10 Quotes From Kids’ Movies That Will Inspire Every Parent
Before I had kids, I rarely watched the same movie a second time. Let alone for a one-hundredth time.
But my kids seem to have an insatiable desire for re-watching the same movies.
Some experts think kids like to re-watch films for the same reason they like to read the same books over and over again: To a kid, everything is new. That can be stressful. The idea that the world is a predictable place is reassuring to a child.
That’s why hearing or watching the same story makes them happy. Because they know what’s going to happen next. No surprises.
My kids have dragged me along on this movie repetition ride. I thought eventually, it would drive me to take a sledgehammer to every kids’ DVD we own, then use the silvery shards to stab out my own eyes.
Then I Got a Surprise
I realized I was starting to like re-watching movies. Maybe even love it.
Even if you do your research on Rotten Tomatoes, when you watch only new movies you can end up with some real duds.
But movies you’ve seen before and loved? They never disappoint.
Example: I first discovered About Time† on my quest to find the top 10 romantic comedies for the modern woman. Now I re-watch it about once a month and get the same warm fuzzies as that first time—maybe more.
10 Essential Quotes for Parents From Kids’ Movies
As long as you don’t get roped into watching the latest My Little Pony monstrosity, you can actually enjoy your movie re-watching plight as a parent.
Why? Because whether it’s your fifth or fiftieth time to watch Toy Story, most kids’ movies nowadays have messages the parents need to hear just as much as the kids.
Here are the top quotes about parenting I’ve picked up from watching these movies with my kids over and over and OVER again. For your next family movie night, pop one of these movies in, settle in with a family-sized vat of popcorn, and soak up the parenting wisdom.
(Quick note: I tried to find video clips of all the actual quotes, but I didn’t in some cases so I included the movie trailer instead.)
1. On Courage
- Movie: We Bought a Zoo
- Truth: This quote has come in handy tons of times. When our oldest daughter was scared to jump in the pool. And again when she was nervous about offering her hand for a handshake instead of a hug. And again and again. We recite the quote, she nods her head, and she finds the courage to tackle whatever challenge lies ahead. (Be sure to watch this family movie with the family-friendly audio track.)
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
2. On Discipline
You are bad guy, but this does not mean you are *bad* guy.
- Movie: Wreck-It Ralph
- Truth: When your kid’s behavior is less than desirable, he isn’t the bad guy. From whining to tantrums, he may be having a hard time and giving you an even harder time, but this quote reminds me to keep my anger in check. As soon as possible after everyone is calmed down, we find a way to reconnect and turn the whole debacle into a teachable moment.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
3. On Connection
Balalalala
- Movie: Big Hero 6
- Truth: When moods dip low and tones get snippy around the house—usually because we’ve made the mistake of letting hanger infiltrate our ranks—it’s no fun for anyone. Try this trick to lighten things up a bit. A round of fist bumps with a “Balalalala” does wonders for everyone in our family. We can’t help but smile, even if one of us is currently pouting. That small connection is usually enough to pull us out of a downward spiral.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
4. On Happiness
I… I know you don’t want me to, but I miss home. I miss Minnesota. You need me to be happy, but I want my old friend, and my hockey team. I wanna go home. Please don’t be mad.
- Movie: Inside Out
- Truth: You want your kid to be happy, so when she falls and scrapes a knee you say, “You’re okay.” When she’s upset about being snubbed by a friend at school, you move right to solutions. It’s easy to skip the step of listening. Of letting your child know you hear that she’s upset. That you get it. I know because I make that mistake all the time. But without that step, your child represses those yucky feelings and they come out in uglier ways, like temper tantrums.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
5. On Mistakes
Go write your own stories.
- Movie: The Book of Life
- Truth: You want to keep your kid safe from the same heartache and sadness you’ve experienced. You’ve learned countless life lessons, and it’s your job to pass them onto your children. Which is true. But it’s easy to take this too far. You need to leave space for your child to learn her own lessons. Make her own mistakes. When you try to protect her from every hiccup in life, you end up with a child who cannot handle even the smallest failure or disappointment. And that won’t end well by the time she’s in college because it manifests as depression and/or anxiety. Moral for me as a parent? Let your child write her own stories.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
6. On What Really Matters
That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most.
- Movie: Up
- Truth: What matters most to your kids is not the big, expensive stuff like a new flat-screen TV or a house with two times the square footage. Nope. It’s the little “boring” things that are most important of all. From an impromptu dance party to telling stories from when you were a kid, those simple times will be what your kid remembers the most.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
7. On Bravery
It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.
- Movie: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- Truth: This is a fantastic lesson for kids, but it’s turned out to be an even better lesson for me as a parent. When my kids behave in a disrespectful way, especially when it’s something small, sometimes it’s tempting to let it slide. Look the other way. Because who wants to be a nag all the time? And what if your kids think you’re a tyrant and by the time they’re legally adults, they want absolutely nothing to do with you? Time will tell on the latter, but what I’ve learned is that when I’m consistent about making my expectations clear, my kids seem to respect me more for it.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
8. On Authority
Authority should derive from the consent of the governed, not from threat of force.
Barbie
- Movie: Toy Story 3
- Truth: As a parent, it’s my job to help get these little people ready to live independently in this crazy world of ours. That’s why I view moments of discipline as an opportunity to teach my children a lesson to serve them later in life. And in fact, the Latin root of the word “discipline” means “to teach.” Ultimately, I’ve come to realize the fact that I cannot force my kids to do what they don’t want to do. Anyone who’s ever lived through non-napping days with toddlers knows this. On top of that, my kids need to be open to the idea of learning a lesson, or nothing will stick. Fear and shame shut down the part of the brain that can learn those lessons. In our house, parenting does not work well as a dictatorship. Of the four major parenting styles, we’ve found the authoritative (not authoritarian) style works best.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
9. On the Journey
No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid. I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for…for 10 minutes!
- Movie: The Incredibles
- Truth: Aside from the obvious part about how ridiculous it feels trying to keep a house clean when you have littles running around, this quote perfectly describes the journey of parenting. Every time you get a handle on your current stage of parenting, something changes. You finally figure out how to head off toddler tantrums at the pass, then you wake up to discover your kid is now the pickiest eater in all of the land and refuses to eat anything but Goldfish crackers and ketchup. Or your kid starts kindergarten and after a couple months, you get into a groove with that whole school thing. Then one day, you pick up your kid from school and she’s in tears because her best friend wouldn’t play with her at recess. You know how people say, “It gets easier”? It’s true, and it’s not. Sure, not having to wake up every two hours to feed, burp, and change a newborn is nice. But is it easier trying to raise a kind kid instead of a butthead? Kinda, kinda not.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
10. On Affection
She loves you, but always forgets to say it. Just like you forget to tell her.
- Movie: The Croods
- Truth: Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my never-ending to-do list that I forget to stop and just be with my kids. Play LEGOs with my toddler for 10 minutes. Read Harry Potter out loud to my oldest. Look them in the eyes and tell them I love them. Or open my arms for a quick hug (although not too quick). Bonding in these small ways helps kids form healthier relationships as they grow into adults, plus it increases their brain’s ability to learn and retain knowledge. When I take a couple short minutes to reconnect, I reap the benefits all day. My kids roll with the punches better when things don’t go 100% their way, they’re more open to the idea of helping out around the house, and we just have more fun together.
- Watch It: Amazon | iTunes
Before you go, get my FREE cheat sheet: 75 Positive Phrases Every Child Needs to Hear
Your Turn
What are your favorite quotes on parenting? Share in a comment below!
You know, when you take it out of context, you wouldn’t even know that they came from a children’s movie (well, maybe not for Big Hero 6 lol). Love, LOVE the Up quote and the Harry Potter quote. And yep, I can totally watch many of these over and over again.