I’ve found that being a parent is about improvising. I would not change being a parent to 3 boys for anything in the world. But I do know that I can’t do what I used too, I have to budget for things like going out to movies, not to mention that it’s not realistic for me to take my 3 boys to a movie that they’d have a hard time sitting still for. Regardless, it’s still possible to have the same level (or close to) of fun while involving them.
Just because you can’t get out to see some of the summer block busters, doesn’t mean that you can’t have your own blockbuster night… at home! We do watch movies in our home but sometimes being a parent calls for **something special for you AND the kids**! I am always on the lookout for new ideas and fun things to do. If you’re a busy parent, then these tips could help bring some extra special fun to your household.
How to Plan a Kids Movie Night at Home #1 POPCORN:
What movie night could be without popcorn? To make your popcorn extra special, pop some up (either a microwave bag, or dig out the popcorn popper!), then melt some butter on the stove. Pour it on, shake it up and VOLIA!!! Movie theater popcorn for much cheaper then you would have gotten it at the theater (and tastier in my opinion!). Do you know that there is even a Popcorn Organization with all kinds of information for kids and adults? Check it out here: http://www.popcorn.org/index.cfm . You can even print out a Popcorn coloring page for the kids.
How to Plan a Kids Movie Night at Home #2 SWEET TREATS:
M&M;’s, Junior Mints, Chocolate covered Gummy bears, Skittles, Dots or? You’ve got the popcorn, now you need to enlighten your taste buds with a little something sweet. The dollar store sometimes has name brand candy that is the same size you can get at a movie theater. In another article of mine ( http://www.judysbook.com/members/34347/posts/2006/7/408309/ ), I mentioned smores made in the microwave. These are a GREAT treat. Melted chocolate and marshmallows, what could be better? Just keep in mind that these are very messy so have paper towels or napkins handy. Find out how to do it here: http://www.creativechocolatesofvt.com/Recipes/Micro_Smores.html . Check out some other cool candy here: http://www.candydirect.com/
How to Plan a Kids Movie Night at Home #3 LIGHTING & CRANK IT UP:
Movie Theaters are nice and dark….so why not have ALL the lights off in your home while watching a movie. I also recommend turning the ringer off your phone so your family won’t be disturbed during this special BLOCKBUSTER night. Remember how loud the movies can get when you go out to see a movie? Crank that TV up a little more then usual to add to the blockbuster experience.
How to Plan a Kids Movie Night at Home #4. MOVIE:
Why is the movie number 4? Because you can watch a movie anytime and to make it a special BLOCKBUSTER night, you need to keep 1-3 in mind. Is there a movie you’ve been meaning to see but haven’t yet for some reason? You can rent it at a local store or if you can splurge, rent Netflix ( http://www.netflix.com/Register ) for a month and rent several movies and do a family vote to pick which one to watch. Can’t splurge on a rental? Ask your family/friends if they have any family oriented movies that you haven’t seen. If all else fails, pick out a family favorite that you already have. With the above steps, it’ll be just as fun!
Here are some movie recommendations that my family enjoys:
1. Jurassic Park http://www.jurassicpark.com/maingate_flash.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_Park_%28film%29 3 to choose from! Lots of Dinosaur Action!
2. Harry Potter: http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/ 4 movies to choose from but if you have younger kids, I’d recommend the first or second one. A treat for the entire family.
3. Lilo and Stitch http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/liloandstitch/index.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilo_&_Stitch The first one of course, is a classic, but it is a tearjerker adorable Disney film. There are now several Lilo and Stitch movies your family can choose from. Stitch is so endearing, such a cute little guy that we enjoy all the movies, and the series. As an extra treat, go here: http://www.coloring.ws/liloandstitch1.htm and print some coloring pages for your kids!
4. Tremors http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_d/103-3146684-0507858?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords;=tremors&Go.x;=0&Go.y;=0&Go;=Go & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremors_%28film%29 (4 movies to choose from. This may seem to be an odd choice to pick for the entire family for those who haven’t seen them but my oldest kids love these. IMO, they are not scary. We especially like 2 and 3.
5. Scooby Doo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo_%28film%29 Most kids love Scooby Doo. You can chose from cartoons or the movies with a live cast.
6. Disney Movies. Disney has tons and tons of movies out that are family friendly. Go here:
http://home.disney.go.com/ or http://disney.go.com/DisneyPictures/ & http://disneyvideos.disney.go.com/ Here is a list of only their animated movies: http://homepage.usask.ca/~jjs142/movielist.htm
Doing something like the above, is something special to do with your children. I know that my own children love it when I play with them, or plan events with them in mind and I always end up having fun myself! Planing special events or nights such as these are also good memory makers and your children are sure to look back at their childhood fondly.
