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An American Girl Chrissa Stands Strong
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My girls were given the movie An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong. We’ve watched Samantha and Kit and enjoyed them. But I have avoided the newer ones thinking that they looked like they contained disrespect, clickish stuff, attitude, etc. Have any of you seen this movie? Is it one that is okay to let them watch or would I be better getting rid of it.
While we’re on that. What about Molly? They were also given a 4 film movie that includes Samantha, Kit, Felicity and Molly. I’m not sure what time frame Molly is from.
Thanks
Molly is from the World War II era. We haven’t watched the movie for several years, so I hesitate to comment on it, although I don’t recall having any reservations about viewing it more than once.
I think it all depends on the age of your daughters. My daughter is 12 and we’ve watched the all the American Girl movies made so far. I find that they all contain disrespectful attitudes and disobedience to parents. For instance, Felicity snuck out of her house at night, disobeyed her parents to visit the horse, etc. However, I haven’t found much in the way of movies, that doesn’t include these things. I was just thankful to find some good, clean movies to watch with my daughter on movie night. We enjoyed them but I probably wouldn’t have allowed her to watch them when she was at a more tender age. I have no worries about those attitudes rubbing off on her now but I may have felt differently when she was younger.
I did just remember something that I wanted to be sure and add to the discussion here-that my biggest problem with the more modern American Girl movies is that the girls are very young, and yet they wear make up and dress very fashionably. Their hair, clothing, bedrooms, houses, families and lives are always perfect! They also give the impression that every girl should have some big talent or hobby that she’s totally immersed in-like gymnastics, horses. dancing, etc. I find my daughter feeling a little discontent with her own life after watching them. It quickly passes but it may be enough to give me pause about recommending them or watching them any more with her. I am very concerned about the way the media’s portrayal of the perfect girl, woman, etc. may affect my daughter’s self image.
I generally watch “kid” movies with my children due to a lot of the comments shared above. I don’t cut out all movies where disrespect is portrayed, especially if it is shown to have been dealt with rather than simply allowed or even seemingly encouraged. It has been sometimes amusing and often gratifying for me to hear my children comment on movie dialogue, saying things like, “We would never get away with saying that!” or “Wait ’til her mom hears her saying that.”
As far as media portrayal of lifestyle goes, we watch a variety of movies showing a range of home life, from humble to highly comfortable. My 14yo dd recently moved into her brother’s old room, even though we will not be able to repair and paint the walls until the spring. (He has autism, and walls in his old bedroom are scratched, gouged, drawn on with permanent marker–which we tried to keep from him and obviously did not.) Still, she is happy to have her own room with her own things–sheets that match, a cozy extra blanket, a beat-up dresser all to herself, a cute lamp.
I don’t think my kids would want to watch movies that were only ever steeped in the reality of their current standard of living. However, at this point, they “have learned in whatever state (they are), to be content….” (Philippians 4:11, paraprhased)
I think a lot of what is allowed to be viewed ought to depend on the child’s age and maturity, how situations are handled in the movie (are there consequences and/or discipline meted out? or has something gone on unchecked?), and what the expectations are in your own family. Some movie portrayals provide excellent teachable moments, although you wouldn’t want your children to have a steady diet of them.
I have enjoyed all the AG movies with my daughter (except Saige- something rubbed me the wrong way with that one). So it seems, each family may have a different perspective/opinion on what is acceptable in their home. Since you already own the movie, could you preview it privately while your children are asleep in order to determine the movie’s appropriateness for your family?
Sue, I totally agree with your comments. When the disrespect/disobedience/unkindness is dealt with appropriately there are things that can be learned. I don’t want my girls in a bubble of thinking that everything is perfect. I also don’t want them exposed to attitudes and behavior that is inappropriate and seemingly allowed to continue without consequences. Also, even if the behavior is dealt with, if it is an overwhelming amount it becomes the focal point and I don’t want the focus to be on inappropriate attitudes. I don’t even know if I’m making sense.
If I remember correctly, Chrissa moves to a new school where the girls are pretty mean. She befriends a girl in her class who has been homeless. One of the “mean girls” ends up becoming their friend as well. I can’t remember the finer details, though.
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