As parents, we tend to worry about screen time and feel deflated when we exhaust all other options and give in to “putting something on”. For me, this is usually so that I can scoff down my dinner in 10 minutes, get the chores done or just have a few moments to myself. So it’s nice to just be able to relax, unwind and watch something together simply for the sake of doing so, on the rare occasion.
The current circumstances have resulted in more screen time for all of us so I thought I would a compile a list that can help you make the most of it with your little ones (ranked in order of preference). Please note that these are movies that CB and I enjoy watching together. There may be others that my daughter has fun watching but this list contains those that are equally enjoyable for the both of us (to some extent). Until she is old enough to watch the Marvel movies with me, we’ll just have to make do with these!
Warning: Some blurbs may contain spoilers.
15. Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
Generally, I prefer shows over movies within the Mickey Mouse franchise but this particular movie does have that magical feel to it. It consists of five stories involving Mickey Mouse and his friends and their adventures during the winter holidays. They are all quite fun, except the Goofy segment which I think has an inappropriate storyline, considering the young audience the movie is targeted at, so we usually try to skip this part. The opening sequence of Belles on Ice is definitely one to watch though, it’s absolutely enchanting and will keep you and your little ones mesmerised.
14. Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue (2010)
This movie has a sweet storyline and is about a little girl’s love for fairies. It also teaches children about family and friendship. The plot is special but simple, and this makes it easy for little ones to follow the story. This is the only Tinkerbell movie we have watched and has left us excited to watch more of her adventures!
13. Alice in Wonderland (1951)
I really enjoy watching this weird but “wonder”ful classic with CB. Having said that I don’t actually think we have ever finished the film together, largely due to the fact that there is a bit of a frightening scene where one of the characters is chased by a hammer! So sometimes CB gets scared at this point and I switch over to something else (I should really just skip this part). Other than that it’s an enjoyable watch with all its quirkiness. Love the songs too. A Very Merry Unbirthday to You!
12. Zootropolis (2016)
This is yet another movie that we have not gotten around to completing together, but I thought I would add it to the mix because the beginning includes a really great scene we enjoy watching. This is when the main character, Judy, travels to Zootopia via train. The visuals we are shown during the train journey are simply stunning! This scene also features a fabulous song by Shakira – Try Everything – that I love to include in children’s parties. Overall it’s got a really clever story that explores the ideas of diversity, inclusivity and ambition, so I look forward to watching the full movie with CB when she is older.
11. Toy Story that Time Forgot (2014)
Set between Toy Story 3 and 4, this super-fun made-for-television 22-minute short film is about Trixie the Dinosaur “finding herself” during the festive season. There are some fun and daring adventures with some of the other well-loved characters – familiar and new – along the way. CB loves the action and I enjoy the witty dialogue!
10. The Boss Baby (2017)
The concept of The Boss Baby is just pure genius (fun fact: it is based on a book), and Boss Baby himself is just SO funny and entertaining to watch. The ideas used are really creative and has led onto the development of a spin-off series which we love watching too (The Boss Baby: Back in Business). Without giving too much away, the story is about a seven year-old boy getting used to the idea of a brother (who leads a double-life!), whilst teaming up with him at the same time to save the world from the plans of a vengeful mastermind. Give it a go!
9. Inside Out (2015)
We have only watched this a handful of times but I really love the depth of the story. It is so meaningful and is beautifully delivered in an imaginative way. The story follows the emotions of an eleven year-old girl as she moves to another state, misses her old home and learns to embrace the changes. We love the characters and vibrant visuals too.
8. Shaun the Sheep Farmageddon (2019)
I absolutely love stop motion animation. It reminds me of my childhood – I was a big fan of Wallace and Gromit and loved Pingu too. The effort and creativity that goes into it is just fascinating. Actually, come to think of it, Shaun the Sheep has a lot of similarities with Wallace and Gromit, so perhaps they share the same makers. This new instalment in the stop-motion animation industry contains minimal dialogue and this means there is an emphasis on explaining the story through actions, gestures and visuals. I think this makes it easier for CB to understand the story and basically allows us to understand the movie on the same level. That’s pretty cool to think about! The story involves an alien child becoming lost and finding his way back to his family with the help of Shaun the Sheep and his friends. A baby getting “wost” and eventually being reunited with parents is a common story that CB likes to use during playtime with her figures, so she really enjoys the plot of this film. She also loves rockets and all-things space, so the theme of the movie appeals to her a lot too. It’s a fun and sweet story. I love the reference to Doctor Who and all the other clever little details. The only downside is that I did notice one or two inappropriate references dropped in – I have no idea why directors and writers feel the need to do this in children’s movies.
7. Frozen (2013)
Come on, this had to be on the list. Is an explanation even needed?!
6. Frozen II (2019)
Usually sequels do not turn out that great but we loved this one and think it is just as enjoyable as the first! Although the story is a tad complicated for younger viewers, this actually made it more interesting for me to watch, and I think the magic of the movie can still be appreciated by little ones.
5. Minions (2015)
We love this origin story for these adorable yellow characters. So funny and partly set in historic London too! Soundtrack is really groovy too. We loved to learn about the back story of how they eventually met Gru and are looking forward to watching the sequel which is due to be released next year.
4. Finding Dory (2016)
Here is another storyline where a child becomes lost and looks for her family – so again, CB enjoys this as she can relate it to her playtime stories. I love all the new characters and the under-the-sea visuals are so captivating too, just as they were in the first movie. CB has actually not watched Finding Nemo, the prequel to this, yet, so I am looking forward to watching that with her at some point!
3. Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
This spin-off movie from Madagascar, dedicated to the adventures of those super-cute, full-of-wit penguins, is always fun to watch together. Dave the Octopus is a fabulous character too – the scene where he introduces himself with the line “I am…Dave!” will always be a special one for me, as when we used to watch it in the early days CB would always giggle at this scene. I love all the characters, although I would have liked to have seen more of the North Wind team. Watch it, I guarantee you will laugh out loud.
2. Trolls (2016)
Bright colours, upbeat music, hugs, friendship – this movie is all about being happy, along with lots and lots of glitter! Characters are great, and my favourite is Bridget. So I was disappointed that she was not featured in the sequel, with the exception of a short scene at the end of the movie. Overall, we were not that impressed with the second movie (Trolls: World Tour), hence why it is not on this list. We decided to watch Trolls after collecting some figures in Happy Meals recently, so it is newly discovered for us. This means the number of times we have watched it is still in the tens (unlike some of the other movies on the list which are probably in the hundreds – honestly I am not sure if I am joking or not). Originally I was going to put this as number one on this list, but with the recent controversy surrounding a particular Trolls toy, I was honestly put off a little bit from the film. But really there probably is subliminal messaging in all children’s movies – sad I know. I guess it’s up to us as parents to be aware of these things and just…well, parent as best we can.
1. Moana (2016)
When I think about it, this has to be number one. This has been number one since the very early days. We have watched it SO many times I have all the lines memorised, no exaggeration. And you know what, we could watch it again and again (well we do, anyway) because the story is brilliant and the songs are too. It goes without saying, the visuals are incredible. Plus, of course, I love to see the excitement on CB’s face when we put it on. When I was pregnant with CB, I prepared our television with all the Disney Princess movies, ready for her to watch at some point when she would be interested. How fitting that she should want to watch the one that was released the year before she was born! She IS baby Moana. From her inquisitive nature and adventurous personality, to her kind spirit and love for the ocean. I am actually really pleased that she prefers the movie that represents female empowerment the strongest in the Disney Princess series. Currently I am planning a Beach/Moana theme for CB’s upcoming third birthday so I’m excited for how that turns out and to see CB’s reaction – I hope to share some highlights soon.
There are others classics such as the Toy Story feature-length series and more recent series such as Wreck it Ralph that CB hasn’t gotten around to watching properly yet – but I have a feeling she would really enjoy these. I’m looking forward to introducing non-animated children’s movies too in the near future, including some classics from my childhood such as Home Alone, Baby’s Day Out and Spy Kids (I could list so many more!).
Let me know if you have any recommendations by leaving a comment below or getting in touch.
Happy watching!
Mumma in Muscat 