Choosing Family Friendly Movies

January 25, 2012

While reviewing movie ratings can give you a general idea of what age a movie is intended for, in addition to alerting you about the various types of content that are in the movie (including sex, language and violence), choosing a family-friendly movie requires more than just reviewing the ratings.

How can you be sure that a movie you are considering is truly friendly for your family? Here are 5 tips to help you decide whether or not a movie is a “fit” for your family:

1. Define what “family friendly” means to you

Each family has its own set of values and definitions of what is and isn’t appropriate when it comes to media. Ask yourself where you family draws their lines when it comes to language, sexual content, violence, themes and story lines and only choose movies that align with your values and definitions of what’s acceptable for you.

2. Consider if the subject matter seems appropriate

Consider if the plot of the movie is right for your family. Will seeing the movie make family members feel good? Will it instill fear in younger children? Will it promote sexual thoughts? Or introduce your children to lifestyle choices you’d rather educate them about yourself? Only choose movies you know will leave a positive impact on your family’s lives.

3. Check out Pluggedin.com

Pluggedin.com is committed to giving parents the tools they need to make informed entertainment decisions for their families. It features movie reviews and an array of parenting tools including Movie Nights, which are downloadable curricula that helps promote discussion about family friendly Hollywood movies. Visiting Pluggedin.com and reviewing movies prior to seeing them can help you decide if a movie is right for your family.

4. Choose Dove Approved movies.

The Dove Foundation is committed to encouraging and promoting the creation, production, distribution and consumption of wholesome family entertainment. Dove rates movies based on a 5 dove scale, provides in-depth movie reviews and provides movie distributors with a Dove “Family-Approved” seal to indicate the movie has family-friendly content.

5. Consider using a ClearPlay DVD

ClearPlay allows you to watch movies while having the content you deem inappropriate filtered out. ClearPlay skips and mutes movie content based on 12 categories that you can set. ClearPlay filter developers watch movies and carefully create the filters which are downloadable to ClearPlay members. Children’s minds are impressionable. What they see, hear and experience sticks with them. Guard their hearts and minds by selecting movies that are truly friendly for your family and will leave everyone feeling good about themselves and the world around them. How do you choose family-friendly movies? What are your favorite family-friendly movies? Please share your thoughts and ideas on how you choose movies for your own family in our comments section below.

With her background as an International Nanny Association Credentialed Nanny specializing in caring for multiples, Michelle has been partnering with parents in raising their children since 1994.

With her extensive experience in newborn, infant and child care, and with her passion for setting herself apart from her peers by providing top-notch service, Michelle is regularly called on by the most popular parenting magazines and websites to share her knowledge and expertise. She has been featured on Parents.com, Parenting.com, and BabyTalk.com and regularly contributes to ModernMom.com, Momtastic.com, and other popular parenting websites.

Michelle has contributed to TWINS Magazine and wrote a chapter for the best-selling Experts' Guide to the Baby Years. Michelle has also authored four books of her own entitled, Nanny to the Rescue!, Nanny to the Rescue Again!, Working Mom's 411 and A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists. She also co-authored Beyond Parenting Basics: The International Nanny Association’s Official Guide to In-Home Child Care.

Michelle is an active member of the nanny and baby planner communities. In 2004, Michelle was honored as the International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year> and received accolades from President George Bush for her dedication to improving quality in-home child care. Michelle serves on the advisory board of the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals and has served on the board of directors and as vice president of the International Nanny Association. She has also served as the executive director of the International Nanny Association and as a trainer for The Academy of Coaching Parents International.

Michelle currently serves as the editor in chief of Longhorn Leads, managing the content across their portfolio of care related sites including www.eNannySource.com, www.GoNannies.com, www.NannyPro.com, and www.4Nannies.com, in addition to serving as the executive director of Morningside Nannies, the company’s award-winning placement agency.

Michelle is a national speaker, bringing a message of hope and empowerment to moms groups across the nation. She and her husband Jeff, reside on Cape Cod with their daughter, Abigail, and their son, Luke.