Raising Richmond: Movies to share with the kids

As the temperatures start to drop a bit, we all seem much more inclined to hunker down and spend some quality time soaking up quality movies. Here we’ll share a few of our favorites — a few from our own childhoods, others we discovered a bit later in life — that we love (or can’t wait) to share with our kids.

September 14, 2010; 12:00 PM • by Valerie Catrow

Editor’s note: Today’s feature is the newest installment of our parenting column written by two sets of Richmonders: Jorge and Patience Salgado (veteran parents of four gorgeous children), and Ross and Valerie Catrow (new-ish parents of a lively and opinionated toddler). Check back fortnightly to watch them discuss/agree/disagree/throw down over all kinds of parenting issues, Richmond-related and beyond.

As the temperatures start to drop a bit, we all seem much more inclined to round the kids up, hunker down, and spend some quality time soaking up quality movies. Here we’ll share a few of our favorites — some from our own childhoods, others we discovered a bit later in life — that we love (or can’t wait) to share with our kids.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (G)
Sweet songs, cute stories, and characters you probably grew up loving. It’s just so comfortable and snuggly, you can’t beat it. Follow it up with a game of poohsticks or a “hero party” and you’ll be Parent of the Century in their eyes.

The Goonies (PG)
Pirates! Maps! Lots of quotable dialogue! It just doesn’t get any better than a group of friends on a treasure hunt to save the day. Be careful though: if you’re anything like one contributor to this column, your kids will likely end up thinking of it as “That Movie Where My Mom Says Every Single Word” and thus hate it.

Mary Poppins (G)
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the same place? How can you lose? We love it because it tells the story of a family being taught to reconnect but with a big heaping dose of whimsy and magic to make it special and keep the kids interested.

Follow That Bird (G)
Once upon a time, Elmo was a nobody — it was all about the bird. This one has great songs that will stay in your head for all eternity (including one sung by Waylon Jennings) and a lovely message about how you don’t have to be the same to be a family.

The Sandlot (PG)
It’s a simple premise: the new kid in town tries to fit in with a close-knit troupe of baseball-obsessed boys. Shenanigans ensue and lifelong friendships are made. It’s fun, it’s summery, and it includes a puking scene that is mild enough for young viewers but just gross enough that they’ll feel like they’re getting away with something.

The Sound of Music (G)
Sure, there are Nazis in it and there’s the whole having-to-escape-to-Switzerland-thing (and it runs a bit long for the typical kid’s attention span), but the music is so beautiful that your kids will spend the rest of their lives carrying around a sliver of hope that some day, somewhere everyone around them will break out into an I Have Confidence/My Favorite Things/Do-Re-Mi/Climb Every Mountain medley. Thanks to you, they’ll be ready.

Star Wars, Episodes 4, 5, & 6 (PG)
Watching these films is a rite of passage in many families — particularly with fathers and sons, it seems. Plus, they’re referenced so often in pop culture, it’s kind of essential for your kids to see them so they know what the heck people are talking about.

Little Women (PG)
When it comes to highlighting the powerful bond between siblings, this one can’t be beat. Tip: get tissues. Lots and lots of tissues.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (G)
For us, it just ain’t the holidays until you’ve spent some time cuddled up with this 1965 (!!!) classic — and it offers up an important commentary on the commercialization of Christmas that even young kids can pick up on. However, be warned: come Christmastime, your little ones will probably want to bring home every single pitiful tree they see. And you should probably let them.

Newsies (PG)
Show your kids that just because they’re young doesn’t mean they can’t make things happen. Plus, this beloved 1990’s musical about the 1899 Newsboy Strike in New York City proves once and for all that dudes who sing and dance are awesome.

Ok, your turn

What movies do you love to share with your kids? What should we be adding to our Netflix queues?

Ross and Valerie Catrow welcomed their first baby (a giant, redheaded, blue-eyed boy name JR) in November of 2008. They spend the majority of their time running this website, missing Battlestar Galactica, and playing RockPaperScissors over who has to take the dogs out.

Jorge and Patience Salgado now live in a state of dreamy chaos with their four kids in the Westover Hills neighborhood. When Jorge isn’t acting as a human jungle gym for small monkey children, he can be found managing events and logistics for the corporate/non-profit world around this fine town. Patience slings a baby while she writes for Supersisters at PBSparents.org and tries to think up her next guerrilla goodness project.