Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Movies
Looking for exciting New Year’s activities for kids? How about a cozy movie night with family-friendly New Year’s Eve movies?
Celebrating the start of a new year is an exciting time for everyone, especially for children. But finding ways to keep the little ones entertained until the clock strikes midnight can be a real challenge for parents.
That’s where our list comes in handy! We’ve curated a selection of family-friendly New Year’s Eve movies that are perfect for your end-of-year celebration.
These films will not only keep kids enthralled but will also add a touch of magic and warmth to your New Year’s Eve festivities.
Benefits of Family Movie Nights
Family movie nights are not just about entertainment; they offer profound benefits, especially for preschoolers.
Promotes Bonding: Shared experiences, like watching a movie together, provide opportunities for families to bond. It also facilitates conversations about the movie’s themes, which can lead to insightful discussions and shared laughter.
Educational: Many family-friendly films have underlying educational content. They often teach moral values, depict historical events, or introduce kids to different cultures.
Develops Empathy: Movies often depict a variety of emotions and situations. This exposure can help preschoolers understand different emotions, promoting empathy and emotional intelligence.
Inspires Creativity: The colorful visuals, unique characters, and imaginative plots in movies can inspire creativity in young minds, encouraging them to think outside the box.
Routine and Relaxation: Establishing a family movie night routine provides something for kids to look forward to. Additionally, it can serve as a relaxation time where the family can wind down together.
Remember, the key to a successful family movie night lies in choosing age-appropriate movies, setting a comfortable environment, and engaging in post-movie discussions to maximize the benefits.
Criteria for Movie Selection
Family-friendly movies suitable for preschoolers typically adhere to the following criteria:
Age-Appropriateness: The movie should be fit for the age group of preschoolers. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) film rating system can be a helpful guide, with ‘G’ (General Audiences) usually being the most acceptable for this age group.
Positive Themes: The movie should encourage positive behaviors and reflect good morals. Themes like friendship, kindness, honesty, and courage are always good choices.
Non-Frightening: The movie should not contain scenes that can potentially scare or distress preschoolers. Avoid films with intense peril, violence or scary characters and situations.
Minimal Adult Content: The movie should not contain adult themes or innuendos, which are not suitable for young children.
Engaging Plot: The storyline should be simple and engaging enough for young kids to follow. A clear narrative structure with a problem to be solved often works best.
Fun Characters: The movie should feature characters that are relatable and fun, ideally with positive role models that kids can look up to.
Educational Value: Besides being entertaining, the movie should provide some level of educational content – this can be in the form of introducing kids to different cultures, teaching them about historical events, or subtly imparting life lessons.
Remember, every child is unique. It’s always best to watch the movie beforehand, or at least read reviews, to ensure it’s appropriate for your specific child and aligns with your family values.
Top Family Friendly Movie Recommendations
Without further ado, let’s dive into our top family-friendly movie recommendations for a memorable New Year’s Eve. Each film on this list has been carefully selected based on the criteria we discussed earlier.
They are not only entertaining but also packed with educational content and positive themes that will inspire your little ones. Grab your popcorn, snuggle up with your family, and enjoy a magical movie night as you count down to the New Year!
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy (Actors)
- George Miller (Director) – George Miller (Writer) – Erika Aronson (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
“Happy Feet” (2006): This heartwarming tale of a tap-dancing penguin named Mumble is a hit with kids. The ‘G’ rated movie is filled with fun characters and has underlying themes of embracing individuality and the importance of community.
- Factory sealed DVD
- Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer (Actors)
- Eric Darnell (Director)
- Spanish, French, English (Subtitles)
- English (Publication Language)
“Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” (2012): The beloved animals from the Madagascar series have a New Year’s Eve adventure in this film. The ‘PG’ rated movie is filled with humor, thrilling circus acts, and promotes the values of friendship and courage.
- Allen, Tim, Hanks, Tom, Metcalf, Laurie (Actors)
- Lasseter, John (Director)
- Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
“Toy Story” series (1995 – 2019): These Disney-Pixar classics never fail to entertain. The movies revolve around the adventures of a group of toys that come to life when humans aren’t around. The ‘G’ rated series promotes themes of loyalty, friendship, and courage.
- Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House (Actors)
- John Musker (Director) – Jared Bush (Writer)
- French, Spanish, English (Subtitles)
- English (Publication Language)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
“Moana” (2016): This ‘PG’ rated Disney movie tells the story of a young navigator who sets sail on a daring mission to save her people. The film showcases a strong female lead and offers an introduction to Polynesian culture.
- Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Miranda Cosgrove (Actors)
- Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
“Despicable Me” series (2010 – Present): This ‘PG’ rated series centers around a super-villain turned adoptive father of three girls. The films are fun, full of humor, and emphasize the importance of family.
- Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould (Actors)
- Andrew Stanton (Director) – Andrew Stanton (Writer)
- Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
“Finding Nemo” (2003): This ‘G’ rated Disney-Pixar film about a clownfish’s journey across the ocean to find his son is a delightful watch. The movie teaches children about the power of perseverance and the love between a parent and child.
Remember to consider the age and preferences of your children while selecting the movie.
Additional Activities
To make your family movie night more engaging and memorable, consider incorporating some additional activities. These could be themed snacks or crafts that relate to the movie you are watching. Not only will this make the event more fun, but it also provides an opportunity for learning and creativity.
Themed Snacks: Create a menu of snacks that tie into the movie. For example, if you’re watching “Moana,” you might serve tropical fruit kabobs, or if “Madagascar” is your movie of choice, popcorn served in animal-print containers could be a hit.
Crafts: Engage your children in making crafts related to the movie. This could be making penguin finger puppets for “Happy Feet,” or creating paper fish after watching “Finding Nemo.”
Drawing: Help preschoolers unleash their creativity with paper and colored pencils. This practical and fun activity encourages parent involvement in early childhood education. This not only keeps them engaged but also encourages them to recall and reinterpret what they watched.
Discussion: After the movie, have a short discussion about the movie’s themes and what your children understood. This could also be an opportunity to discuss any questions they might have or explain the more complex ideas presented in the movie.
Remember, the aim is to make the movie night fun and engaging for your preschoolers while also creating an educational experience. Enjoy the process of planning and executing the perfect family movie night!
As we wrap up, we hope our list of family-friendly movies provides you with a starting point for creating a wonderful and memorable New Year’s Eve tradition. Each film strikes a balance between entertainment and education, ensuring your preschoolers are engaged while also learning valuable life lessons.
Feel free to choose movies that align with your family values and your children’s preferences. Remember, the essence of this tradition isn’t just about the movie, but the precious family time and the conversations that follow.
So grab your popcorn, snuggle up, and enjoy a magical New Year’s Eve movie night with your little ones!