Take a Look Back

As our kids grow older, it seems like sometimes we strive to find ways to connect with them. Their peers grow to be more influential and important in their lives. They have their interests and hobbies – which take a great deal of their time, thoughts, and money. So how does a parent “connect?”

A great way to get on your child’s level is to watch movies with them. Yes – movies. Most children, from ages very young to teenagers, love movies. And you can use that love for movies to get inside their head a little bit.

If your child loves guitar – get some old Elvis Presley movies to watch with them. Does your daughter like to dance? Find some musicals or older dance movies with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Computer? There are many movies that center around computers, and robotics as the theme of the movie. How about horses? There are so many horse movies out there. Are they very “into” their social world at school? Give some high school themed movies a try.

If you can find older movies that your child may not be familiar with, you will tap into the past allowing it to come alive again and not be forgotten. You will also provide yourselves with a great opportunity to talk. Your child will probably have interesting thoughts about the movies you watch together. Did they think it was dumb – not realistic? Did it inspire them in some way to work harder at what they love? Could they relate to the character in some way that gets them to share their emotions and feelings with you?

Give it a try. Invite your child to a movie date at home with you, some popcorn, and their favorite subject as the center of attention. Watch together and allow the movie to take you into your child’s heart and head for a little while. You’re bound to value any information you can glean that keeps you – or gets you – close to your child as they mature and grow. And the more you understand them, the more they will listen to you as you seek to guide them.