Last Updated on January 16, 2024 by Roslin Dwivedi

A day before my son’s 4th birthday, I put a movie in the night. To my surprise, everyone in the family, from grandpa to our turning four-year-old boy, watched the film with great interest. 

It was as if that moment was waiting to happen. Watching everyone so engrossed in the movie, I decided to make a family movie night a thing. 

I never thought about it before that night. Being new parents, we learn new things slowly. And I got a family time idea that day. 

family preparing food in the kitchen
Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

Why we need family time like a movie night – 

  1. As kids grow, we have to keep looking for games and activities that are going to make a significant impact on their memory. 
  2. Family activities strengthen parent-child friendship and understanding. 
  3. These activities are essential to building that family bond that will help kids build confidence in parents.
  4. Family activities or things together make your kids more emotionally attached to their parents. 
  5. It make kids feel important in the house. They start putting more effort into belonging to the family. 
  6. More than anything, it’s the time kids will look forward to. And be happy at that moment and all together with each other. 

Our first movie night also taught me that our son is now big enough to watch long stories. And family times like this would keep updating parents on how smart and grown-up their kids have become. Also these activities develop confidence on your kids.

Summer activities for a 4-year-olds check it here

The movie we watched was The Good Dinosaur on Disney Pixar. I put it to set our mood to celebrate his 4th birthday the next day, where the birthday party was the Dinosaurs theme. 

I made a list of movies that we are, from now onwards, going to watch every weekend or on our off days together. 

10 Animated movies that four-year-old would love to watch

Disney Pixar Movies 

  1. The Good Dinosaurs
  2. The Lion King (cartoon version)
  3. Cars – For car-loving toddlers like mine
  4. Brave: We are learning to be Brave after watching many Halloween videos on YouTube. 
  5. Encanto – Because who doesn’t like magic. Kids love watching magic. 

Netflix Movies 

  1. Shrek – Aanick love Donkey in the Shrek movie.
  2. Firedrake the Silver Dragon – Because my son loves dragon stories
  3. Madagascar 
  4. King Fu Panda
  5. Jungle Beat (the movie) – Because kids love watching animal cartoons. 

More Family time Ideas besides Family Movie Night are – 

1. Camping in your backyard – Bring a bed sheet. Make a tent out of the bed sheet. Bring some cushions and put a bed sheet over there! You just made a comfortable bed. Make a tent and stay inside for a night. Or half a night, depending on the kid’s mood and comfort. 

2. Star Gazing – Camping at night reminds me of a star-gazing night. When we were in the Maldives, I did many stars gazing nights for my husband and me. And now is the time we should introduce this to our son. 

3. Cake Making Day or Pasta or Pizza making day – We have tried the cake-making activity with our son, so I guess while he is growing up. It would be a great idea to still do such cooking activities with him to keep all of us in same team. What say?

4. A family day trip somewhere close or just in a theme park. 

5. A small picnic at a kid’s park

6. A Gardening day 

mother and daughter in the garden
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com

7. Karaoke night – Right from small kids to grand parents, everyone like to sing Karaoke. Thanks to easily available mics, set ups and Karaoke apps that anyone can have a Karaoke night at home.

8. A storytelling night – Everyone has to tell a story. This could be the funniest family time where some can have mysterious story or some funny ones.

9. Family board game – There are plenty of board games available that a family can play. To have a family time you can have a simple game or as easy as a Ludo game.

10. Come out, collect some nature stuff like sticks or leaves and make a craft. 

More Fun Ideas On Movie Night

Head over to some of these amazing blogs on the same topic for more inspiration:

5 Fun Ways To Make Movie Time Special For Young Kids

Family Movie Night Ideas

Hope the blog is helpful!

Roslin Dwivedi

Hi! I am Roslin, a travel blogger. I am a gastronomist, an excursionist and love to learn about a different culture. Apart from travel updates, you will find some aha moments and life learnings in my blog. My writing recipe includes a little bit of humour only to see you smiling. You can find me on my website, Facebook and Instagram as Travelnlifewithroaz.

6 Comments

Adeline · July 19, 2022 at 3:41 am

These are all so good

Surabhi · July 19, 2022 at 6:15 am

All these ideas are awesome. Saving your list of movies to watch with my son.

Alex · July 20, 2022 at 5:24 am

Love all these ideas! You’re so right about the family bonding, so important. My daughter is just starting to watch longer shows and even most of some movies. Lots of good ones on your list that I forgot about!

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