As a parent and educator, I always seek out meaningful ways to teach children about their emotions and feelings. One of the best tools I've found for this purpose is the movie "Inside Out."
"Inside Out" holds a special place in my heart. Watching it with my family was a pivotal moment that inspired me to create my own story, "Think Big." The movie’s ability to simplify complex emotions and present them in a tangible, engaging way was a revelation. It made me realize the power of storytelling in helping children navigate their emotional landscape.
As a family, we are eagerly anticipating to watch "Inside Out 2." Before diving into the sequel, I had an idea that has become a tradition for us. Whenever we watch a meaningful movie, especially one with a strong educational message, I engage my children in reflective discussions and creative activities. This helps reinforce the lessons from the movie and makes the experience more enriching.
Here’s our plan before watching "Inside Out 2":
Rewatch "Inside Out" and Reflect
We decided to rewatch the original "Inside Out" and discuss it in depth. Here are some reflective questions we discussed together:
1. Which character (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, or Disgust) do you relate to the most, and why?
2. Can you think of a time when you felt each of these emotions? How did you handle them?
3. Why do you think Sadness is important, even though we often want to feel happy?
4. What would you do if you were Joy trying to help Riley through a tough time?
5. How do different emotions work together to help Riley navigate her life?
Key Scenes for Deeper Understanding
We also discussed some pivotal scenes from "Inside Out" that highlight important emotional lessons:
Joy Drawing a Circle Around Sadness: There is a scene where Joy draws a circle around Sadness and tells her to stay inside it. Joy did this because she believed that keeping Sadness contained would help Riley remain happy. Joy's intent was to protect Riley from negative emotions, but this act actually highlights a misunderstanding of Sadness's value. By isolating Sadness, Joy fails to see that all emotions have a role and that suppressing any one of them can lead to greater imbalance.
Joy Cheering Up Bing Bong: Another significant scene is when Joy tries to cheer up Bing Bong after he loses his cherished childhood memories. Despite Joy's efforts, Bing Bong remains inconsolable. However, when Sadness sits beside Bing Bong and empathizes with his sorrow, he starts to feel better. This moment demonstrates the power of empathy and the importance of acknowledging and sharing feelings of sadness. By recognizing Bing Bong’s pain and validating it, Sadness helps him process his emotions and move forward.
Creative Expression
I encouraged my kids to draw their favorite characters from "Inside Out" and express what those characters mean to them. We keep a special journal for these activities, which serves as a wonderful keepsake of their thoughts and feelings over the years.
Preparing for "Inside Out 2"
Now, as we look forward to "Inside Out 2," we are excited to see what new emotional adventures await. I plan to use the same approach with the sequel, discussing new characters and emotions, and how they influence the storyline.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog, where I’ll share our experiences and insights after watching "Inside Out 2." I’m excited to see how this new installment further enriches our understanding of emotions and continues to inspire us, just as the first movie did.
So, do you have a plan to watch "Inside Out 2"? I do
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