I have always done a lot of reading and TV and movie watching with my kids. One thing that has frequently frustrated me is how NEGATIVELY kids and teens are often portrayed, usually for cheap laughs. It seems like a lot of people find manipulative, annoying, stupid, materialistic, disrespectful and sometimes just outright mean children to be funny and even endearing.
So my question is, who are some of your favorite kid/teen characters, those you find to have the kind of qualities you admire and encourage in your own children?
For example, I love the Baudelaire children from the Series of Unfortunate Events. Their lives are in turmoil, their parents have been killed, the adults around them are either evil or completely ineffective and yet they are strong, smart, resourceful and fiercely devoted to each other. I love it!
I also love Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. What a great role model for teenage girls, she is a warrior!
So, who are YOUR favorites?
YES Theresa N, of COURSE Harry Potter! My son also grew up with these books and characters and they are the best. He is even playing quidditch at NAU, lol!!! Google his team if you like, they are the NAU Narwhals :)
I'm loving all the responses so far. As a girl from Iowa I also loved Little House on the Prairie growing up (both the books and show) but sadly it's way too slow/dated for my new age California girls :(
A few other honorable mentions, Fern from Charlotte's Web, Meg from A Wrinkle in Time, Alice from Alice in Wonderland...girls with guts, brains and curiosity...always a great combination :)
And yes, Angela G I also loved the Sound of Music, my oldest daughter played Gretel in a school production, so proud!
I love to watch Little House on the Prairie with my kids. I know it is old school, but such good values and message! My kids ages 4-9 enjoy watching it all together. I remember loving that show as a kid.
The only ones I can think of are old. Because I'm old. I liked Anne of Green Gables character, Little Women and Little Men and others by Louisa Mae Alcott. I was read these as a child. Some of the Hallmark movies have good character in them, like Christmas in Canaan, which has many good things to teach kids. So many but all I think of are older or take place then. I don't know the series you mentioned at all.
Geez, what about Harry Potter? How often does a literary character obtain rock star status!
All three of my kids are major Harry Potter heads, it's like they grew up WITH him.
Every main character is indisputably above reproach!
:)
I love the Series of Unfortunate Events! I would add:
• Harry Potter! Smart kids, look at what Harry accomplishes w/out his parents. Great kid/teen role models in those books.
• The Giver by Lois Lowry (anything Lois Lowry is great) - but that's one of my favorite books of all time.
• Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
• Holes (book and movie) by Louis Sachar
• Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
• Child of the Owl - Laurence Yep
• Chronicles of Narnia (books and movies)
-- that new Pixar movie w/ the little Scottish girl w/ the red hair looks good, too!
How about those meddling kids - Scooby Doo and the Gang!
I see things differantly. I see examples all over of kids that are mature, and responsible while the parents are always made to seem the fools. The kids are off fighting crime, solving mysteries, caring about saving the Earth and ending prejudice. The oblivious inattentive parents are always off having a martini, something.
Judy Blume - who hasn't read "Are You There G-d, It's Me, Margaret?'
So totally old school (I mean, I never knew what a sanitary belt was). But such a girly, coming of age book.
Little House on the Prairie was so inspirational. And the original Karate Kid was great too :-)
Are you talking about the child empowerment that is kids TV these days? They just want to sell stuff.
I find it difficult because my third child has PDD, he has trouble understanding that in the real world those kids would be b***** slapped into the next century if they talked to adults like that.
Thankfully my kids like grown up shows because other than books there is just nothing out there.
We were recently introduced to the Mysterious Benedict Society books. There are 3 in the series. Great books and can't wait for the next one to come out. Based on a group of kids who are grouped together because of intelligence and they have to work together to survive. Excellent books, couldn't put them down. I read them aloud as we traveled last year.
Second your view of how teens and kids are portrayed in TV programs. BLEK!
Blessings!
L.
I love Benny from the Sandlot. He was smart, strong, and took care of the younger kids, especially those that were struggling. A great movie!
Our boy is 3, so we are involved in a different age set, but a few great examples from our repertoire are:
- Nemo,
- Hiccup (from How to Tame your Dragon - great movie once the giant dragon is conceptualized for a 3 yr old),
- Wall-E (not exactly a kid, but definitely a child in ways!),
- and Ang (from the Last Avatar series, also for older children).
Characters from Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary books.
Movies like The Sandlot
Books by Matt Christopher (novels about young kids and sports)
My boys are 2 and 4, so we're not reading Baudelaire, but we love the Charlie and Lola books and TV series by Lauren Child. Charlie is such a good big brother to Lola. He's beautifully patient, creative and sweet with her. My 4 year old and I talk about being a good big brother like Charlie and if he's having a conflict with his little brother I get him to ask himself, "What would Charlie do?" It really works.
-the six pillars of character:
http://www.google.com/search?q=the+six+pillars+of+charact...
