Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.' A movie that bears this rating will have stronger language, nudity and sexual references and/or violence. PG-13 movies can cover a lot of ground; one may be suitable for your child and the next not. You need to be especially careful with this category of movies.
Family Movie Reviews
By people who care about the movies children watch.
- The Movie Mom
The Movie Mom (Nell Minow) reviews movies and DVDs to advise parents on what movies are and are not appropriate for kids. My children grew up partially on the advice of The Movie Mom. I love the fact that she makes an age recommendation, gives the movie a mark (just like in school A through D) and outlines what we might or might not like in a movie. She also makes recommendations of other related movies.- Commonsense Media
Common Sense Media helps parents choose what's best for their kids. Family Entertainment reviews and ratings for movies, television, video games, music CDs, books, and websites. Common Sense Media wasn't around when my children were young. There review of Ghostbusters puts an age on that movie which I might question but they lay out what's in the movie very nicely. "Some characters make sexual advances, especially while possessed; a fantasy scene implies a character receives oral pleasure from a ghost." If I had read that when my children were younger, there is no way Ghostbusters would have made it into my VHS player. (No DVDs or blu-ray discs then!)- Not Too Scary Movies For Tweens or Pre-Teens on Halloween
Your Tween will probably be clamouring to see a scary movie this Halloween and probably will want to do so without you around. Scary books are one thing, you can put them down and walk away but scary movies on the other hand...If your tween is looking for something scary, follow this link to my page which offers a number of choices for tweens and pre-teens who are looking to be scared.- How to Get the Most Educational Value Out of Watching a Movie
Movies can be an enjoyable and high-impact supplement to a homeschool curriculum if they are used deliberately. Rather than just tack on a relevant film to the end of your unit study, spend a few moments to plan how the movie will reinforce the themes your children have learned.
Have you seen a movie with children present when they should not have been?
The Best Family Friendly Movie Guide Books
The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies
I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND this movie guide.
There are two versions of her book, The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies, available. Of course, the more recent one has more recent movies although this it isn't particularly current either. If you are looking for a good guide to older movies as well as a lot of information about choosing movies for children, the first one (shown here) is actually a bargain book and preferred by Amazon customer reviews. You can read about both of The Movie Mom books by clicking right here.
The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies
List Price: $15.00
Used Price: $7.74
Release Date: 12/31/1969
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The Best Old Movies for Families: A Guide to Watching Together
The Amazon customer reviews HIGHLY RECOMMEND this movie guide to old movies.
FOR THE LITTLE ONES AGED 3-6: This section includes fast moving movies that are fairly simple but not dumbed down. This section would include movies like Singin' in the Rain and Bringing Up Baby.
FOR THE ONES IN BETWEEN AGED 7-12: This section includes great stories with the characters in simple situations that turn out not to be quite so simple. This section includes movies like The African Queen and Some Like It Hot do the job well.
FOR THE OLDER ONES AGED 13+: This section includes movies that relate to contemporary movies and compares movies. For instance, without Alfred Hitchcock's work, there might be no Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I don't personally own this book but, given the 15 five-star customer reviews on Amazon, I sure would like to!
The Best Old Movies for Families: A Guide to Watching Together
Amazon Price: $8.74 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $18.00
AMAZON CUSTOMER REVIEW:
Amazon customer Einer Elhauge said he thought this book would simply instruct but that it also enthralled and entertained him. He says that it is full of interesting observations and is one of the best books he has read in awhile. He summed up by saying that it is "Part culture critique, part movie review, part parental memoir, all written with energy, subtlety, and great humor."
Release Date: 02/13/2007
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Talking Pictures: A Parent's Guide to Using Movies to Discuss Ethics, Values, and Everyday Problems with Children
Once again, Amazon's customers give this book a five-star review.
Talking Pictures : A Parent's Guide to Using Movies to Discuss Ethics, Values, and Everyday Problems with Children
Amazon Price: $0.95 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $14.95
AMAZON CUSTOMER REVIEW
An anonymous customer says that this book is full of insights into how to use films in a family setting. He says that it is not just a movie guide but also a book that will show parents how to use movies to learn about their children. If you do not have chatty children, the movies recommended in this book will give you some common ground for conversations.
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The Best Children's Movies on Blu-ray (and DVD, Of Course)
(Rated G or PG)
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 is considered to be the BEST blu-ray movie available.
Toy Story 3 (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)
Amazon Price: $17.48 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $45.99
Sure to be top of the movie wish list of everyone who enjoys animated movies is Toy Story 3, which has proven to be a hit with adults and children. A bonus, the blu-ray version of this movie is considered, by the experts at blu-ray.com to be THE best blu-ray movie available. Toy Story 3 is rated G and though I haven't seen it yet, everything I have read says if you pick Toy Story 3 as a movie gift, you cannot go wrong.
Click here to see all of the versions of Toy Story 3 that are available.
Release Date: 11/02/2010
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Despicable Me
Despicable Me (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
Amazon Price: $15.70 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $29.98
Despicable Me is another great family movie pick, which is also rated PG.
Click here to see all versions of Despicable Me.
Release Date: 12/14/2010
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Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is one of the best blu-ray movies available.
Beauty and the Beast (Three-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo in DVD Packaging)
Amazon Price: $21.96 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $39.99
One of the best blu-ray movies available, Beauty and the Beast is also an excellent family movie and is rated G.
Click here to see all of the versions of Beauty and the Beast.
Release Date: 10/05/2010
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How To Train Your Dragon
![How to Train Your Dragon (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Dragon Double Pack) [Blu-ray]](http://the.squidoocdn.com/images/nopicture.gif)
How to Train Your Dragon (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Dragon Double Pack) [Blu-ray]
Amazon Price: $14.49 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $29.99
How To Train Your Dragon is a great family movie pick and is rated PG.
Click here to see all versions of How To Train Your Dragon.
Release Date: 10/15/2010
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
A classic movie choice redone masterfully on blu-ray and DVD.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Three-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo + BD Live w/ Blu-ray packaging)
Amazon Price: $38.94 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $39.99
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is another excellent family movie and is rated G.
Click here to see all of the versions of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Release Date: 10/06/2009
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More Children's Movies
Pick the movie you want to share with your children...
More Children's Movie Resources
The Five Best Blu-ray Disney Movies For Your Young Children
Children's Movie Reviews
You'll find careful consideration given to the rating of each of these movies. They're not all appropriate for young children.
Blu-ray Movie Treasures By Brenda, The Blog
My movies blog is the place where I share my love of great and, sometimes, not-so-great movies and films. I would love it if you joined in the discussions by offering your opinion about the best movies, the movie-of-the-day, the last movie you saw or, if you are the silent type, simply following along! Come on and join the fun! I'll look forward to seeing you at the movies!Find my blog at: Music and Movie Treasures By Brenda. Or visit any of these recent posts:
Will this page help you pick a movie for the children in your life?
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JeremiahStanghini Feb 19, 2011 @ 2:51 am | delete
- Quite an informative lens!
With Love and Gratitude,
Jeremiah
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KokoTravel
Jan 8, 2011 @ 12:19 am | delete
- Thanks for helping... I am not saavy about movies but my grandson loves them... so I need all the hints i can get in order to choose the best movies for a six year old.
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Sylvestermouse
Jan 6, 2011 @ 11:10 am | delete
- Stopping back by to say congratulations on being listed on the 2010 Giant Squid Showcase!
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BevsPaper
Jan 1, 2011 @ 5:42 pm | delete
- Very helpful information to help parents and grandparents find age appropriate movies for the children in their lives. Congrats on being one of the top 45 on the 2010 Giant Squid Showcase list!
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KimGiancaterino Jan 1, 2011 @ 2:24 am | delete
- Very helpful suggestions ... Congratulations on being chosen for the 2010 Giant Squid Showcase. Happy new year!
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TheGreenerMe
Dec 31, 2010 @ 9:36 pm | delete
- Congrats on making it on the Giant Squid Showcase! Happy New Year!
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Spook
Dec 30, 2010 @ 9:24 am | delete
- Glad I found you here. Congratulations and all the best for 2011.
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WordCustard
Dec 29, 2010 @ 5:22 am | delete
- Wise advice here and some wonderful recommendations too. I feel children and their parents have unsuitable movies being pushed on them as 'family movies' when they are too scary or have more grown-up themes than the rating suggests. Congratulations on being included in the 2010 Giant Squid Showcase with this helpful guide.
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Joan4
Dec 29, 2010 @ 12:53 am | delete
- Congratulations on being on the 2010 Giant Squid Showcase List!!
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Tipi
Dec 29, 2010 @ 12:48 am | delete
- Oh Brenda, what a wonderful and important service you are providing here! Congratulations for being on the Best of List for the 2010 Giant Squid Showcase! Very impressive work and excellent guidelines!
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WildFacesGallery
Dec 28, 2010 @ 10:16 pm | delete
- Congratulations on being one of the 45 on the Giant Squid 2010 Showcase. Very cool. :)
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awelldressedbullet
Dec 28, 2010 @ 9:33 pm | delete
- Congratulations Brenda for being included in The 2010 Giant Squid Showcase by the SquidTeam! How cool is that! Happy New Year, Squidhugs from Kathy
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MiaBellezza
Dec 3, 2010 @ 11:07 am | delete
- Help finally in the choice of Children's movies I should've thunk of that!
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tssfacts
Nov 4, 2010 @ 12:49 pm | delete
- Very informative. When I was growing my parents didn't have to be concerned about what movies were kid appropriate. We still had scary movies but they were the good old B rated ones which seem to pale to the ones that area out today. The scariest one I remember watching was "Invasion of the Body Snatcher".
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Sylvestermouse
Nov 3, 2010 @ 10:07 am | delete
- Excellent advice and suggestions! I remember very well having to watch every movie before I would let my children see it. Now they are grown and I am embarrassed by the content of some of the movies we go to see. It seems like crude is now defined as funny.
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- Load More
by Treasures-By-Brenda
Here's a bit of information to help you pick the best movies for your children.
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