38 Calming Movies For Kids To Give Parents A Much-Deserved Break

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Even though no two children are alike, many parents end up relying on the same routines to calm or distract their children (think sweet treats, new toys, engaging games, etc.). There’s a reason these reliable rewards can make all the difference in a child’s frown. But when a child is feeling irritable or anxious, the best thing parents can do is help them manage their emotions. What can help with that is a calming movie.

When you need a moment (or several) of peace or need to get some work done at home, what you put on the TV to calm your kids down can actually go a long way and help ease stressful or high-energy times in your home. So while it’s true that screen time shouldn’t be an automatic response to calming your child down, it’s definitely not natural. bad Any idea.

What does it mean to feel calm as a child?

The first thing to remember when calming your child, and perhaps in parenting in general, is that every child is different.

“What’s calm for one child may be different for another, depending on who they are and what their personality is, as well as whether they’re neurotypical or atypical,” says Jennifer Thompson, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the American Association of Social Workers. Still, one thing they have in common is that children feel and behave better when there is structure. “They thrive, feel most secure and calm, and display calm behavior when they understand rules and boundaries,” says Thompson. With structure and supervision in place, “you are given the safety to be who you are and feel safe exploring.”

How to calm your child down by watching a movie

When a child is feeling stressed or exhibiting excess energy, calming them means calming their emotional and physiological state, says Joanna Fortune, a psychotherapist and author specializing in parent-child relationships. 15 minutes of parenting and why play.

“When you want to calm children, one way to stimulate the brain subsystems associated with emotional regulation is to use rhythm and synchrony,” says Fortune. This may mean holding your child’s hand and guiding them through rocking or patting motions. Another way to bring about calmness is to engage your senses by changing your vision and asking your child to identify five things they can see, four things they can touch, three things they can smell, and so on.

When you need to soothe your kids in a pinch, attend a meeting or get ready for work, you can combine these calming actions with a movie. It might be something like sitting with them for at least the first 15 minutes of the movie, setting the tone, and encouraging them to watch by hugging them or asking questions about the storyline. Another way to keep children calm while you supervise them is to assign them corresponding activities. Evoking the senses and giving your child a list of things to look for and tick off, or asking them to draw a picture of their favorite character, are both ways to soothe your child.

Once they’re engaged, you can have them watch while you work or do chores, and then plan to debrief with them at the end of the movie.

How to choose movies that calm your mind

Again, each child is unique, so even a seemingly harmless movie can be upsetting to your child if it has themes or plot points that they are sensitive to. For this reason, the best thing you can do when choosing a movie is to consider what’s going on in your child’s life. here For example, this may not be the best idea for a child facing the loss of a family member.

“That’s why I think using movies that they’ve seen, that they’re familiar with, that they’re familiar with, gives both of them a sense of comfort,” Fortune says. choose a film you At least being visible is also a great precaution to take.

When looking for new movies, avoid ones that involve violence or trauma, such as your parents’ divorce or the death of a pet. Also, avoid movies that have a lot of uplifting action, even if it’s something you can emotionally handle. “If you have an exciting sword fight scene and you expect them to sit still and calm down, they’re going to jump up on the couch,” Fortune says. “In fact, it may have the exact opposite effect from what you expected.”

Still, movies don’t have to be boring. In fact, choosing one with an upbeat soundtrack can be appealing to kids who like to sing, hum, or play along to music. Other elements you can look for include movies that show the different emotions the characters process, movies that use muted or primary colors, and movies that depict children having adventures and triumphing. These qualities will help your child not only feel calm, but also feel empowered.