Movie Night Magic with Disney’s Encanto: Snacks, Activities, and More!
I love movies. In my opinion, the best movies are entertaining and also offer up ideas to consider or lessons to take to heart. Also, I think movies offer parents a great opportunity to have fun family time, help kids make connections between larger ideas, and to even start important conversations in an organic way.
If you haven’t read a Movie Night Magic post on our blog before, you’re in for a treat. I’ve got everything you need to make movie nights amazing for you and your family. Here you’ll find a parent’s guide to the film, ideas for making the viewing experience more fun, and ideas for post-viewing conversations. This week, I’m going to be offering lots of suggestions for how to make a great movie night for your family with Disney’s most recent feature film, Encanto!
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Viewing Guide
Run Time: 99 minutes
Rating: PG
Recommended Age: Common Sense Media’s review says 6+, but we watched this with my sons (who are six and four) and my daughter (who is two) and they all loved it.
Premise: The movie takes place in Columbia, inside a magically-formed Encanto, a valley protected on all sides by mountains. The film follows the Madrigal family. Abuela received the miracle that created the Encanto and their magical home (Casita), and she runs the family, which has grown to include her three children and six grandchildren. Every Madrigal born into the family receives a gift, like super strength or shapeshifting or healing, when they come of age. Everyone has a unique gift that helps the Encanto in some way, everyone except Mirabel. Despite not receiving a gift of her own, it is clear from the beginning that Mirabel is a source of continual support for everyone in her family. When the magic begins to fail and fade, Mirabel is the one who endeavors to save their family, their home, and their Encanto.
Big Ideas in the Film: Importance of Family, Mental Health, Family Pressure, Generational Cycles, Sibling Relationships
Where to Watch: Disney+, On DVD and Blu-Ray February 8th
Why Watch: I don’t have enough good things to say about this movie. It is beautiful and fun and important. There is a message here for everyone about how we can love each other well and break any chain that holds us back. The music is some of the best to come from any Disney film to date. And mostly, and I can’t stress this enough, kids need to see Mirabel. I’ve watched every Disney film ever made, and I know what a bold statement this is: there isn’t a character out there that I’d rather my children look up to than Mirabel. She is strong, and smart, and kind. She values others and herself. And she is an advocate and a problem-solver. But she isn’t perfect. And I love that.
Make Your Movie Night Special
If you want to make an event out of your movie night with Encanto here are some fun ways to extend the fun!
Order Some Columbian Snacks
There are lots of great Columbian snacks that you can actually get right from Amazon. I recommend this snack box that has some of everything, including some familiar snacks in Columbian packaging and some unique treats!
Make Arepas Con Queso
In the movie, Mirabel’s mother, Julieta, has the ability to heal injuries with food. Julieta reminds me so much of my own mom, the way she continually supports Mirabel. In a key scene, Mirabel has cut her hand, and Julieta makes Arepas Con Queso for her so she can be healed. This conversation is an important moment for Mirabel though, as this is one of the few times we see that even a family’s biggest support also needs support herself sometimes.
Here is an easy recipe from the blog, MyColumbianRecipes. Let everyone help out and enjoy these delicious cheesy corn cakes as you watch!
Guide your kids in learning about Mirabel’s hobbies and Columbian Culture
- If you have older kids, check out this article from CBR.com of 10 ways the movie celebrates Columbian Culture. I think it would be fun to read this together and discuss.
- Find an activity packet to do if you have younger kids. This post from Chip and Co has some great options. And this one was distributed in theaters and has some cute things as well.
- One thing Mirabel does really well is sew. I think sewing is a great and fun skill to teach kids, and an Encanto movie night would be the perfect time. Check out this post from SewSheCan of 10 best sewing projects for kids.
- After the movie (or before), extend your kids’ interest in Columbian culture with some amazing books:
- Young Kids (4-8): A Thousand White Butterflies or Digging for Words
- Older Kids (8-12): What If a Fish or Nightlights
Opportunities for Important Conversations
This movie is great for starting conversations with kids about a variety of important topics. I’ve outlined a few below that I’ve discussed with my own children and nephew. For each, I have some questions you can ask to get the conversation going.
Being "Gifted"
- A lot of emphasis in this movie is put on the gifts the Madrigals have. What do you think your gift would be? What are some of your gifts?
- Sometimes it can be hard to feel special if you don’t have the same gifts as other people you know. Do you ever feel that way?
- Which gift from the movie do you wish you had? Why?
- Why do some members of the family feel like their gifts are a burden? How does Mirabel help them with these feelings?
- Abuela sings at the end, “The Miracle is not some magic that you’ve got, the miracle is you, not some gift, just you.” What does that mean? How can you apply that to how you see yourself?
Family Pressure
- Think about the things Luisa talks about in her song and throughout the movie. What kind of pressure does she feel? How does Mirabel help her feel better?
- Similarly, think about the things Isabellla talks about in her song and throughout the movie. What kind of pressure does she feel? How does Mirabel help her feel better?
- What kind of pressure does Abuela put on her family? Why does she do this? What has she learned at the end of the movie to ensure the cycle doesn’t continue?
- Do you feel pressure to be or act a certain way that causes you stress? Tell me about it. What could we do to fix that?
Importance of Family
- In this movie, there are three generations living in one house. What would that be like? What is our family unit like? And what other kinds of families do you know about?
- Which relationships in the movie are really healthy? What are those relationships like? What can we learn from them?
- Which relationships in the movie are broken? How do they become healed during the movie?
Cultural Diversity
- Think about how all the Madrigal family and the other people in the town look different and dress differently. But they are all part of the same culture. So how are they different and how are they alike? And how are your friends different from you and how are you alike?
- What are some things that happen in the movie that are similar to things we believe? And what are some things the characters do in their culture that we don’t?
- This movie is fiction, but it is based on some ideas that are part of the real culture of Columbia. Now, is there anything you want to learn about the real people of Columbia? Or, do you have any questions about what is fact and what is fiction?
Enjoy your Movie Night!
I hope this helps make your next movie night special and brings about fun family time, extended learning, and important conversations with your kids.
I’d also love to hear from you! What movie should I do next? I’m open to older films or new releases! What’s your favorite to watch with your kids? Drop me a comment and I’ll pick one for next time!
Have a Good Day!
And for more great posts to help you create special family memories, check these out!
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