We love a good movie night at home and are big fans of all the Disney princesses and heroines (especially the dresses!).
(I’ve even made my own version from towels.)
We love the music and the songs. And as a mom, I love the side benefit of the lessons we all learn and the conversations that come up from watching these movies. It’s always great when something she loves can also have a learning experience attached. The latest viewing was Disney’s The Little Mermaid. While we were watching, she went and got her wooden dingle hoppers (forks) from her kitchen and she used them the way that Scuttle showed Ariel.
There have been so many unexpected benefits that have emerged from watching this movie:
1) The improvement in swimming: “Let’s practice swimming like Ariel.” It has worked like a charm in our friend’s pool. She also likes how her curly hair gets longer when she is in the water (“Like Rapunzel!”. But that is for a different post).
2) The ‘Quiet Game’: “What happened? Oh! Ursula took your voice?” She made that game up herself. But I am a BIG fan of the quiet game.
3) Signing a Contract: On a serious note, we have had conversations about people asking you to do stuff that you know is not ‘safe’. I asked her, “What is it about Ursula’s ‘deal’ that makes you uncomfortable?” At age 4, she really has a handle on the pros and cons in some ways that are beyond her years.
4) Singing: We sing and sing and sing along with The Little Mermaid.
Giveaway!
This modern Disney film is coming out for the first time on a Blu-ray Combo Pack and HD Digital on October 1st. You can visit the Disney page to pre-order it and for lots of fun Little Mermaid activities. OR you can enter to win a copy from us! Make your own family movie night with a $50 Visa gift card and a copy of the Little Mermaid Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack. To be entered for a chance to win, just leave a comment on this post and telling us: “How do you encourage your children to follow their dreams?”
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “”#SweepstakesEntry””; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post”
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 9/3/13 – 10/15/13.
Be sure to visit the Disney’s Little Mermaid page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
© 2005 – 2013 Kathy Lewinski & Susan Cornish
We learn more about what they’re interested in, even if that means I now know more than I ever wanted to about things like how steam engines work.
Don’t tell a child not to do something without also explaining why they shouldn’t do it.
Tweeted https://twitter.com/dreddlocke/status/375008343699369984
My daughter, who just turned 4 a few days ago, loves art and music so I encourage her to be creative and I have her enrolled in ballet class.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/375040537952141312
I try to encourage my son to try new things and to not give up on anything.
I encourage them to try new things and find something they love.
I encourage by supporting my son’s ideas and teaching him to work hard
tweet-https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/375068880546189312
I encourage my children to follow their dreams by letting them try new experiences they are interested in and giving them words of encouragement along the way.
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellydsaver/status/375209967294226432
I encourage them by always giving them a positive response and supporting their ideas.
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
tweet – https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/375212562305908736
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
We’ve always told the boys they can do whatever they set their minds to. If they want something badly enough, they can have it, if they are willing to work hard for it. Working on the farm has helped them learn this, we think!
Susi,
Did you know that your daughter can write to her favorite Disney character and that she will receive an autographed 8 x 10 photo back to her? Here is the address:
Attn: (name of character)
Walt Disney World Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040
I think it’s important for kids to know that their efforts have value even if they are not 1005 successful. If they are encouraged to keep trying, they are more likely to succeed.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/375728150447017984
I encourage my son by constantly telling him that he can do whatever he wants if he works hard and follows his passions.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/375790465288650752
By making them believe they are capable of everything and anything!
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/376427897612812290
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
I always tell my children to be the best they can be and I encourage them to try new things and that they can do whatever they put their minds to
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/376448129748320256
My daughter loves animals so I encouraged her by teaming up with her to volunteer at the local shelter.
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/376519859971956737
By reminding myself she’s still little — no need to be realistic yet. haha
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/377137909322620928
My main answer does not seem to show
Our children are very young still but we encourage them to find their own voices through play, imagination and most importantly through showing love. My younger son has such a sense of freedom to be himself that he breaks into dance wherever he is! We want them to know they can be anything they want to be if they work hard enough and follow their dreams.
I encourage kids to go for their dreams and passions by supporting their ideas
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/377276345358630912
Delightful post! I love Disney!! We were frequent visitors there when my daughter was growing up. I encouraged her to follow her dreams by exposing her to everything I could. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we sure had a lot of fun adventures and learning experiences. As a single mom on a very tight shoestring, my hope was to lead by example and show her that ‘the world was her oyster’!
I encourage them to meet many different children and try many activities, be socialized for the real world
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/378244215794188288
I talk to my son about “what he wants to be when he grows up” and listen to everything he has to say and answer his 500+ ?s a day 🙂
I never tell my daughter something she wants to do is impossible. And she’s smart enough that I don’t believe anything is anyway. 🙂
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
I don’t have any children yet but I plan on being positive and encouraging to help them follow their dreams.
lots of praise for trying
What a wonderful message and reminder to parents. 🙂
I always encourage my kids that don’t be afraid to make mistakes. They can always learn from that and never gives up in what they’re passionate about…and their dream will come true one day!
amy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/383280925716385792
amy [at] utry [dot] it
I just make sure my kids know that I will help them in any way to pursue what their dreams are.
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/384852760908152834
by being supportive and encouraging them in their activities
i posted a tweet: https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/385213198179119104
we encourage them to follow them, support them when they do and help them up when they get discouraged
i read him stories to encourage him!
https://twitter.com/scg00387/status/386325881213292544
I help my nephew be him self but loving him for self and not turning him i want him to be
I don’t have kids, but I encourage my niece by telling her how smart and beautiful she is and that she can do anything she sets her mind to.
austma7@aol.com
By being supportive of their likes and dreams and providing them the path to follow them in.
I encourage them to try something at least once and pray to God about it.
I let them do just about whatever they’d like but impose limits.
I encourage my kids through love and support. I help them achieve their goals through guidance and always have their back 100%
https://twitter.com/RamblingRed78/status/387045093636444160
I encourage my kids to follow their dreams by supporting their ideas and the things they want to do. We work together to find a way to make the things happen that they want. At the same time, we instill realistic limits. We can’t fly into today, but if we study hard and work at it, we can get into NASA in the future and fly to space then 🙂 You can have what you want, you just have to find a way to make it happen 🙂
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/387141027561107456
I always show them how their dreams are not impossible if you continue to believe and work hard!! ky_grandma40@yahoo.com
I encourage them to follow their dreams by signing them up for activities they are interested in, and letting them know they can pursue anything they want to
I provide hands on experiences.
I encourage my children to follow their dreams by showing them love and support. 🙂
I encourage their interests and tell them they can do anything they set their minds to.
I encourage my sons to listen to their hearts and to be a leader, not follow the crowd.-to think for themselves.
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/388346071513960448
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
By encouraging them not to be afraid to try new things
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Unlike my parents, I let my daughter join different groups and tryout for different events. My daughter use to be a wallflower and is now very outgoing. She got this way after auditioning and starring in several plays. I encourage her by working with her in these events and by praising her work.
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/389290870781919232
I’ve always been her biggest cheerleader and support her in her endeavors.
I encourage her to follow her interests, she knows she can do anything she wants to through hard work. And anything that is truely something you want is worth it. I support her in anything and everything.
get info and supplies for what they want to try
I encourage our children to try new things so they have the opportunity to discover what they really love.
I encourage my children to follow their dreams by supporting them in all their in school and after school activities and helping suggest new activities to inspire them.
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/389844498592722944
I may not always agree with the choices my children make, but no matter what, I support them and they know they can always count on me to be their cheerleader!
We let them know we support them in anything they want to do.
I currently have no children, although I very much hope that we will be blessed soon. In the mean time, I’m in school to become a teacher and plan to encourage my students to follow their dreams… I will encourage them to work on their weaknesses nicely and will definitely support them in their strengths and encourage them to truly grow within these strengths.
I try to encourage my boys through example. I always try to show them that the only thing that can hold them back is their own imagination. If they believe in something than their is always a way to make it happen they just have to want it enough to make that dream come true.
We encourage our children to follow their dreams by helping them. When we see that they have an interest in something we provide the tools they need to move forward with their goals.
By always listening to them and taking their thoughts and opinions seriously. By not trying to change them to conform to being like you or like everyone else. By letting them know that it is OK to be different.
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/390152397135163392
I encourage them to go for what they believe in
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/390171857753604096
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/390177987418533888
I encourage my 3 year old daughter by letting her experience everything possible, as long as it is safe. I let her know she can do anything she puts her mind to–just like her momma. I speak to her like an adult – and give her the confidence she needs to excel in life.
I plan on unschooling, letting them learn what they like and focus on their passions instead of forcing them to do things they aren’t interested in
I tell my kids to do whatever makes them happy.
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/390194989843505152
I encourage my boys to follow their hearts and try to achieve their dreams. I let them know it’s okay to fail sometimes, because the only true failure is to never have tried.
tweet
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/390215982938996736x
https://twitter.com/eaglesforjack/status/390288413720449024
I never even thought of using her agreement with Ursala as an example. Way to go Mom!
https://twitter.com/cip100/status/390290642682658816
I teach them and support them.