This Movie Mom is Happy to See More Heroes Doing Good Deeds

on April 20, 2009 at 7:00 AM

Photo by: Cafe MichelleL

Role models start with mom and dad, but it’s also great to have movie heroes for kids to look up to.

As the mother of two girls, I make it a priority to find role models in our family entertainment choices. I try to show my daughters daily how to be a strong woman. But I believe that heroes on the movie screen help strengthen the foundation I create for my girls.

I want my girls to know that they don't have to wait for a prince to rescue them. I want my daughters to feel empowered! It's my greatest hope that my girls know they don't have to be a damsel in distress---they can be the person who saves the day!

Movies are a powerful way to reinforce the values that you set for your kids because movies are bigger than life. A hero on the big screen is way more interesting than M-O-M, especially as kids get older.

Good family movies can be a tool for all parents to help inspire their children. The school geek who turns into a superhero in the movie can make quite an impression on a shy, quiet kid. I think it's good for children to see the outcast save the world---it shows kids that appearances aren't everything and that every person has value.

I'm a movie geek and I recommend that other parents join me in my geekdom. Imagination is an important quality to inspire in children. Movies help nurture imagination and that is always a good thing.

Do you use movies to help teach your children values?

Filed Under: movies

Comments (4)

PinkSodaPop

on Apr 20, 2009 at 11:01 AM

I personally like my children to gain something good from the movies they watch.

I also believe it's okay to dream and want the fairytale ---so long as your entire world doesn't evolve around that.
I feel a varied and broad sense of what defines a hero is important as well.

It's okay to be the underdog, it's okay to not be one.
Finding our inner strengths in whatever we do is important. If you're beautiful, you can also use that for good --- you don't have to be a bimbo headed model type because you're gorgeous --- you could be a really cute rocket scientist if that is what you desire.

I believe kids need good role models, and we ourselves as parents are their number one role models.

They reflect us no matter how much we try and think it's only the world that molds them. They might rebel against at times in their pursuit of independance, but overall the fruit really doesn't fall far from the tree.

They don't need movies for that --- but movies can inspire so much good if we just take the time to hear pure messages they implore us to understand.

My kids love to use their imaginations --- they love to dream and create ---they love to find honor in what they do as earthly 'spirits' --- they find good in all things, even the bad --- for without that duplicity --- we could never recognize the other side of the coin.

How can one know truly good, if they never knew truly bad.

ACK! stick out tongue mini --- I'm rambling! *Runs and hides!*

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Momma_Halo

on Apr 21, 2009 at 4:17 PM

I am a huge comic book geek so there are comics every where. My son was introduced to many strong characters like the X-men. They taught great values for young kids and also how to get what you want peacefully.

When ever I needed help with a situation I turned to comics like Marvel and DC.

paganmom05

on May 4, 2009 at 2:07 PM

For girls, I'm a huge fan of Tamora Pierce. She writes books for young adults (I've been reading them since i was 11!) and all her main characters are strong female figures. They are deffinatly not damsels in distress! She also founded Sheroes central with a couple of other writers. If you don't mind your kids reading Fantasy novels then you can't go wrong with Tamora Pierce!!!

on May 13, 2009 at 11:18 PM

I know what you mean about strong female characters. When I was a kid I looked up to Storm (X-men), Jean Grey (X-men), Buffy the Vampire slayer, Xena the warrior princess, A book called the The half blood series about a strong half elven woman who takes down the whole Elven empire and their cruelty.... yeah no damsels in distress over here. I am even reading a series called "The Sevenwaters series" about Irish Princess's who have to save their home from war, the fae, and more.