A bonus to these new movies coming in 2023? You can watch all of them from the comfort of your own home
Whether you want a coming-of-age, a rom-com, or a tear-jerker, 2023 is packed with some of the best new kids’ movies streaming right to your television. We are pleased to roll out a list of the best movies to stream in 2023 that includes something for everyone from parents of every generation and kids of all ages. Grab the remote, and hit play.
When teenage sailor Jessica set out to be the youngest person to sail around the world unaccompanied, many said she couldn't do it. With the support of her parents and sailing coach, she managed to cross the vast oceans in just 210 days. This adventurous true story is based on Jessica Waton's memoirs.
Directed by: Sarah Spillane Starring: Teagan Croft, Cliff Curtis, and Bridget Webb, with Josh Lawson and Anna Paquin Release date: February 3, 2023 Streaming platform: Netflix Rated: PG
First published as a short story on Vice.com, this family comedy focuses on a ghost named Ernest. Fans of the popular Netflix original Stranger Things will delight in seeing Police Chief Jim Hopper, played by David Harbour, in a starring role. Though originally set for release in 2022, the date was pushed back to 2023. Parents should know that We Have a Ghost may be best suited for teens due to violence and suggestive content.
Directed by: Christopher Landon
Starring: Jennifer Coolidge, David Harbour, Faith Ford, and Anthony Mackie
Based on Newberry Medal-winning author Kate DiCamillo's novel, when Peter crosses paths with a fortune teller, he only has one question to ask—is his sister Adele still alive? From there, he starts his journey to find a mysterious elephant and a magician, complete three seemingly impossible tasks, and have an adventure he'll never forget.
Directed by: Wendy Rogers
Starring: Pixie Davies, Noah Jupe, Mandy Patinkin, Benedict Wong
Release date: March 17, 2023
Streaming platform: Netflix
Rated: PG
Chupa
Netflix
While visiting family in Mexico, teenage Alex discovers the mythical Chupacabra hiding in his grandpa's garage. A misunderstood and featured creature, Alex must embark on an adventure to save his new friend.
Directed by: Jonás Cuarón
Starring: Demián Bichir, Evan Whitten, Christian Slater, Ashley Ciarra, Nickolas Verdugo, Adriana Paz, Gerardo Taracena, Julio Cesar Cedillo
Adapted from a graphic novel of the same name and set in a techno-medieval animated world, spunky shape-shifting teen Nimona comes to the aid of a fallen knight, Lord Ballister Blackheart, to help prove his innocence, shed light on the fact that people aren't always who they seem to be and that labels don't define who we are.
Directed by: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang Release date: June 14th, 2023 Streaming platform: Netflix Rated: PG
Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie
Netflix
If your kiddo loves this superhero duo, then they'll love the 'prequel' movie musical. They'll find out how an ordinary teen who moves to Paris acquires superhero powers, makes an unlikely friend, and defeats her first villain.
Directed by: Jeremy Zag
Starring: Cristina Valenzuela, Bryce Papenbrook, Keith Silverstein
Get ready for an action-packed adventure with Monkey and his magical fighting Stick! Executive-produced by iconic filmmaker and actor Stephen Chow, Monkey will fight demons, gods, wild creatures, and his own ego in this fun animated film based on the Chinese legend "Journey to the West."
Directed by: Anthony Stacchi
Starring: Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Jo Koy, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Stephanie Hsu
Release date: July 30, 2023
Streaming platform: Netflix
Rated: TV-Y7
Spy Kids: Armageddon
The Spy Kids franchise's latest installment is a reboot that'll be available in the fall. This new kids' movie in 2023 pits the children of the world's greatest spies against a programmer in possession of a computer virus that will allow them to control the world's technology. Robert Rodriguez, who created the popular family-friend franchise, will return to direct the film.
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla, Billy Magnussen, and Connor Esterson
Adam Sandler stars as Leo, a 74-year-old lizard, and class pet, in this animated musical comedy about the last day of elementary school. When Leo discovers he only has one year to live, he sets out to escape and see the world. Instead, he gets caught up in the worries of his students (be on the lookout for a terrible substitute teacher), and his adventures turn out to be quite different than he originally envisioned.
Directed by: Robert Smigel, Robert Marianetti, David Wachtenheim
Starring: Adam Sandler, Bill Bur, Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Rob Schneider
The 2000 stop-motion animated film Chicken Run is finally getting that sequel. Parents and kids can catch up with the chickens after they've escaped from the farm. Rocky, Ginger, Fletcher, and Babs all return and are safe and sound on their island home. Things won't remain peaceful for long though...
Directed by: Sam Fell
Starring: Bella Ramsey, Zachary Levi, Thandiwe Newton, Jane Horrocks, and David Bradley
From the book The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six Moreby famed children's author Roald Dahl, the film focuses on several stories with the main one focusing on the titular Henry Sugar who has some amazing abilities. The film will be director Wes Anderson's sophomore effort at adapting a Dahl book for the screen. His first was the 2009 Oscar-nominated film, Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Rupert Friend
Release date: September 27, 2023
Streaming platform: Netflix
Rated: PG
The Mothership
After her husband disappears, a woman and her two kids find a strange object of extraterrestrial origin on their farm. They must work together to find their missing father and husband and figure out what's really happening. While there is no definitive release date, Netflix has confirmed that The Mothership will be released at some point in 2023.
Directed by: Matt Charman
Starring: Halle Berry, Molly Parker, Omari Hardwick, Jaiden J. Smith, and Quinn McPherson
In this family film, a teen makes a bet that he'll be able to dunk a basketball by Homecoming. The ambitious Chang will do whatever it takes to make the basket, impress the girl he likes, and prove to his peers that he is more than just a high school nobody. Parents should be aware that there may be some language and content that may be inappropriate for younger kids.
A teen who has a life-long dream of going to Harvard realizes some things in life may be more important, like falling in love. The film takes place during prom season, a time of sticky-sweet prom proposals. While kids will be pleased with the rom-com's cast featuring some of the most popular teen stars, parents will love the main character's strength and intelligence. They will also love her mother played by none other than Wendi McLendon-Covey from the long-running television series, The Goldbergs.
Directed by: Anya Adams
Starring: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Milo Manheim, Margaret Cho, Wendi McLendon-Covey
A retelling of the timeless classic that was first brought to life by author J. M. Barrie. This version will follow Wendy and her siblings as they follow the eternal boy-child Peter Pan to Neverland, though this installment will be a bit more Wendy-centric. Peter Pan & Wendy has some big names attached including Jude Law, who plays Captain Hook, and comedian Jim Gaffigan, who plays his right-hand man, Smee. Parents should be aware that there is some violence and frightening situations.
Directed by: David Lowery Starring: Jude Law, Jim Gaffigan, Alexander Molony, Ever Anderson, Joshua Pickering, and Jacobi Jupe Release date: April 28 Streaming platform: Disney+ Rated: PG
This sci-fi flick is a coming-of-age story about a boy who goes on an adventure with four of his friends after his father dies. They go on a planetary excursion to see an epic crater.
Directed by: Kyle Patrick Alvarez Starring: Mckenna Grace, Billy Barratt, Isaiah Russell-Bailey Release date: May 12, 2023 Streaming platform: Disney+ Rated PG
Produced by the director of Hamilton comes an all-new hip-hop musical comedy co-written by Utkarsh Ambudkar (he also co-wrote the film's original songs). In World's Best, 12-year-old Prem Patel is a math genius who's also trying to navigate the trials and tribulations of being in middle school. When he discovers his father (who recently passed) was a famous rapper, he sets off to discover if musical talent runs in the family.
I hear “I’m fine” a lot throughout my days. If you are a parent of a pre-teen girl, I am sure that you do, too.
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Do you want any help?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“You seem really upset. Let’s talk.”
“I said, I’m fine.”
It’s hard to be shut out like this and left on the outside of her experiences, helpless and defeated.
One thing I’ve learned and what I know for sure about girls is this: “I’m fine” could mean she’s fine but rarely does. “I’m fine” can mean “I don’t want to talk about it.” “I’m fine” can mean “I’m okay but I could be better.” “I’m fine” can mean “I really want to tell you but I just don’t know how.” And “I’m fine” can mean “I will talk about it but not right now.” Thus, “I’m fine” has become the secret code for what’s really going on for her and a code we must try to crack (carefully and with all the empathy we can muster).
If we imagine being a teen girl (just for a minute), this response makes sense: She wants to be independent of us and figure life out on her own. A pre-teen is all about keeping up her appearance of “I’ve got this.” She also wants to safeguard herself from, well, us: our judgment, our advice, and sometimes our unintentional intrusion. These words are automatic, unrehearsed responses to our queries and they do the job—they keep us at bay from what she’s really feeling and her true inner experience.
What’s a parent to do when your eyes tell you she needs your help and yet her words tell you she is just fine without you? Here are some ideas for you to try to get more from her “I’m fine” and help her to shift to “I feel.”
Be aware of your tone of voice.
Girls are super sensitive to variations in tone of voice. Did you know girls can hear a wider spectrum of emotional tone in another’s voice than boys can? And that their detection becomes even greater with the hormonal changes that accompany adolescence? (You can read more about that in The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine.)
So if we come to her with anything but genuine sincerity and care, she will feel it and not want to talk. Try to use warm words of kindness with phrases such as, “This must be hard for you…” and “It seems like there is something on your mind. I’d really love to hear about it and simply listen to you.”
Change your questions to get different answers.
We all fall into the trap of asking these two expected questions: “How are you today?” and “How was your day?” which set us up for the inevitable responses of “fine” and “good.” Think about asking more creative, out-of-the-box questions, such as “What was the best part of your day?, “What are you most proud of accomplishing,” or “If you had a chance to redo any part of your day, which part would you choose to do over?”
Give her space.
Her worry is our worry—this is called parenting. I know many parents who want to force conversations and answers because they care so much. But pushing her to talk about our timing when she’s not ready can be damaging to the relationship and may just lock the door on future conversations.
If she wants to take her time and decompress after a busy day, allow her to do just that. Reassure her you want to talk and let her know when you’ll be around. If you can, even plant the seed of connection by conveying to her you are up for a walk to get ice cream or you’d love to watch a movie on Netflix with her for some relaxation (and who knows, maybe the conversation will emerge naturally).
Help her find her words.
When she’s ready to talk, help her tell her story by giving her the words she needs. It’s hard for her to articulate what’s happening internally, and she may benefit from your suggestions. “Today, I noticed…” “This made me feel…” “I feel this way because…” and “This is what I need…” These prompts may just get her talking to you, and in the future, she may be able to find these words on her own.
We know it’s not always easy to be a growing girl, and “I’m fine” is a quick way to cover up the challenges of her day. Yet, when we help her move beyond that phrase to truly express herself, we are emboldening her with the confidence and competence that comes with self-expression. At the same time, we are learning to better understand what’s really on her mind.
I am a girl advocate and girls champion; the founder of Bold New Girls, teaching and coaching for girls and their parents. As well, I am the author Growing Strong Girls and Rooted, Resilient, and Ready (available on Amazon and Audible). I am an international speaker and an instructor with Udemy.
Please don’t judge me if you happen to see my kids eating packaged Ritz crackers for school lunch. Don’t judge me if they’re on the sidelines at PE because they forgot their uniform. Don’t judge me if they didn’t turn in their homework because it’s still sitting home on their desk.
What some may view as a lack of parenting is what I deem “parenting on purpose” as we work to build necessary life skills in our kids. I stopped making daily breakfasts and packing school lunches long ago. I don’t feel obligated to deliver forgotten items left behind at home. And school projects and homework are not any part of my existence.
After all, how do we raise competent adults if we’re always doing everything for our kids? I suggest walking away from doing these 8 things for your teen this school year:
1. Waking them up in the morning
If you are still waking up little Johnny in the a.m., it’s time to let an alarm clock do its job. My four kids have been expected to get themselves up since they started middle school. There are days one will come racing out with only a few minutes to spare before they have to be out the door. The snooze button no longer feels luxurious when it’s caused you to miss breakfast.
I heard a Mom voice out loud that her teen sons were just still so cute that she loved going in and waking them up every morning. Please stop. I find my sons just as adorable as you do, but our goal is to raise well-functioning adults here.
2. Making their breakfast and packing their lunch
My morning alarm is the sound of the kids clanging cereal bowls. My job is to make sure there is food in the house so that they can eat breakfast and pack a lunch.
One friend asked, “Yeah but how do you know what they’re bringing for school lunch?” I don’t. I know what food I have in my pantry, and it’s on them to pack up what they feel is a good lunch. It will only be a few short years, and I will have no idea what they are eating for any of their meals away at college. Free yourself from the PB and J station now.
3. Filling out their paperwork
I have a lot of kids, which equates to a lot of beginning-of-the-school-year paperwork. I used to dread this stack until the kids were old enough to fill all of it out themselves. Our teens are expected to fill out all of their paperwork to the best of their ability. They put the papers to be signed on a clipboard and leave them for me on the kitchen island. I sign them and put them back on their desks.
Hold your teens accountable. They will need to fill out job and college applications soon, and they need to know how to do that without your intervention.
4. Delivering their forgotten items
One Monday morning, we had pulled out of our driveway and just turned the corner when my daughter realized she had forgotten her phone. “We have to go back, Mom!” Another kid exclaimed that he had forgotten his freshly washed and folded PE uniform in the laundry room. I braked in hesitation as I contemplated turning around. Nope. Off we go, as the vision surfaced of both of them playing around on their phones before it was time to leave.
Parents don’t miss opportunities to provide natural consequences for their teens. Forget something? Feel the pain of that. Kids also get to see that you can make it through the day without a mistake consuming you.
We also have a rule that Mom and Dad are not to get pleading texts from school asking for forgotten items. It still happens, but we have the right to just shoot back, “That’s a bummer.”
5.Making their failure to plan your emergency
School projects do not get assigned the night before they are due. Therefore, I do not run out and pick up materials at the last minute to get a project finished. I do always keep poster boards and general materials on hand for the procrastinating child. But they may have to wait for other needed items. Do not race to Michael’s for your kid who hasn’t taken the time to plan.
This is a good topic to talk about in weekly family meetings. Does anyone have projects coming up that they’re going to need supplies for so that I can pick them up at my convenience this week?
6. Doing all of their laundry
“What? YOU didn’t get my shorts washed?” This response always backfires on the kid who may lose their mind thinking that I’m the only one who can do laundry around here. Every once in a while a child needs a healthy reminder that I do not work for them. The minute they assume this is my main role in life is the minute that I gladly hand over the laundry task to them.
Most days I do the washing and the kids fold and put away their clothes, but they are capable of tackling the entire process when need be.
7. Emailing and calling their teachers and coaches
If our child has a problem with a teacher or coach, he is going to have to take it to the one in charge. There is no way that we, as parents, are going to question a coach or email a teacher about something that should be between the authority figure and our child.
Don’t be that over-involved parent. Teach your child that if something is important enough to them, then they need to learn how to handle the issue themselves or at least ask you to help them. Obviously, there are certain cases that do require intervention, but not when it comes to the day-to-day stuff.
8. Meddling in their academics
Put down the pencil, parents. Most of the time, I honestly couldn’t tell you what my kids are doing for school work. We talk about projects and papers over dinner, but we’ve always expected our kids to own their work and earn their grades. At times, they’ve earned Principals Lists, Honor Rolls, and National Junior Honor Society honors of their own accord. At other times, they’ve missed the mark.
Apps and websites where parents can go in and see every detail of their children’s homework and progress are not helping our over-parenting epidemic.
Once in a blue moon, I will ask the kids to pull up their student accounts and show me their grades because I want them to know I do care. I did notice our daughter slacking off at the end of last year, and my acknowledgment helped her catch up, but I’m not taking it on as one of my regular responsibilities—and you shouldn’t either.
What is your parenting goal? Is it to raise competent adults?
If so, then let’s work on backing off in areas where our teens can stand on their own two feet. I know they’re our babies, and it feels good to hover over them once in a while, but in all seriousness, it’s up to us to raise them to be capable people.
I want to feel confident when I launch my kids into the real world and know they are going to be just fine because I stepped back to let them navigate failure and real-life stuff on their own.
So please don’t judge me if my kids scramble around, shoving pre-packaged items into that brown paper lunch bag before racing to catch the bus. It’s all on purpose, my friends.
Amy is the author of the book Parent on Purpose: A Courageous Approach to Raising Children in a Complicated World. Her work can be found at www.amycarney.com. She and her retired NHL playing husband, Keith, are raising 18-year-old triplet sons, a 16-year-old daughter, and a recently adopted 13-year-old son.
It started on Parents’ Night, those evenings in elementary school when my husband and I crammed ourselves into tiny chairs and feigned interest while each teacher made their way through a PowerPoint presentation about the topics they’d cover, the assignments they’d be giving, and—our favorite—the “rubric.” That was our code word for all the things we didn’t need to know about our kids’ education.
None of the other parents looked as dismayed—or as bored—as we did, and I briefly wondered what was wrong with us before deciding that, no, we were right: It was a pointless evening. “Next time, skip it and go out to dinner,” was my father’s advice. I wanted to, but just imagining the other parents glaring at our empty chairs guilted me into returning, year after year. But back at home, my husband and I broke from the pack in another way: We decided we simply wouldn’t be getting involved with our kids’ homework from that point on.
The chatter in my local Facebook groups tells me that all the other parents know a hell of a lot more about their kids’ assignments than I do—test dates, reading lists, project details. Why do you know all this? I’ve always wondered as I scrolled. Don’t you have enough to do just raising them and keeping everyone in the household relatively sane?
In our town of privilege, where parents get (overly) involved in every aspect of their kids’ day-to-day schoolwork, we are the outliers: We believe our kids have more to learn by managing it themselves than by being prodded, reminded, and cajoled into getting their work done and as close to perfect as possible before the teacher sees it.
For one, my kids, who are now teens, learned—really learned—about consequences. When they didn’t do their homework, their grades went down. If a teacher raised the red flag to us, we took that back to the kids and told them to step it up. We did not, however, change our tactics and become the homework police, and we didn’t punish them, because the bad grades are the punishment.
Plus, if kids get answers wrong, isn’t that useful information for the teacher? If all parents are making sure homework is perfect before it goes back to school, the teacher won’t know if there’s something happening in class that the students don’t understand.
Not to mention, do we really need to make everything in their lives even more stressful by becoming homework enforcers? Can’t we have a few peaceful minutes with our kids where we’re not telling them what to do? Please?
For the record, I’m not suggesting that you stay out of your kids’ homework; I’m not that invested in other people’s choices. And I readily admit that there are circumstances where more direction is needed—for instance, if a child has a learning disability or ADHD, or faces other, similar challenges.
But for us, putting the kids’ homework on our to-do lists never made sense. And because we didn’t get involved, our kids saw the direct connection between their choice to do their work and their grades, as well as the way the opportunities (special activities, cool programs) that came—or didn’t come—their way as a result. And let’s be honest, elementary school is the time to learn this since grades at that stage don’t matter very much. (There, I said it.)
Have we been through our ups and downs with all this? Absolutely! But we’ve also seen the lesson take hold with both our kids. We’d been hearing the same story from all of my daughter’s middle school teachers: She doesn’t do the homework, she has so much potential, she needs to apply herself more. We’d come home with the teachers’ reports, make suggestions for how best to manage the workload, and then leave it to her.
Suddenly, when high school started, she started to care. She took pride in doing assignments well and learned the joy of life without the constant dread of being caught with her academic pants down. She wanted to do well and felt proud of herself when she did so, eager to remedy things when she didn’t. Even more, she discovered she’d established a level of trust with her teachers, so when something fell through the cracks, they knew it was an aberration instead of a habit and gave her some leeway. When she acted more like a responsible person, she was treated like one. Huzzah!
It’s not that we don’t care; we care deeply. But seeing as we both graduated from school long ago, we didn’t feel the need to dive in and do it all over again. We’re here when our kids need us, but until then, we let them steer the ship on their own.
Whether you like comedic classics, raw dramas, or films based on real-life father-daughter relationships, you’ll find something on our list to watch together
Relationships between dads and their daughters are exceptionally important. Fathers teach their daughters so many lessons and offer both comfort and protection. They also watch as their daughters become their own people and head into the world. For those times when quality time is an absolute must, we have created a list of movies that celebrates the unique dad/daughter dynamic and offers a chance for fathers and daughters to reconnect for a few hours in the comfort of their home.
This 1961 Disney classic finds two teenage twin girls meeting up at summer camp after leading separate lives. The twins, played by Hayley Mills, work together to reunite their parents, who separated just after they were born. Father-daughter audiences will enjoy the fantastic adventures of the twins as they scheme to bring happiness to their father by reuniting him with their mother and releasing him from the grip of his gold-digging fiance, Vicky. The 1998 remake of the film finds Lindsay Lohan taking over the role of the twins.
Where to stream: Disney+ Rating: G Age recommendation: 6+
Lawyer and single father Atticus Finch raises his two children in the Deep South in this film based on the book by Harper Lee. When Atticus takes on a case where he defends a Black man named Tom against a white woman, things go very wrong. While the movie won three Oscars and was nominated for several others, what makes it worth a watch for dads and their daughters is the relationship Finch has with his two children. He is a true role model for both, but especially his daughter, Scout, to whom he teaches lessons about prejudice and bravery. With mature themes surrounding race and rape, the film is best viewed by kids 12+.
Where to stream: Apple TV (Rent) Rating: Not rated Age recommendation: 12+
Father of the Bride (1991)
Touchstone Pictures
Steve Martin plays George Banks, a man living the typical American Dream alongside his wife and two kids. When his daughter, Annie, decides to get married, the chaos of planning a wedding leaves George feeling overwhelmed and left out. This sweet comedy is a perfect reminder to all fathers and daughters that while their relationships will change and grow with each major milestone, especially marriage, the father-daughter dynamic will always remain one of the most important. While there are some sexual references, the film should be fine for kids 9 and up.
Where to stream: Disney+ Rating: PG Age recommendation: 9+
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
20th Century Fox
The late Robin Williams plays Daniel Hillard, a father who takes on the acting role of a lifetime when he pretends to be Euphegenia Doubtfire, a British caregiver, in an attempt to gain employment as his children’s nanny. After his split from their mother, Daniel falls on hard times and must fight to show everyone, including his ex-wife, that he is a responsible parent. Daniel proves he is a loving father who is willing to learn some important lessons to be a part of his kids’ lives. The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup and scored Williams a Best Actor Golden Globe. Mrs. Doubtfire features some language and difficult themes such as divorce and separation.
Where to stream: Hulu Rating: PG-13 Age recommendation: 12+
Fly Away Home (1996)
Apple TV
A teenage girl, Amy, whose mother dies, moves to Canada to live with a father she barely knows. They learn lessons about what family means when they teach a group of geese to fly and migrate south using an ultralight plane in this heartwarming ’90s film starring Anna Paquin, Jeff Daniels, and Dana Delaney. This father-daughter movie, loosely based on the story of Bill Lishman, an inventor from Canada, offers powerful scenes between a grieving daughter and her estranged father as they work to find each other. Watching them bond over their love of the geese and flying may make fathers tear up right alongside their daughters. The car accident that claims the life of Amy’s mother may be difficult viewing for kids younger than eight.
Where to stream: Amazon (Rent) Rating: PG Age recommendation: 8+
Set in the bustling city of New Orleans during the 1920s, Tiana grows up dreaming that she and her father will one day own a restaurant together. While the journey is a much harder one than she anticipated, her father instilled a strong work ethic and sense of self in Tiana. When a prince comes to New Orleans and gets tricked by voodoo magic, he and Tiana are turned into frogs. Her father’s love and the lessons he taught her as a girl help her to chase after her dreams even when they seem impossible. With some violence and perilous situations, the film may be a bit frightening for very young viewers.
Where to stream: Disney+ Rating: G Age recommendation: 5+
A criminal mastermind named Gru does his best not to fall in love with the three little girls he uses to help him steal the moon. The three orphans have other ideas and want Gru for their dad. The heartwarming relationship that develops between Gru and the girls makes the first film in the franchise worthy of a father-daughter movie night. Gru’s relationship with his minions has given him the tools to care for others. Parents should be aware of some very mild language and cartoonish violence.
Where to stream: Netflix Rating: PG Age recommendation: 6+
When the planet undergoes horrible and catastrophic events due to climate change, Cooper, a former astronaut, must decide whether to head to space to find a new planet to sustain human life or remain with his son and daughter. Choosing the former, Cooper does his best to save humanity while maintaining a connection with his family. Cooper’s belief in his daughter, Murphy, his urge to share his love of science with her, and the unbreakable bond they share, which defies time and space, make this the perfect father-daughter movie. Some violent and intense scenes and language make the film best for kids over 12.
Where to stream: Prime Video Rating: PG-13 Age recommendation: 12+
Ben and Leslie Cash raise their children in the wilderness to avoid the chaos of the real world. When Leslie dies, Ben must bring the Cash kids into the world he worked so hard to protect them from. Fighting against relatives who claim his parenting methods are abusive, Ben must figure out a way to keep his kids together. Ben has forged a beautiful relationship with all his children, especially his daughters. It carries them through figuring out a way to remain in the world they’ve so carefully cultivated with their father and blaze a new path on the one he’s tried to keep them hidden from. Fathers and daughters will marvel at Ben’s strength of conviction and dedication to his family. With an R-rating and some graphic content, the film is best viewed by fathers and their teenage daughters 17 and over.
Where to stream: Prime Video Rating: R Age recommendation: 17+
Hearts Beat Loud (2018)
Gunpowder & Sky
Nick Offerman plays widowed father, Frank to teen daughter, Sam in this music-centric comedy. While Sam gets ready to leave for college in the fall, Sam encourages her to join him in forming a band. When things take an unexpected turn, Sam needs to figure out what her dream is. This film features a kid who acts more like an adult than her dad, but Frank is attentive to his daughter and reminds her that life is about enjoyment and not just hard work. The two balance each other out and Frank proves that fathers can be fun and inspire their daughters to take chances. With some mature content including drinking and kissing, Hearts Beat Loud is best for older tweens.
Where to stream: Kanopy, Apple TV (Rent) Rating: PG-13 Age recommendation: 12+
A teen daughter, Tom, and her father, Will, survive and thrive in a remote forest. When authorities discover them, they are forced to adapt to life in the real world. This harrowing story finds not only a father protecting his daughter but her protecting him as well. Tom and Will provide a safe place for each other, proving that often that home isn’t found in a place but in a person. Parents should note that the film features perilous moments and difficult topics like mental illness.
Where to stream: Kanopy, Apple TV (Rent) Rating: PG Age recommendation: 12+
This father-daughter movie focuses on teenager Kayla’s coming-of-age during middle school in a small town. Kayla does her best to vlog about being confident but struggles to be seen and heard in real life. Raised by her father, Mark, the two must navigate the murky depths of social media and middle school while trying to carve out a relationship. While Mark isn’t always the most communicative, he truly cares about her daughter, and the two forge a tight and enviable father-daughter bond. Eighth Grade received an R rating for tackling difficult themes such as teen sexuality and having some strong language.
Where to stream: Max Rating: R Age recommendation: 14+
King Richard (2021)
YouTube
Based on the lives of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams, King Richard focuses on one of the most profound relationships in their lives. Their father, Richard, played by Will Smith, proves to be their constant cheerleader and advocate. The belief he has in his daughters makes this a standout film that garnered Will Smith an Oscar for Best Actor in 2021. Some violence and language make this best for teens 13 and over.
Where to stream: Max Rating: PG-13 Age recommendation: 13+
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
Netflix
When technology rises up to take over humanity, a suburban family on a road trip to drop their daughter at college must fight back. While the film is a comedic gem, what stands out is Rick Mitchell’s relationship with his daughter, Katie. Once extremely close, the father-daughter duo has grown apart. To gain back some of the closeness he thinks they’ve lost, Rick cancels Katie’s flight to college and decides to drive her instead. His genuine love for his daughter is evident throughout the film. Dads will enjoy the nostalgic nods to 1980s road trip movies, while daughters may be reminded of what true heroes fathers can be.
Where to stream: Netflix Rating: PG Age recommendation: 7+
While the relationship between mermaid Princess Ariel and her undersea king father Triton is a bit rocky, partly because Ariel is obsessed with all things human and partly because King Triton is a bit overprotective, it is still filled with love. When Ariel falls in love with Prince Eric and makes a bargain with the sea witch Ursula, King Triton does his best to help his daughter. His loyalty to all his daughters and his need to keep them safe in their under-the-sea home make this a perfect father-daughter flick. The film does have some moments of danger that may frighten viewers under the age of 8.
Where to stream: Available for purchase on Amazon and Apple TV Rating: PG Age recommendation: 8+
One blissful August day seven years ago, I drove my eldest son to his first day of school. He walked right in the door, excited. He didn’t even glance back in my direction, and honestly, I was grateful for that. I was just as enthusiastic as he was, and I felt proud to have a kid who had enough confidence and self-assurance not to need me to hold his hand through the whole process. At the time, it felt liberating and even boosted my mom-ego a bit. My kid is so chill he doesn’t even cry at drop-off! I told myself.
I was never the mom who cried at the thought of her baby being away for the day at preschool. I didn’t choke up on the first day of kindergarten because my baby was “growing up.” Instead, I was the mom who embraced the freedom and glorious change in our everyday schedules. I also welcomed their chance to be independent little beings who didn’t rely on me to make every decision, every meal, or deliver every snack. As years passed and my next two kids entered school, this remained true. Drop-off was breezy (for me). I rushed out the door gleefully, ready to attack all the things, now that I had one or two or three fewer little monkeys crawling up my leg, watching me pee, or making a huge mess just as I was about to tackle a task.
Looking back, I do still appreciate that I was the mom who never cried. I genuinely think it allowed my kids a sense of autonomy and confidence. Walking into a new place with so many kids and adults they had never met or even seen before can be scary! So never having to be the mom that stood outside the door listening to their child cry through the first week of school seemed a blessing.
I never thought the day would come when all of those seamless drop-offs where I joyously skipped to my car and ventured off into my day alone—and the tear-free preschool graduation ceremonies—would fill me with sadness and regret. I feel slighted. Now as my eldest is about to graduate elementary school, I feel like I missed out on having that connection or that “moment” when my kids needed and wanted me.
Fifth-grade graduation seemed so trivial to me as a kid. A non-important “milestone” that was more for my parents than for me. And honestly, I get it now. It is for the parents. Because as soon as our kids go off into middle school, everything about them will change. Their bodies, voices, attitudes… and a connection to us may or may not get lost in the mix. That uncertain, scary feeling our kids experienced going to school for the first time is the exact same fear we have as parents when our kids are inching closer and closer to actual independence.
So as much as I would like to say I have no regrets about being that mom who, at one time, never looked back, I’d be lying. I have a few. The main one is that I can’t get that time back no matter how I may try. That’s why this year, you won’t see the “cool” mom collected on the sidelines, watching all of the other moms cry and wondering why they are so upset—because it’s not just another day or another year of school.
It’s a moment that needs to be celebrated. That needs to be felt. Because these moments we get as parents are so rare, and before we know it, poof, they’re gone. No, this year I’ll be with the rest of the moms bawling their eyes out. Clapping and hollering and embarrassing the hell out of my kid so that he knows I am there—the whole time. That I am watching. And that he has made me so damn proud.
When I was in middle school, the popularity board of directors chose me as their new target. They created an online poll and sent it around to everyone in our school. The poll was titled, “Who’s Uglier: Lilly Holland or Sarah Johnson’s Leg Hair?”
Poor Sarah Johnson, who was endlessly mocked because she wasn’t allowed to shave her legs. As I sobbed into my mom’s lap, she stroked my hair and assured me that the girls who created that poll were mean girls, and mean girls are not people you want to be friends with, now or ever. Of course, she ended up being right. One of the girls continued being malicious right through college. I’m sure to this day she’s still a mean girl.
Mean girls aren’t born; they’re created. They’re empowered by other kids and their parents, often inadvertently. As a teacher, I watched this happen in my classroom every year. There was always a mean girl. The girl who put others down to make herself feel better because she lacked confidence and control in her life. She had her band of loyal followers and would gain power every time she did something unkind. Every year there was a different version of the same girl. And every year, the old adage would ring true: the apple never falls far from the tree.
Nine times out of ten, the mean girl had a mean-girl mom. The mean-girl mom disguised it better than her second-grade daughter, but it was still obvious from her interactions with others. The power structure doesn’t really change from elementary school, it just becomes more complex.
Today at our library, I saw exactly how mean girls are made. My daughter, who is 18 months old, was enamored by the two five-year-olds that were playing with LEGO bricks. The two girls and their mothers were the only other people in the library. My daughter inched closer and closer until she was within reach of the girls. Not yet able to really communicate, she gave her own kind of greeting. Beaming, she reached out to give one of the girls a pat on the arm.
The girl pushed my daughter’s hand away, stomped over to her mom, and loudly complained right in front of me, “There’s a baby over there, and I do not like it!” If my child had said that, I would have been mortified. This mother rolled her eyes and suggested her daughter ignore “the baby.” My baby, whose mother was sitting ten feet away from this dynamic duo.
I gave the mom the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was embarrassed and didn’t know how to handle it. Clearly, the girls were not going to give my daughter the time of day. Knowing how tough it can be for older kids to play with younger kids, I took Penny’s hand and led her to play in another area. The little girl came back, unprovoked, and said, “You can’t stand up like we can,” jabbing her finger in the air, “because you are a baby.”
The mother was nowhere to be found, so in my best teacher voice I said, “You know, kiddo, you were exactly the same age and size not too long ago.” She ran away.
We play a huge role in our children’s lives. The mother was probably tired of hearing her daughter’s complaints. Since she was enjoying having a conversation with her friend, she told her daughter to ignore the baby who was “bothering” her. What about explaining to her that little kids look up to big kids? Or asking her how the baby was “bothering” her and then trying to figure out a solution?
Every decision we make sends a message to our children. That little girl learned that it’s okay to act unkindly towards another child just because she’s younger. If Penny had come up to me and complained about a smaller child annoying her, I would have explained to her that in our family we are friendly to everyone and that she should be especially friendly to younger kids who admire her.
When I walked into the play area initially, I sat by the two moms because they were the only other adults in the library. I thought it was odd that neither acknowledged me. Of course, I didn’t expect to be brought into a private conversation, but a simple hello would have been nice. It was inconvenient for those moms to say hi to another mom, just like it was inconvenient for one of their daughters to be kind to another child. It was inconvenient for the mom to take advantage of a simple teachable moment.
I’d like to think this was an isolated incident. I know through many interactions with children that this is not the norm. Most kids see babies toddling around the library, remark how cute they are, and bring them into their game—at least temporarily. Obviously, we can’t—and shouldn’t— monitor everything our children say and do. However, it seemed this child has already learned, whether through inconvenience or blissful ignorance, that it’s okay to be unkind to someone else.
I wish I had had the courage to speak with the mother myself and try to figure out why she responded this way. Instead, I’m writing about it now. Hopefully, someone can learn from it, no matter which mother you are in this story.
I'm a former New Yorker turned suburbanite. I'm incredibly lucky to be a professional writer and stay-at-home mom to Penny: my sassy, mischievous toddler. When I'm not pulling play-doh out of Penny's mouth, I write about parenting and my former career as a teacher in an elite NYC private school.
We all remember what it felt like to be a sleepy teenager—the alarm always seemed to go off too early, and it could take hours to shake off the sleepiness that lingered through the first few class periods of the day.
Though some parents might be quick to write their teens off as lazy, this sleepiness isn’t their fault. It actually can often stem from early school start times for many who struggle. While adults might be well-suited for earlier wake-up calls, teenagers’ circadian rhythms—the light-mediated internal cues that help regulate sleep—are wired in a way that leaves teenagers sleepy in the morning and more awake at night. This is perfectly normal; our circadian rhythm changes throughout our lives, and unfortunately, school schedules just aren’t planned around ensuring our teens get the sleep they need.
In fact, teenagers’ body clocks are best synced to bedtimes around 11 p.m. or midnight, with a wakeup time around nine hours later. With some schools starting classes as early as 7:30 in the morning, and students needing time to get ready and get to school, it’s no wonder teens are so sleepy.
From a sleep perspective, teenagers would benefit most from school start times that begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. This shift would mitigate the dreadful side effects of sleep deprivation teenagers face and overall improve teenagers’ mental and physical health.
States that have tested later school start times have seen promising results. A 2020 JAMA study followed five school districts in Minnesota from 2016 to 2019. In 2016, all five schools followed a baseline start time of 7:30 a.m., but between 2017 and 2019, two schools pushed their start times back by 55 minutes or a full hour, while three continued operating with early start times. At the end of the study, the researchers found that the kids who started school later got an average of 43 more minutes of sleep per night than their early-bird counterparts.
Further evidence suggests it can lead to improved academic outcomes. Plus, another 2020 study found an association between later school start times and a decrease in teen driving accidents.
The concept might be catching on nationwide. Beginning in July 2022, California became the first to mandate that middle and high schools can start no earlier than 8 or 8:30 a.m., respectively, and New Jersey, Alaska, New York, and Tennessee have all considered following suit.
The idea is also gaining support among teachers, who see first-hand the repercussions lack of sleep can have on teens. “About half of my middle school kids can barely stay awake the first two periods of the day,” teacher Melissa Rowe told Sleepopolis in a June interview. “As for high school, I literally have students who fall asleep on the floor in my classroom.”
Of course, every middle and high school across the country isn’t going to be able to make this shift overnight. Luckily, there are some ways parents can help their teenagers get the best night’s sleep they can. If you think your teenager is sleep deprived, try these tips to get them back on track:
Encourage proper sleep hygiene as often as possible.
Set a regular bedtime and rise time, including on weekends to maintain a schedule.
Dim both room and electronic lighting to reduce exposure to bright lights before bed.
Encourage sleepiness.
Consider eliminating technology use after a certain time before bed, and remove it from the bedroom.
It’s important to remember that teenagers should never be forced to choose between sleep and something else. Teens often find themselves in the position of choosing between sleep, sports, and homework, and doing all three can seem impossible. Keep an open dialogue and help them balance the workload coming their way without sacrificing sleep. Think about where overscheduling is an issue and where you can cut back to allow enough time for sleep.
Sleep is vital to a teenager’s health and happiness. Early start times are a real obstacle to adequate rest for teenagers and their differently wired circadian rhythms, but there are roadblocks that parents, health care providers, school administrators, and educators could overcome if we all worked together. And for the sake of our teens’ health, it’s imperative that we give it a try.
Dr. Shelby Harris is the Director of Sleep Health at Sleepopolis. As a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine, she treats a wide variety of sleep disorders, including insomnia, nightmares, and narcolepsy, with a focus on non-pharmacological interventions. She is board-certified in behavioral sleep medicine by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the author of The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia: Get a Good Night’s Sleep Without Relying on Medication.
You might not even realize you’re sharing the wrong information
With the new school year less than a month away (we know, crazy, right?), it’s never too early to start prepping everything your child will need to succeed, like a cool new backpack, pencils, a lunchbox, etc. Additionally, you’ll want to think about what teachers should know about your child at the beginning of the school year. This may sound self-explanatory, but there is such a thing as TMI when it comes to spilling the beans about your kiddo.
We spoke to teachers and education experts about what you should keep to yourself at those beginning-of-the-year meets and what teachers should know about your child.
Things teachers don’t want to hear about your kid
Avoid using labels.
It may roll off the tongue to tell a teacher, “My child can be lazy,” or “They can be difficult,” to prepare them for what lies ahead. However, you’re better off leaving those labels at the door. Chris Cybulski, a principal at Shepard Middle School in Deerfield, IL, points out that “Such labels can create biases and hinder the teacher’s ability to form an unbiased opinion about the child. Instead, focus on sharing constructive and objective information about the child’s learning style, strengths, and areas where they may need additional support.”
Don’t compare your child to others.
You don’t want to share comparisons between your child and their sibling, neighbor, friend, etc. “It’s irrelevant (and possibly damaging) to use another person as a metric by which you evaluate your child’s success, so avoid sharing such analysis with their teacher, whether in praise or frustration. Instead, maintain an open mind throughout the year, which allows you to take positive feedback about your child to heart and to empower them to set their own goals for growth,” says Linda Louis, senior director of curriculum at BASIS Independent Schools.
Unsuitable or sensitive information.
Establishing appropriate boundaries and protecting sensitive or confidential information that does not relate to your child’s education needs is paramount in a parent/student and teacher relationship and data. According to Dr. Kellie Kopach, an educator at Deer Path Middle School in Glenview, IL, “Respecting privacy while keeping information relevant encourages professional relations between teachers and their pupils as a result. Parents can build positive and constructive partnerships with teachers by withholding certain types of information pertaining to their child’s education and growth.”
Excessive demands and expectations.
It’s normal to have expectations for the teacher and your child during the school year. However, this is only helpful to a degree. “While communicating expectations to teachers is essential, overwhelming them with unrealistically high demands or expecting special treatment for your child could strain teacher-parent relations and reduce collaboration,” says Kopach.
Your child will spend the majority of their time at school for the next nine months, so teachers should be well versed on their medical conditions in case issues arise. Patti Adams, a current middle school special education teacher in NYC with 30+ years of experience, says this is one of the most important things parents should tell their teachers.
This includes physical health issues and mental health-related concerns (anxiety, depression, etc.). “Last year, I had a student with anxiety, and he missed a lot of school because of it. If I would have known, then I could have reached out to the parents to see if there was anything else I could do to make the classroom a less anxiety-provoking environment for the student,” adds Adams.
Additionally, Kopach adds that allergies, medical conditions (diabetes, asthma, etc.), and prescription medication requirements needed medication during school hours must also be communicated to both the teacher and school nurse so the best care can be provided to the child in an accommodating and caring manner.
Learning style
Every child learns differently, and not one method will be successful for each child. According to Cybulski, “Parents should provide information on how their child learns best and let teachers know about any specific needs their child has that could be a barrier to success. By sharing this information early, parents help teachers tailor their instructional approaches and provide appropriate support to foster a more effective learning experience for the student.”
Whether your child is a visual, auditory, or tactile learner, this is information you should immediately tell a new teacher at the beginning of the school year.
Major life changes
The topic of major life changes is at the top of the list when it comes to what teachers should know about your child,
“Informing teachers of significant life events such as a recent move, divorce, or loss within the family can enable us to stay aware of potential emotional or behavioral changes that might impact a student,” says Kopach. “While we don’t need to know specific details, providing this information helps us better understand and connect to the whole student.”
Goals for the child
Parents should set goals for their children inside and outside the classroom each academic year. “While this may include reading, writing, and math computation goals, it could also be that the student is working on a sport or hobby, completing a service project for a church group or scout troop, or learning a new instrument,” says Cybulski. “Providing this information helps connect the teacher to the student’s interests beyond school and can help build a greater network of support for the student.”
Say these things on the walk to the bus or during snack time. In fact, any time is a good time!
Whether they are in preschool, elementary school, or heading into middle school, offering encouraging words for students can make all the difference between a just-okay day and an amazing day. Whatever time of day, there’s always a moment to remind your kids how much you believe in them and how you can’t wait to hear all about it! We’ve found 22 simple phrases and prompts that can add a dose of positivity to your kids’ day; be sure to keep them in your back pocket—you’ll never know when they’ll come in handy.
1. I can’t wait to see what your day brings. Put a positive spin on their daily morning routine when they fly out the door to catch the bus.
2. Do your best! Send them off with good vibes and encouraging words so they’ll be primed to achieve whatever they put their minds to.
3. Can I get a hug? Shh … this one’s really more about you than them, but they don’t need to know that. Hugs at the beginning of the day send a clear message of love to your little one.
4. I’ll think about you today! Just this one simple phrase lets your child know that he’ll be on your mind throughout the day, and sometimes that’s enough of a boost.
5. Do you have everything you need? It’s an easy question, but just asking it can assure both you and your child that she is prepared for her day. Lunch (or lunch money), homework, books, a special toy … whatever it is, taking a moment to ask and make sure she has what she needs to have a happy and successful day lets her know that you care.
6. You look great! Although this one can bring a smile to the young ones as well, these encouraging words are great to throw to the older kids as they trudge out the door into a social-media-driven world that can have seriously adverse effects on self-esteem.
7. You’ve got this! School is tough, much tougher than when we were kids, and the everyday pressures of homework, tests, quizzes, projects and more… well, it’s enough to make even the most self-assured kid second guess his or her abilities. Just giving your child one final boost of positivity with these words of encouragement as he scrambles out the door can be enough to boost that self-confidence for the rest of the day.
8. I’ll be right here when you get back. There are hours that are going to pass between taking your child to school and picking him up, and in that time, a lot can happen. Let him know that you’re going to be right there when he’s finished with his day, whether good or bad. This tiny little assurance can help slightly younger nervous kids take often difficult steps towards school.
9. I can’t wait to hear about your day! Encourage your children to look for the positive in the day by letting them know you’ll be ready to hear all about it when you see each other again.
10. You roll with the punches like a champ. Busy families have ever-changing schedules where flexibility is key. Letting your little ones know that you recognize their ability to also be flexible is important.
11.Thanks for sharing your day with me. Nothing says, “I’m listening” after the day’s download quite like this one. Frasier Crane would be proud.
12. You are a good person. People of all ages need words of encouragement like this to let them know that their presence, personality, and decisions are noticed and appreciated.
13. Thanks for helping out! when they go above and beyond to keep your family’s groove grooving, let them know how proud you are!
14. Your thoughtfulness shines through. Save this one for the simple gestures they make throughout the day, like helping out a friend or sharing with a sibling.
15. I like how you handled that. Using encouraging words for students like this lets them know you approve of how they managed tough situations can put smiles back on their faces and give them the confidence to tackle future challenges.
16. I’m so happy you’re home. I missed you. Because even though parents joke about alone time, we’re happiest when our kids are by our sides.
17. I was thinking about you today when … sharing your day with them lets kids know they’re loved, even when you’re not around to show it.
18. Your joy puts a smile on my face too. This one makes an impact when they come off the bus or through the door with big smiles.
19. I’ll bet your friends/teacher appreciated your ___________ today. Insert your favorite adjective here; no matter which one you choose, letting your kids know others see this same quality in them is super empowering.
20. It sounds like you worked hard today. Whether they took a tough test, ran a mile in P.E., or just tried their best, praise that perseverance. Go grit!
21. What do you want to do now? Set aside some time for when kids first come home from school to let them relax and unwind in their own way, whether that be stopping by the library or ice cream shop or just having free time to run around the yard. Their day has been stressful too, and letting them choose how to spend the first bit after school can be a powerful tone-setter for the rest of the evening.
22. You should be so proud of yourself. A phrase that’s important for kids (and adults!) of all ages—use it often, but especially at the end of a hard day at school.
