11 Movies with Positive Values for Kids and Teens
One of the ways to have an entertaining time with children is to spend an afternoon watching movies together. And if you decide to watch movies with positive values for children and teenagers, even better.
In this article, you’ll find a list of movies that have positive values for children and teenagers. Although this list is organized by age, it’s of course up to parents to know and choose what kind of movie is appropriate, taking into account their child’s maturity level.
Movies with positive values for children and teenagers
Children 3 to 6 years old
Inside out
This Disney and Pixar movie is one of my favorites for children of these ages, as it helps them understand, in a simple way, what happens to us when we feel different emotions. In addition, it transmits other positive values such as friendship and inclusion, among others.
Up
This movie, also by Disney and Pixar, begins with the endearing but somewhat tragic story of Ellie and Carl. A story of love, commitment, of not giving up in the face of adversity, and of always pursuing our dreams, even if they seem impossible.
Apart from the love story, there’s the friendship between Carl and little Russel, which gives us values such as friendship, companionship, and positivity.
Finding Nemo
This is a story in which a fish gets lost and his father sets out to find him along with another fish named Dory, setting out on a real adventure in the ocean until he finally finds him. Here, children learn the importance of teamwork to achieve goals. Once again, this film is brought to us by Disney and Pixar.
The Good Dinosaur
To conclude this portion of our list, we have another Disney/Pixar film: The story of Arlo, a dinosaur who gets lost after the death of his father and struggles to return home overcoming every obstacle he faces. The Good Dinosaur conveys the feeling of belonging and love for the family, and how important it is to never give up, no matter how difficult the road may seem.
Movies with positive values for children and teenagers
Children from 6 to 12 years old
Wonder
This endearing 2017 film stars Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and acclaimed child actor Jacob Tremblay. Tremblay portrays a young boy named Auggie who has Treacher-Collins syndrome, which causes facial deformations and hearing loss.
The film reveals the struggles that Auggie faces as he enters the public school system for the first time in fifth grade, as well as the struggles of his mother, father, and older sister. This story about acceptance, kindness, and overcoming adversity is one that you and your children will never forget.
Mrs. Doubtfire
This film is among one of my favorites. I’ve included it in this age group, but it can be seen by all audiences. It tells the story of a father, Daniel, who has to pretend to be a nanny in order to be with his children, as the visitation regime after his divorce doesn’t allow him to see them as he’d like.
It teaches us values such as the love of a parent for a child, and the struggle, creativity, and ingenuity it takes to achieve what seems impossible.
Ian
In this case, we’re talking about a short film rather than a full-length movie. However, it’s worth including in this list. It tells the story of a young child Ian, who uses a wheelchair and who, due to a lack of inaccessibility and other barriers, struggles to play alongside his classmates. It teaches us values such as friendship and inclusion, regardless of who you are.
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale
This is a beautiful and very emotional film that conveys positive values such as loyalty, love, respect for animals, and, of course, their loyalty to humans. It tells the story of a dog that waits every day for his master (played by Richard Gere) at the train station until he passes away. However, the dog remains there, waiting for him to arrive one day.
Adolescents ages 12 to 13 years old and up
Pay It Forward
This movie tells the story of a boy, Trevor (Haley Joel Osment), who wants to make the world a better place, and creates an assignment for school that consists of making a chain of favors. Each person will have to do a favor to another person and this one to another, and so on, successively and in a selfless way. Values such as love for others, altruism, and empathy are present here.
The Chorus
This French film tells the story of a music teacher who starts working at a boarding school for children with behavioral problems. The children end up trusting the teacher and music ends up becoming their escape route.
Here, we find values such as unity, companionship, the value of asking for forgiveness, hope, and that we all have the right to second chances.
Forrest Gump
Who hasn’t heard of Forrest Gump, one of Tom Hank’s most iconic films? A boy with a disability who goes through the different stages of his life until he becomes an adult. It’s a story of overcoming adversity, which conveys values such as equality among human beings, whoever they are, kindness, looking past appearances, pursuing dreams, and, of course, inclusion.
Final thoughts on movies with positive values for children
I hope you enjoy this list of movies with positive values for children and teenagers. And, in addition to spending fun afternoons together, I hope that watching these films also helps pass on the importance of the positive values that each one of them conveys.