12 Heartwarming Films That Teach Good Values

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Did you know that watching films can be beneficial to your children? Seeing their favorite characters on their adventures can help develop their reflectiveness and critical and creative thinking, when kids have to draw conclusions and find solutions to the issues the film characters are facing.

In addition to this, watching films with the family and discussing them afterwards can create stronger bonds and good influence. Children first learn to establish relationships at home, and what they build within the family will eventually help shape their social life. Talking about what you watched and how you felt towards it can help you and your children to be more open to each other and to others.

Check out this list we prepared! We hope you enjoy many of these on-screen adventures together, and remember to encourage your kids to discuss how they can apply the values they learned in their lives.

1. Frozen (2013)

Walt Disney Pictures / via tumblr.com

Age Rating: PG

Learn: Individuality

Every child is unique and special in their own way. Showing a child how precious they are and how much you appreciate them can boost their self-confidence! Watch Frozen to see how Elsa learned to make beautiful things with her power and embrace her uniqueness.

Remember to check out Frozen II once you’re done with the first film!

2. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Studio Ghibli / via pinterest.com

Age Rating: G

Learn: Attentiveness

Paying close attention to the people and things important to you entails the willingness to reach out. Stunningly animated, your family will surely enjoy Satsuki and Mei’s adventures as their family starts living outside Totoro’s forest to be closer to their beloved mother.

3. Nanny McPhee (2005)

Universal Pictures / via gfycat.com

Age Rating: PG

Learn: Kindness

Authentic kindness leads to politeness, consideration, and respect.

Although intimidatingly strict at first, the soft-spoken Nanny McPhee taught the boisterous Brown children how to care for one another, and they eventually saw how much she cared for them. You and your kids will definitely love her like the Brown family did!

Don’t miss its equally wonderful 2010 sequel Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang.

4. Brave (2012)

Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures / via tumblr.com

Age Rating: PG

Learn: Humility

Letting go of one’s pride requires a different kind of courage and strength—that of the heart! Merida and her mother Elinor are two strong-willed women whose conflicting opinions led to a strained mother-daughter bond between them.

Watch Merida and Elinor brave magical forests, kingdoms, and a curse that can forever change their fate.

Remember to check out Frozen II once you’re done with the first film!

5. Zootopia (2016)

Walt Disney Pictures / via weheartit.com

Age Rating: PG

Learn: Inclusion

Every race and culture is beautiful and deserves warmth and compassion. This clever and charming Walt Disney film follows young police officer Judy Hopps, an optimistic and hard-working rabbit, and Nick Wilde, a con-artist fox, as they uncover the disappearance of predators while also battling with racism and prejudice.

Zootopia can influence your kids to be thoughtful and friendly to everyone they meet.

6. The Parent Trap (1998)

Walt Disney Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution / via eonline.com

Age Rating: PG

Learn: Teamwork

This comedy film about love and reconciliation will bring your family giggles! Twins Hallie Parker and Annie James will take you along their clever adventures to reunite their parents. Accomplishing tasks and meeting goals are always fun when you have someone to work with!

7. Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Walt Disney Pictures / via galleryroulette.com

Age Rating: G

Learn: Progress

Let all letdowns bring forth the joy of improvement! Teaching kids that progress includes mistakes will fuel them to keep on trying. Let’s boost your child’s imagination and hope with a futuristic film like Meet the Robinsons!

8. Inside Out (2015)

Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures / via giphy.com

Age Rating: PG

Learn: Vulnerability

Being aware of our weaknesses and accepting them can help us understand each other better and improve our relationships. Inside Out is a great film to teach kids that every emotion is valid and has its own purpose.

Let us lift each other up by making our true selves known first.

9. Charlotte’s Web (2006)

Paramount Pictures / via gfycat.com

Age Rating: G

Learn: Friendship

Making friends can be easy! You just have to see the inner beauty of others. Make them feel that you care about who they are and what they do by asking about them. Just like Wilbur did!

Your children will surely enjoy this adorable story of unlikely friendship.

10. WALL-E (2008)

Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures / via tumblr.com

Age Rating: G

Learn: Stewardship

Our environment is our home and we must learn to maintain it and help it bloom, just like how we care for each other! WALL-E is an adorable science-fiction romance that follows the adventures of robots WALL-E and EVE, while also criticizing the impact of humans’ environmental neglect.

Now is the right time to start planting seeds of responsibility in the hearts of our young ones. This film will surely open their eyes while entertaining them!

11. Spirited Away (2001)

Studio Ghibli / via tumblr.com

Age Rating: PG

Learn: Faith

To have faith is to have complete trust or confidence, even when the present seems uncertain. Ten-year-old Chihiro had to journey through an unfamiliar world to save her parents, and all she had was her faith that they will meet again. This Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece will surely be an unforgettable one!

12. A Little Princess (1995)

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Age Rating: PG

Learn: Imagination

Imagination draws possibilities. Sarah Crewe, the heroine of the story, shared with her friends her creative stories, cheering them up and helping them have hope while living away from their families. Developing a child’s imagination can push them to try new ways of accomplishing things. Let Sarah’s story inspire your little ones.

Sources:

• Age ratings from https://www.commonsensemedia.org
• https://communities.dmcihomes.com/watching-movies-family-benefits/
• https://youaremom.com/play-time/benefits-of-m/ovies-for-kids/
• https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/nurturing-creativity-and-imagination-for-child-development