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After seeing a movie I usually discuss it with them. Our conversation after Kung Fu Panda was about ‘how awesome Po was and how he won’. Winning at the moment seems to be important to both my children, I am unsure where this competitive streak has come from because I don’t encourage it (as it normally ends in the non-winner in tears). I added to our conversation about how Po was so good and ‘won’ because he believed in himself and used the amount of time he had to learn.

One of the messages in the movie that I thought quite important was ‘Everything happens for a reason’. I think that this is an important concept to accept in life. If you can accept that everything happens for a reason it makes it easier to deal with the hard times. It means that instead of wondering why me? you can wonder what can I do to improve my situation? or what now? I know that my belief is that everything happens for a reason has been important in my life. It has helped me to not regret decisions but rather to see obstacles as important learning opportunities.

Another important message is ‘now is the present, and it is called the present because that is what it is’. How often do we think it will be better in the future or when I make more money or if only neglecting what is happening now. One of my current strategies for everyday living especially when with my children is to not worry about the mess that will have to be cleaned later or about what else I have to do but rather to enjoy the time I spend with them and be totally involved in the minute. At times this is hard especially when I have study to do but I try and put everything else that has to be done is a box and store it at the back of my mind to open later.

As my kids seem to remember the storyline of movies I sometimes use examples in them to relate to their life…. such as ‘kung fu panda (or Po) did not learn straight away, he had to practice and try really hard’ or a for my three year old ‘what would Dora do?’ ‘lets stop and think’.

In a way some TV (in moderation) can be used to teach children about values, how to think and how to believe in themselves – but you need to watch it too (so you can apply it to their learning and discuss it with them).

Kung Fu Panda is a great movie to take your kids to watch…. enjoy!