Choosing Adoption Themed Movies for Kids
Tips for Picking a Movie about Foster and Adoptive Families
Watching a movie together as a family can be an effective starting point for important discussions. For adoptive and foster parents, adoption themed movies can be a natural segue to conversations unique to adopted and fostered kids. The key is to find a movie that interests the child and brings up relevant issues, without making her adoption status seem negative.
Tips for Choosing Movies about Fostering or Adoption
The first thing to consider when picking a movie for adopted or foster children is the child's developmental stage and how it relates to the adoptive situation.
- Can the child separate fantasy from reality?
- Does he understand that every adopted and foster child has a different story?
- Is the child going through issues related to the adoption or foster family?
- Is he comfortable asking questions about things he does not understand?
- Is he easily upset by difficult themes such as the death of parents or being different?
It is a good idea for adoptive or foster parents to watch an adoption themed movie beforehand to deem its appropriateness for the child. When the child watches the movie for the first time, it should be a family experience so that questions can be handled naturally.
Common Themes in Fostering and Adoption Movies
Many movies that involve fostering or adopting children contain common themes:
- Loss and abandonment
- Searching for birthfamily or permanent adoptive family
- Challenges of living in fostercare or an orphanage
- Being different
In addition to these themes, parents need to be prepared to discuss the portrayal of birth, foster and adoptive parents as they are often stereotyped in movies and sometimes in negative ways. It is also important to talk about the use of appropriate adoption and foster language in the movies as some dialogue is outdated and insensitive.
Recommended Adoption Theme Movies
As each story has its pros and cons, it is necessary to research the film on a sites such as The Internet Movie Database and make a decision in the best interest of the child. Here are some adoption and foster themed movies that have been recommended by families.
- Annie (1999)
- Babe (1995)
- Dinosaur (2000)
- Elf (2003)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
- Hotel for Dogs (2009)
- Meet the Robinsons (2007)
- Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Kids (2003)
- Snow Dogs (2002)
- Stuart Little (1999)
- Tarzan (1999)
- Tarzan II (2005)
- The Country Bears (2002)
Every child will respond to a movie differently, as will her adoptive and foster parents, but all the films can be springboards for conversations on adoption and fostering.
Conversation Starters after Watching an Adoption Themed Movie
Adoptive and foster parents should make note of possible questions and issues that may arise while watching a movie with their kids. Even if adoptees and foster kids do not identify any issues in the movie they want to talk about, parents can prompt them with simple open-ended questions.
- How do you think the character felt when he lost his family?
- What do you think of how the movie portrayed birth parents/foster parents/adoptive parents?
- What were some of challenges the character had in fitting in with his family?
- How do you think the character felt when he found his adoptive/birth family?
If the selection of adoption themed movies is handled carefully, this family activity is a helpful way of getting kids to open up about adoption and fostering. By watching the movie beforehand, noting stereotypes and preparing for questions, adoptive and foster parents can help kids feel comfortable talking about their unique families.
For other articles that help open conversations with kids about adoption and fostering read Famous Male Foster Kids, Famous Female Foster Kids and Famous Canadian Adoptees in Sports and T.V.
Adoption Themed Movies Get Kids Talking
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