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The ABCs of Life can be found everywhere:
on television, in books, in movies. Here is a list of suggested books
and movies that you can use to help bring the skills to life with children.
But you can also look beyond this list to find more examples of the skills,
too. When you read any book or watch any movie or television show, you
can discuss with kids which characters are using what skills and how they
are using them. Discuss how the ones who aren’t using the skills
could have. Would this change the outcome of the story? You can talk about
times in your life when you have or haven’t used the skills, and
give children a chance to do the same. You can always find times to talk
about instances of the skills as they naturally occur in your lives.
Trying your Best
Regina’s Big Mistake, by
Marissa Moss, helps children explore the concept of trying your best.
Regina learns that it is okay to make mistakes as she tries her best
and doesn’t give up. She turns her mistake into a work of art.
This book will remind children that it is okay to make mistakes as they
learn how trying their best gives them a good feeling.
In Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco, Tricia is a young
girl who struggles with reading. With some inspiration from her teacher,
Mr. Falker, she tries her best to learn to read. Many children will
relate to Tricia’s reading difficulty and be inspired to try their
best.
In the film Finding Nemo, a clown fish named Marlin watches his
son Nemo get scooped up by a diver’s net. On his quest to recover
his only son, Marlin makes some mistakes, but he never gives up. He
keeps on trying his best on the journey to find Nemo. This movie illustrates
that no matter how impossible a task may seem, whether it’s a subject
at school or a project at work, we should never give up.
Self-Control
In The Very Busy Spider by Eric
Carle, a spider demonstrates excellent self-control when she stays focused
on building her web. She does not get distracted by her many visitors.
This will remind children of the importance of focusing on one thing
at a time, such as homework.
In Yudonsi by Robert J. Blake, Yusi learns to use his self-control.
Starving for attention, Yusi disrespects his canyon by painting his
“tag” all over the village. Children will learn about self-control
from Yusi as he uses his own self-control to listen to his tribe and
to the canyon.
The film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory comments on the
lack of self-control in society. The child characters lack self-control:
Augustus Gloop is a glutton, Veruca Salt is a spoiled brat, Violet Beauregarde
is a know-it-all gum addict, and Mike Teevee’s eyes never stray
from the television set. Until the day they enter Willy Wonka’s
factory, the children’s cheeky behavior is allowed to go unchecked.
Why? Their parents lack self-control too, and they don’t set limits,
and so the conduct becomes a cycle. Children and adults can both learn
from this film. Parents are trying their best, but sometimes they don’t
set limits for kids because they have never been taught how to do it.
And children may see some of themselves in the movie’s characters.
Self-Confidence
I Like Me, by Nancy Carlson, illustrates
the concept of self-confidence. A little pig shows her self-confidence
as she explains all the things she enjoys doing. From the little pig’s
example children can learn about the proud feeling of self-confidence.
Night Golf, by William Miller, demonstrates the importance of
speaking up for your opinion and showing your self-confidence. By using
his self-confidence, James overcomes prejudice to succeed on his own
terms. Children will be inspired to use their self-confidence and respect
diversity after learning about James.
The film The Wizard of Oz illustrates the fact that self-confidence
is not something that comes from externals. Everyone in the film is
looking for something external. They all think the wizard will give
them a characteristic that actually comes only from the inside: courage
for the Lion, a heart for the Scarecrow, a brain for the Tin Man, and
for Dorothy the ability to go home. Just like the character in this
film, we all can look for self-confidence through externals, whether
it’s toys, clothes, or even cars. But the only people we can get
self-confidence from is ourselves.
Responsibility and Consequences
The Paperboy, by Dav Pilkey, is
an example of a young boy who takes responsibility to deliver newspapers
to his neighborhood. While his work is challenging, he is rewarded with
the positive experience of a job well-done.
The Summer My Father Was Ten, by Pat Brisson, demonstrates the
concept of Responsibility and Consequences. As a boy takes responsibility
for a mistake, he is able to learn about friendship and trust. Children
will relate to the boy’s mistake and learn that there are consequences
for everything we do.
In the movie The Lion King, Simba’s life become chaotic,
with his father dead and his murderous uncle threatening to take Simba’s
life and take over the throne vacated by Simba’s father’s
death. Instead of becoming stuck in this situation, Simba takes action
and takes responsibility. He saves his life, his family, and his kingdom.
We can learn from Simba and take responsibility in our lives, too, whether
it is in a situation at home, school, or work.
Thinking and Problem
Solving
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat,
by Simms Taback tells the story of a prudent man named Joseph who continues
to think of ways he could use material from his overcoat once it is
worn out. As the material gets smaller and smaller in each new incarnation,
Joseph keeps thinking of clever uses.
Spaghetti and Meatballs For All!, by Marilyn Burns, is a great
example of how people use their thinking and problem solving skills
everyday. As the guests for Mr. and Mrs. Comfort’s family reunion
arrive the seating arrangement gets mixed up. Children can discuss during
the story if there will be enough room for all the guests each time
the seating arrangement changes. This book will show children that thinking
and problem solving skills are useful in everyday situations.
In the movie E.T., the children were presented with a problem:
how could they protect their extraterrestrial friend from being spotted
by their parents? They thought about how best to conceal him and nestled
him in among a pile of stuffed animals. Then, when the authorities were
on his trail, they formed a bicycle convoy to smuggle him past the police
and back to his home. Just like the characters in this movie kept using
their thinking and never gave up, you can talk to your children about
how they need to use their thinking to consider all the possibilities,
whether they are working on a school assignment or deciding what to
do on a Saturday.
Cooperation
Subway Sparrow, by Leyla Torres,
demonstrates that all kinds of people can cooperate. As several characters
from many different backgrounds work together, they help a lost sparrow
find its way back outside. Children can learn from their example as
they cooperate despite language and cultural differences.
Comes a Wind, by Linda Arms White is a story about two adult
brothers who visit their mother for her birthday. Once they are reunited
at their mother’s home, old patterns of sibling rivalry emerge.
When mother nature steps in with a wind storm, the two learn to cooperate
in order to save their mother.
In the movie Toy Story II, Woody was taken by the toy collector.
There were all sorts of clues that the other toys could figure out in
trying to find him. But they had to work together and learn not to fight
and cooperate to find him. This is the same cooperation that children
might use when working on a group project at school, or playing with
a group of friends at home. It’s the same cooperation that they
might use if they play a team sport, as well.
Many of these ideas come from people like
yourself. Please e-mail us with
your book or movie ideas so that we can share them with others working
and living with kids.
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