You've Got to Take Your Kids to This One

Well, I don't typically review movies, but I just had to make sure that you all don't miss this one!  

I walked out of the theater, the first time I saw it, saying...genius, just genius!

I do a lot of teaching to parents, adopted and foster kids and their siblings, about emotions and about how we need to understand those emotions. And it's ALL in there!

I teach about the fact that we as humans experience many emotions and all at the same time sometimes. For example, how it is okay and typical to be anxious and excited all at the same time. How we can be sad about our past and happy about our now, all at the same time.    

I teach about the ALL IMPORTANT Limbic System and how it is impacted by trauma. How FEAR doesn't always see things clearly. How fear some times overreacts when he is stressed. How fear (Limbic System) is first and foremost about keeping us ALIVE and therefore he does and says kind of crazy things!

I teach about how we do have all of those past memories, but that we are a product of our past memories, experiences and emotions combined with our new memories, experiences and emotions.        

There is just so much good stuff in this movie - I could go on and on!
  
My advice is to use this movie as the great teaching tool that it is! Talk about the concepts I mentioned. Challenge your kids to look for the images and ideas. Keep in mind that many kids will probably do better watching it on the small screen at home. Another thing to remember is that most of them will do well watching it over and over to process it fully. This little movie is a great tool for those of us trying to help kids with hard histories to heal! 

I would love to have lunch with the writers...I'd like to know their story, I'd love to pick their brain, get the low-down on what they were motivated by. I am SO inspired!  I think I feel a class coming on! A class using this fun little film, "Inside Out." Watch for that opportunity when the DVD comes out in stores. 

For now, give your kids the opportunity to see this great movie and give them the gift of the words and concepts in it to begin to learn about the big emotions they struggle to identify and understand every day!