The Jungle Book isn't just one of the must-see movies of the year, but it also offers some great life lessons and learning opportunities for your child. Our friends at Common Sense Media [1] just outlined the five conversations to have with your little one to help them understand the powerful messages in their new favorite film.
The Jungle Book [2] is an action-packed live-action/CGI adventure based on Rudyard Kipling's classic story [3] of young Mowgli (Neel Sethi), an orphaned "man cub" raised as a wolf and hated by the jungle's most vicious predator, tiger Shere Khan. Inspired by Disney's 1967 animated musical [4] and boasting an all-star voice cast (including Idris Elba [5], Bill Murray [6], Ben Kingsley [7], Christopher Walken [8], and Scarlett Johansson [9]), it offers families plenty to talk about. Try these topics/questions to get started:
- Which scenes startled you? Were you expecting them? What tells us to expect something scary when we're watching a movie? How much scary stuff can young kids handle? [10].
- Which characters in the movie do you consider role models? Why? How do they demonstrate courage [11] and teamwork [12]? Why are those important character strengths? [13]
- What mistakes does Mowgli make? What are the consequences of those mistakes? Why is it important for kids to see consequences in movies? [14]
- Do you agree with Bagheera that Mowgli belongs in the man village? How do his talents and skills affect the characters around him? Is it wrong to change the way the jungle animals have always done things?
- How does this Jungle Book compare to Disney's classic animated one? Which do you like better, and why? The original has been criticized for the culturally insensitive way it depicts the apes. How does this version depict them?
More great reads from Common Sense Media:
- 5 Conversations to Have with Your Kids After Zootopia [15]
- 50 Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12 [16]
- Family Movies We Love [17]