5 Best Bedtime Movies For Kids

Bedtime movies for kids have long been a source of moral teachings that guide the new generation. Beautiful animations and catchy songs carry important lessons of love, friendship and the power of believing in yourself.

Children’s movies are silly, funny and some magic grants them the power to mesmerise thousands of children, across the world. Without a doubt, these movies are a great way to impart important life lessons.

“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But, the way I see it, you can either run from it… or learn from it.”

Rafiki (The Lion King)

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Five Magical Bedtime Movies for Kids

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1. Beauty and the Beast

“I want adventure in the great wide somewhere! I want it more than I can tell!”

Belle

Forever a classic, this is a great movie if you want your kids to learn that there is more to people than meets the eye. Gaston, the “manliest” man in the village decides that he wants to marry the main character, Belle. He is the most handsome man in the village and she is the most beautiful woman in the village, so it makes sense to him that they would end up together. However, unlike the villagers, his good looks do not blind Belle to his flaws.

Belle’s ability to look past appearances is put to the test yet again when she finds herself the prisoner of the Beast. The heroine of this age-old story is only able to uncover the inner beauty of the Beast through patience, compassion and love. Her village’s people still lack this skill and do not see Gaston’s cunning and greed. As a result, they allow him to feed their fear of the Beast and things almost end in disaster.

In the end, it is not Belle’s good looks that save the day, but her kindness, intelligence and courage.

Seeing Belle’s love for books and thirst for knowledge might just light a spark in your child’s heart. Fan the flame well enough and you may end up with an avid reader whose only desire is to launch themselves head first into the nearest pile of books.

2. Mulan

“You said you trust Ping. Why is Mulan any different?”

Mulan

Always a crowd favourite, heart-racing adventure with a splash of humour is the medium through which this bedtime movie for kids gets its points across. Leaving behind everything she has known, Mulan disguises herself as a man and sets off to take her father’s place in the war.

Her desire to protect her family and prove herself burns strong, despite the possibility of bringing dishonour to her family, should she be revealed as a woman. Throughout the movie, she strives to do what is right, even when it goes against what is considered normal.

An inspiring movie, Mulan teaches young girls and boys that physical strength is not always the be all end all and that girls are worth much more than just a pretty face.

3. Lilo and Stitch

Lilo and Stitch is a heart-warming tale of friendship and the importance of family. Not all families look the same, and this movie illustrates this fantastically. Lilo is being raised by her older sister, Nani, after the passing of their parents. The sisters fight and make up and argue some more. A touchingly real story, not once does the movie shy away from showing both the difficulties and special moments borne of their situation.

Lilo has the wonderful ability to see the beauty in being different.

After Stitch crashes into her life (quite literally), she learns you don’t have to be related by blood to be family. The depth of her love and acceptance surprises Stitch. This love is what first prompts him to try to be a better version of himself. Eventually, after overcoming many difficulties thanks to the help of Stitch and her own determination, Nani comes to realise the same thing and accepts him as part of the family.

After all,

“Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind.”

Lilo

4. Tangled

“This is part of growing up. A little rebellion, a little adventure, that’s good. Healthy, even.”

Flynn Rider

Fun, laughter and lots of singing are all headed your way once you pop in this delightful movie for kids. A bubbly young Rapunzel sets out on the adventure of a lifetime after spending her life trapped in a tower. Through the unexpected twists and turns of this tale, an important lesson comes to light:

Adventure lies outside of your comfort zone.

There is a whole world waiting to be discovered and you’ll never know what it is like until you get out there and find out.

Afraid of making the wrong decisions at first, she gradually gains confidence through her travels. Eventually, she discovers that sometimes the people that say they care for her don’t actually have her best interests in mind. However, she also learns that love and loyalty can come from the places she least expects. This light-hearted movie will inspire a sense of wonder and a desire for adventure.

5. Moana

“Whatever just happened … Blame it on the pig.”

Grandma Tala

Filled with beautiful imagery and groovy songs, this movie will have you and your kids up and dancing in no time! Set in a world of magic, gods and demigods, Moana begins her fateful journey on a peaceful island. Drawn to the sea in a way she can’t explain, she finds herself going against her protective father’s wishes to stay away from the water.

However, this movie is about more than just teenage rebellion. Moana learns that while parents only want to take care of and protect their children, fear of the unknown helps no one. Encouraged by her eccentric grandmother, she sets off on a quest to save the world and finds herself along the way.

It is not all smooth sailing. Everyone is bound to experience setbacks every now and then, but Moana perseveres. When she is thrown back to shore, she tries and tries again. Just because something is challenging, does not mean that it isn’t meant to be.

She feels fear and doubt, just like anyone else, but her keen sense of duty keeps her moving forward. In the end, she triumphs after learning that if deceit and violence are what caused the mess in the first place, being loving and respectful is the best way to solve it.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

Preparing your child for life can be all fun and games with the right movies. Sending them off to sleep after one of these bedtime movies for kids is simply a breeze. They will spend the night dreaming of magical faraway lands, chasing adventure through the clouds of their imagination.