Five Films to Work On Children's Self-Esteem
Cinema is more than just a fun day out – it can also be a valuable educational and training resource. Knowing about films that can work on children’s self-esteem gives us the opportunity to help children find more than just entertainment on the big screen.
A movie can excite, sadden, entertain, or even bore us. And all this is thanks to the fact that cinema is a reflection of life itself. This is precisely why it’s such a good teaching tool.
Therefore, given that children are ‘little sponges’ that absorb all kinds of knowledge, it’s a great idea to make a good selection of films to help them. Look for the type of films that can:
- Help them get to know themselves better.
- Help them acquire self-assurance.
- Enable them to develop as happy and assertive individuals.
Discover movies to work on children’s self-esteem
Here’s a list of films that can be used to work on children’s self-esteem – they’re films that many trainers and educators use with children as well. They’ll help them get to know themselves better and to grow in confidence regarding their abilities and emotions.
Ratatouille, 2007
Directed by Brad Bird, Ratatouille is a film about a small rodent whose dream is to be a great cook. In order to do this, he gets together with the son of a famous chef. However, this turns out to be a culinary disaster!
This movie allows children to discover that there are no limits to enhancing their talent. If they have a skill or a dream, then they should at least have the chance to fight for it and integrate it into their lives.
Finding Nemo, 2003
Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich directed one of the most famous movies of the 21st century. This move had a sequel starring the adorable Dory.
In the movie, we find several lessons on how to overcome difficult situations. For example, little Nemo himself and his “disability” (one fin is smaller than the other) or the tireless search of his father when Nemo gets lost.
There are many scenes in the film that show that when you want something badly, then nothing can stand in the way. You just have to work towards your final goal with enthusiasm and confidence in your own abilities.
Wall-E, 2008
If we’re looking at movies to work on children’s self-esteem, then we shouldn’t forget Wall-E. This animated science-fiction film produced by Disney and Pixar tells the story of a cleaning robot that hasn’t stopped working even though people abandoned Earth many centuries before.
We can take several interesting lessons from this movie. One is the need for proper waste management, and another is the importance of children’s autonomy with the use of new technology, gadgets, smartphones, etc.
Human face-to-face communication, albeit seen through a robot’s point of view, is also vital, and the movie brings this out. Through body language and the meaning of sounds, we can get to know how to communicate efficiently, safely, and sensibly.
Inside Out, 2015
This film is a Disney and Pixar Studios modern-day classic that explores children’s emotions. They particularly focus on disappointment, fear, anger, sadness, and joy.
Much of the work that we do with young children regarding self-esteem is centered on their emotions. In this case, it’s not so much that you learn to handle them but rather that you have to understand and accept them. You need to understand their consequences so that you can learn how to manage them intelligently.
How to Train Your Dragon, 2010
We finish our tour of the movies that will improve a child’s self-esteem with another excellent film. How to Train Your Dragon tells the story of a young man who starts a beautiful friendship with a dragon.
In order to look after and enjoy his friendship with the dragon – a creature that all his people are afraid of – the boy will have to fight against all his people’s ancestral traditions. He’ll have to use plenty of self-confidence in the face of fear. Throughout the film, the young man proves to be very assertive, giving priority to living beings over customs and unfounded terrors.
Any of these five movies, and many more that you’re bound to know about, are an excellent tool for little ones to work on their self-esteem. They’ll also help them develop self-confidence in an environment that has been adapted to their needs and abilities.
