How do you handle tough topics with your children? My kids are still small enough that sometimes a conversation can be hard for them to understand. My daughter just "graduated" pre-school, but she was having some trouble with the little girls in her class. There is always "the leader" and she tells her little followers how to act or treat another person. One day they would want to play with my daughter, the next they wouldn't. It was very frustrating for me as a parent because I had no control about what happens at school. Of course I talked to my daughter's teachers and of course I talked to my daughter. But I felt that wasn't enough.
My daughter LOVES My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. And I love it too because it teaches an important lesson about friendship in every episode. I decided to sit down and watch a couple of episodes with my daughter and after each one I asked her the lesson she learned about friendship. I think this process really did help because she was able to communicate better with the little girl who was excluding her. And my daughter just said, "Well I don't want to play with someone who doesn't want to play with me." And you know what? It worked. I didn't hear of any issues with that group of girls. My daughter would come home happier and tell me the games they played. I think she really did learn about true friendship.
Netflix is host to a variety of family-friendly shows that explore a range of real-life issues with equal measures of humor, angst and heart. No matter your situation, chances are there’s a show and episode that can kick start a dialogue around the topic just by watching it together.
Netflix is host to a variety of family-friendly shows that explore a range of real-life issues with equal measures of humor, angst and heart. No matter your situation, chances are there’s a show and episode that can kick start a dialogue around the topic just by watching it together.
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Let's Talk About...For the little kids: |
Sibling Rivalry
Watch Ep. S1E1: Babee's Room
Buzzbee and Rubee compete over who Babee (their new sibling) gets to room with. Mom and Dad must explain to Buzzbee and Rubee that Babee needs to grow up before she can share a room.
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Responsibility
Watch Ep. S1E1: Puppies & Guppies/ Sorry We’re Closed Today
Larry and Laura Carrot want to adopt puppies but quickly learn it takes responsibility in order to watch over and care for a pet of their own.
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Following the Rules
Watch Ep. S1E6: Stormy Weather/ Baba’s Adventure/ Rock Music
Mama tells Oona and Baba to stay close with a storm approaching. After ignoring her advice, Oona and Baba get stuck in a seagull nest during the heavy thunderstorms.
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For the big kids: |
Self-Love
Watch Ep. 113: Star
After Dulcinea feels like no one in the group needs her help, she tries to use a newly-discovered wishing star to show her worth -- but fails -- showing her that presence alone has lit up her friends’ lives all along.
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Teamwork
Watch Ep. 103: Smart is the New Cool
After McKeyla insists she works better alone, she learns that four is better than one when her friends jump in to help her rescue the Prince from a botched space mission.
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Peer Pressure
Watch Ep. 106: The Legend of El Explosivo
After getting grounded for sneaking off to Bobby Popko’s house, Jackson realizes he needs to stand up for what he knows is right and not give in to please his friends.
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For the teens: |
Social Media FOMO
Watch Ep. 102: Girl Meets Boy
Cory challenges his class to unplug from their phones for a week. When Riley and her crush Lucas sit down to talk face-to-face, personal stories bring them closer.
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Self Improvement
Watch Ep. 104: Kimmy Goes to the Doctor!
Kimmy quickly realizes that she can’t fix her problems by simply “Buhbreezing” them away – real change comes from the inside.
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Body Image
Watch Ep. 101: #BootyCall
According to the kids of Degrassi Community School, butts are the new boobs. But Shay’s realization that “brains are the new butts” can speak to a number of body image insecurities.
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New on Netflix for Kids, Tweens, Teens and Families: |
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Yes!! I think some topics are actually better explained by shows and them seeing and learning how cartoons react! Sounds silly but I feel like my kiddo can relate to them more than me just trying to explain it to them... lord knows mom is always wrong anyways lol!!
ReplyDeleteThese all look great and sound like really good teaching tools!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter also loves My Little Pony! I absolutely love it it too, it teaches such a wonderful lesson! :) She has all of those dolls too. I definitely need to get her some pjs soon.
ReplyDeleteSome shows are good teaching tools!
ReplyDeleteMy nieces would really benefit from something like this.
ReplyDeleteI really like a kids show that actually teaches you things. I will have to get my friends daughter to watch it, she has problems with kids at school excluding her.
ReplyDeleteI use books and stories to teach younger children about hard to cover topics. I remember when my mom first told me about God. She used a story to convey it. I do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree that sometimes it is easier to use a tv show to explain hard topics. It is also a good idea as you said to sit and explain with your child after the episode.
ReplyDeleteSome shows can be really educational for kids!
ReplyDeleteDepending on the topic, I have been known to use children TV shoes as examples or a way to explain things in their language.
ReplyDelete