The Monkees - Here They Come....(On You Tube)

One of the things I love about a Smart TV is the access  to You Tube. You can find gems on You Tube from previous generations that kids will love. Recently, I found out that the Monkees are on You Tube. You can view full episodes from their first 2 seasons.

The Monkees, as I remembered provided episodes of laughter for kids. The show provides great examples of the importance of friendships. The Monkees had a concept that was unique for television back in the 60 The show was an early example of a comedy that mocked a cultural phenomenon. The Monkees mocked the British Invasion. while becoming so popular with kids, they earned as much fame. They were on everything back then, including cereal boxes and lunch boxes. They became a huge hit overnight. Shows like Get Smart would use a similar platform for comedy. (Get Smart mocked the James Bond films of the 60s)


The show was a 2 year sensation. In those 2 short years, they had huge music hits, and great comedic episodes. Slapstick and corny jokes that will surely get your kids to laugh out loud. Some fun trivia to share with your kids. The Monkees while not real musicians developed a passion to become musicians. In a sense, the machine that created the Monkees would soon be challenged by the band. They wanted to write their own music and be taken seriously.

Ironically, the Monkees benefitted from working with great talent. Neil Diamond provided some of their greatest songs. They had some of the greatest writers and musicians provide them a foundation. Your children will be introduced to some great music. And this is great time for them to watch the Monkees. They may have released their last record this year. After watching a few episodes, check out their new single She Makes Me Laugh. The new single t is connected to the show, and they will enjoy the magic of the music that has been enjoyed by multiple generations.

If I Had Wings

Movies that provide examples of the values we all share are important to watch. Children today develop empathy and generous thoughts through examples that they can see and touch. Of course family and friends provide the first line of learning. However, social media and cerebral cinema can provide valuable talking points for parents and friends to have with their children.

If I Had Wings is a movie that can provoke some great conversations for families viewing this film. The topics for discussion include children with a disability, bullying, poverty, and overcoming adverse situations due to intolerance. This movie has many conversation starters for families to engage with their children, or in some cases vise versa. As the movie progresses, it may cause kids to question whether their own family does enough to respond to intolerance within their own community.

The  movie is based on a story of a blind young man that wants to run cross country at his high school. The barriers to overcoming his disability provide obstacles that no one imagined. The movie provides examples of intolerance that exists in a school settings across our country. While some scenes are not as genuine as what could happen in tradition school settings, the movie provides us a glimpse of the world our children are growing up in. Some moments are very real. The portrayal of social media and bullying, makes for a great discussion for parents and kids to have about the responsibility of technology. There are some powerful moments in this movie, and due to the content, I would recommend children over 10 view the film and children under ten should be mindful of parental discretion.

If I Had Wings is a genuine portrayal of the world our children know and navigate. It may give us as adults some insight into the barriers our children face every day in school, and life.

Walt Before Mickey

Walt Disney created an empire that we all know is Disney. Walt Disney however did not have an easy road. Many failures and struggles laid the path to his success. There is an independent movie that documents the early years of Disney. Visually stunning and rich in detail, this is a great movie for children to experience.

This is a movie about resilience. Walt's journey was not an easy one. He was held hostage by the cartoon industry that was governed by likes of men who created Felix the Cat. Studios signed contracts that made it virtually impossible for people like Walt to navigate their vision of cartoons. In a sense, artists were indentured servants to the contract holders.

Disney survived numerous financial failures. Artists went without pay and payment for their work was inconsistent. For years, he held on to a dream, while alienating some of his closest friends and family. The path to Mickey was not an easy one. If you want a film, that is a great example how a person has to overcome adversity to achieve a dream, this is a great movie for children to watch. The path for many like Disney is often overlooked by history. Thankfully, this film dedicated itself to reminding us that success is earned through hard work and dedication.

Addicted To Plastic

Movies that promote social responsibility are important for a child to experience. New to our blog, we will begin to review and recommend films that promote social justice that are beneficial for children to watch.

Last year, I went to the coast of Maine with my children. Typical of beachcombers, we went hunting for shells. Part of our search was smell shiny pellets which I thought were shells. We would shift through the water and sand to find these oddly shaped particles. Oddly enough, I did not give them a second thought until I saw the documentary I am writing about today.

Addicted to Plastics is a very detail oriented documentary regarding the impact of plastics on our global and local economy. The documentary is a warning that we need to examine our use of plastics. Plastics today are destroying our oceans and filling our landfills with a toxic mess in exchange for convenience to tote water and consumables.

While watching this documentary, I could not help be find comparisons to the lead problems found in our water, soil, and products from foreign countries. When we fail to recognize environmental dangers, it can have major consequences. One could conclude that a failure to honestly reflect the dangers of plastics in our ecosystem, could compromise our human DNA and abilities by permanently damaging our chance at survival. It is a huge problem that is not garnering the attention it deserves. Children can advocate and be an agent of change. They can demand that their schools reduce their dependency on plastic and encourage their families to do the same. Children so often can be an agent of change through education and advocacy.

The Mummy 1999

Something about Brendan Fraser in the Mummy that makes movies fun for kids. He has a lot to choose from, however for me The Mummy is his best. The movie combines humor and adventure with an extremely fast pace. My kids loved it and it has already become a lost treasure for kids growing up today.

The movie was made in a time when CGI was starting to improve adventure movies. Set largely in Egypt, the use of CGI enhances the viewing experience. The "pop outs" are most effective thanks to this technology. Your kids will jump plenty of times during this movie, and most likely adults will join them.

The movie is loosely based on the classic 1932 horror film starring Boris Karloff. A movie I also strongly recommend. It is set in Egypt, where over 3,000 years ago the high priest Imhotep was given the assignment of preparing the recently dead for their journey into the afterlife. However, the problem he created was that he fell in love with  Anck-Su-Namun, the mistress of the Pharaoh himself. Driven mad by jealousy and love, Imhotep murdered the Pharaoh, and his punishment was to be buried alive and suffer the torment of an eternal life in his wretched tomb.

Along comes Brendan Fraser and a plot that unravels the tomb and chaos. So much fun packed into one movie. I highly recommend the Mummy, and should warn you that your kids will insist on watching the sequel The Mummy Returns.