Category Archives: Human Growth and Development

Human Growth and Development, Parenting

Matilda

Title: Matilda 

Date: 1996

Media type: Film

Rating: PG – Parental Guidance Suggested

Audience(s): Children Under 12, High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Matilda, a genius, is born into a family who has no aspirations – except for watching television and getting rich illegally. They ignore and berate Matilda because she is different. Matilda’s school teacher takes her under her wing and becomes the loving mother she never had.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching:There are various scenes of Matilda interacting with her parents. These clips are not only entertaining but can be used to analyze parenting styles, communication, power, etc.

Places to view: Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play, Itunes

Contributor: Ann Eberhard

Ethical Issues and Dilemmas, Families in Society, Health and Human Sexuality, Human Growth and Development, Internal Dynamics of Families, Interpersonal Relationships, Parenting

Roseanne

Title: Roseanne

Date: 1989

Media type: Television

Format: Episode

TV Season-Episode: Season 2, Episode 10

Category: Parenting

Rating: G – General Audiences

Audience(s): Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: This episode centered around Darlene, the middle child in a family of 5, age 13, who is a self described “tomboy” who likes playing sports and watching sports on tv with her father. Darlene must write a poem for school, prompting her mother to share her love of poetry with her . Darlene’s poem ultimately wins the contest and is selected to be read aloud by her at the school’s “culture night”. Roseanne is insistent she attend. Darlene does want to do, afraid that her poem actually “sucks”. Roseanne and her husband disagree. Darlene is made to attend. Roseanne seeing, a bit of herself in Darlene is moved to tears by the poem as she hears of her daughters pain of being stripped of agency, feeling isolated and alone.

Clip Description: This episode is a touching and realistic example of a mother trying to find communion with the child she has the least in common with. It is a clear example of the bidirectional nature of agency and power between parent and child, showing the continuing theme of resistance in parent-child interactions with opportunities for growth and communion

Places to view: Amazon Video

Contributor: Lisa Erbes

Human Growth and Development, Internal Dynamics of Families, Parenting

Boyz N the Hood

Title: Boyz N the Hood

Date: 1991

Media type: Film

Format: Clip

Category: Parenting, Human Growth and Development, Internal Dynamics of Families

Keywords: parent-child relationships, types of parent (single, father); adolescence, social and cultural influences, response to crises

Rating: R

Audience(s): College Age, Adults, Parents

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: The movie follows Tre and his friends as they grow up in a crime ridden neighborhood outside of Los Angeles. The film depicts how risk factors such as drugs, crime, and gang activity can put stress on a child development and the relationships of family members. The friendships the boys make are portrayed as protective factors as well as risk factors for exposing them to crime and gang activity. The parenting done by Tre’s father is also an important component to the story because he does his best to be a positive influence for Tre and guide him to make good decisions when there are so many negative influences trying to steer him in the wrong direction.

Clip Start Time: 1.0395833333

Clip Description: Tre and his dad are spending some time together along the water in the harbor. Tre’s father asks Tre what he knows about sex and Tre describes the simplistics of intercourse and how a baby is made. Tre’s father goes on to explain how any guy can get a girl pregnant, but it takes a real man to be a good father. He goes on to describe to Tre how he turned his life around when he found out he was going to be a father because he wanted to be a good role model for his son. This is an example of teaching about sex and responsibility through openness and positive parenting.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: How does poverty and crime influence the decisions Tre and his friends make? How does the opinion of others (example: Tre’s teacher, the cops) influence the actions of Tre and his friends? In what ways are friends both positive and negative influences in a community such as the one in the film? What are some examples of how Furious’s parenting style acts as a protective factor for Tre and comparing his parenting to some of the other parents in the neighborhood.

Places to view: Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play, Itunes

Contributor: Carly Baumann