Tag Archives: parenting styles

Human Growth and Development

Princess Diaries

Title: Princess Diaries

Date: 2001

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Human Growth and Development

Keywords: adolescence, communication, single parenting, parenting styles, parent-child relationship

Rating: G – General Audiences

Audience(s): Children Under 12, High School Age, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Mia Thermopolis lives the epitome of a normal life. She is a geek, sweet, and invisible to anyone but her mother, her best friend Lilly, and Lilly’s older brother Michael. Her biggest challenge in life is making it through a day of high school without throwing up. One day, Mia’s grandmother from Genovia shows up and invites her to tea. At tea, Mia finds out that she is the heir to the throne of Genovia, a European Country. One minute she is a regular teenager, the text moment, she is royalty. Suddenly, Mia’s life becomes much more complicated. After school she is learning about how to dance, how to walk and talk like a lady, what fork to eat a salad with, and how to be the perfect princess. She also gets a makeover and a bodyguard, Joe; two things she never anticipated to happen in her life. The media finds out who she is and makes her life all the more complicated. Will Mia decide to be a princess, or will she abandon Genovia in its time of need and continue on the path of the typical teenager?

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

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Human Growth and Development

High School Muscial

Title: High School Musical

Date: 2006

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Human Growth and Development

Keywords: adolescence, family functioning, parenting styles, type of parents

Rating: PG – Parental Guidance Suggested

Audience(s): Children Under 12, High School Age, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez are two teenagers that live in completely different worlds, but they meet singing Karaoke on New Year’s Eve while on Christmas vacation. When Troy goes back to school in New Mexico, he realizes that Gabriella is a new student there. They quickly become friends and accidentally try out for the musical together. When Troy and Gabriella get a callback, Sharpay Evans and her brother Ryan are furious because they are always the stars of the school’s productions. Gabriella has to try to juggle the play and the decathlon team and Troy has to juggle that play and the basketball team.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: What are the differences in parenting styles between Gabriella’s parents and Troy’s parents?

Places to view: Amazon Video, Itunes

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Internal Dynamics of Families

17 Again

Title: 17 Again

Date: 2009

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Internal Dynamics of Families

Keywords: adolescence, adulthood, divorce, parenting styles, work and family

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Audience(s): High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: At the age of 17, Mike O’Donnell loved his life. He was the star of his high school basketball team on the verge of getting a college scholarship for playing ball. He also was dating his soul-mate, Scarlet. At the game, Scarlet reveals that she is pregnant with Mike’s child so Mike proposes to his girlfriend. Fast forward 17 or so years, Scarlet has kicked him out of the house for being a poor husband and father and Mike has also lost his job. Mike returns to his high school, the last place he remembers being truly happy. A janitor asks him if he wishes he could be 17 again and he says yes. One rainy night, Mike is driving across a bridge where he sees the janitor about to jump and jumps in after him. After the fiasco, he goes to his high school best friend’s house and realizes he has transformed into his 17-year-old self. The movie follows Mike as he tries to get his wife and children back in his 17-year-old body.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: How does Mike try to parent his children even though they don’t recognize him as their father?

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

Contributor: Krista Hamann