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Turning Red * Vivid And Dazzling Animation Of Friendship, Parenting, Adolescence And Boy Bands

March 18, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red introduces Mei Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda! Directed by Academy Award® winner Domee Shi (Pixar short “Bao”) and produced by Lindsey Collins.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, “Turning Red is a vivid and dazzling animated story of friendship, parenting, adolescence, and boy bands. Director Domee Shi makes her feature film directorial debut and gives us her unique take on puberty and parenting. Kids and adults alike will find this movie enjoyable given the relevancy of the topics and relatability of the characters.” See her full review below.

Turning Red

By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Turning Red is a vivid and dazzling animated story of friendship, parenting, adolescence, and boy bands. Director Domee Shi makes her feature film directorial debut and gives us her unique take on puberty and parenting. Kids and adults alike will find this movie enjoyable given the relevancy of the topics and relatability of the characters.

Set in Toronto in 2002, this beautifully-animated movie follows Meilin “Mei” Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a confident 13-year-old girl who is torn between staying her overprotective mother’s obedient daughter and being an independent person with her own interest. And if that is not enough, whenever she feels a powerful emotion, she turns into a giant, fluffy red panda.

The world-building is phenomenal, specifically that of the boy band that Mei and her friends are obsessed with. 4-Town, the boy band, perfectly captures the essence of a boy band with corny love songs, crazy fanatics and, of course, cute boys. Along with that, Turning Red captures the complexity of mother-daughter relationships across generations with both comedy and drama. The animation is visually stunning as it mixes Eastern and Western animation techniques together to make a fresh, new style while still staying true to Pixar’s recognizable animation form and style. My favorite performances are that of Sandra Oh (Ming) and Rosalie Chiang (Mei) because there is such a strong chemistry between the characters in how the actors portray a real-life, genuine relationship.

The message of the movie is to honor your parents, but make sure to be your own person while doing so. The movie animates the idea of suppressing your emotions and personality for others. It also highlights the power of friendship and the key role it plays in your life.

I give Turning Red 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 18, plus adults. Turning Red releases exclusively on Disney+ on March 11, 2022.

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Practical Ways to Prepare Your Child for their Educational Journey

March 18, 2022 By Leave a Comment

The most important thing a parent can do for their child is prepare them for the educational journey. This includes setting expectations, helping with homework, and instilling a love of learning. You’ll give your child a head start on their academic career by doing these things!

In this article, we will discuss how to prepare your child for their educational journey.

Set expectations

One of the most important things a parent can do for their child is to set expectations. This includes setting expectations for school, homework, and behavior. When you set expectations, you tell your child what you expect them to do and what you expect from them. This helps your child know what’s expected of them and gives them a roadmap to follow.

It’s important to set realistic expectations. You don’t want to set your child up for failure by expecting them to get straight A’s when they’re struggling in school. However, you also don’t want to set the bar too low. Aim to set expectations that are challenging but achievable. This will help motivate your child and give them a sense of accomplishment.

Help with homework

Another important thing parents can do to help prepare their children for their educational journey is to help with homework. Homework can be a challenge for children, and it’s often difficult for parents to know how to help.

You can make sure your child has a quiet, distraction-free place to do their homework. This will help them focus and get their work done.

You can also help by providing resources such as books, websites, or apps to help with specific assignments. And, of course, you can always offer moral support! Let your child know that you’re there for them and want them to succeed.

Instill a love of learning

The last thing parents can do to help prepare their children for their educational journey is instill a love of learning. When a child loves learning, they’re more likely to do well in school.

There are many ways to instill a love of learning in your child. You can start by exposing them to various subjects, letting them explore their interests, and providing positive reinforcement.

Another way to help is to make learning fun. Play games, read stories and do arts and crafts with your child. This will help them associate learning with enjoyment and make it more likely to want to do it.

Be involved in your child’s education

It is important to ask your child about their day at school. It’s also important to help with homework and provide resources such as books, websites, or apps to help with specific assignments. You should try to make learning fun by doing activities together like playing games, reading stories, or doing arts and crafts.

Most importantly, be involved in your child’s education by asking them about their day at school, helping with homework, and being a positive role model. These are practical ways to help prepare your child for their educational journey.

Make learning fun

One of the best ways to help your child prepare for their educational journey is to make learning fun. This will help them associate learning with enjoyment and make it more likely to want to do it.

There are many ways to make learning fun. You can start by exposing your child to various subjects, letting them explore their interests, and providing positive reinforcement. You can also play games, read stories, and do arts and crafts with your child.

Making learning fun is a great way to help your child prepare for their educational journey. It will help them associate learning with enjoyment and make it more likely to want to do it.

Take practice tests

One of the most important ways to prepare for an exam is to take practice tests. This allows you to get used to the exam format, and it also helps you identify any areas where you may need more practice. Another great thing about practice tests is that they can help you relax and feel more confident on the day of the actual exam. There are several different resources that you can use to find practice tests, so be sure to do some research and find the right ones for you.

This is even more important if they’re preparing for International or British school admission. British schools have several different requirements, so it’s important to make sure that your child is prepared for everything they ask.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to helping your child prepare for their educational journey!

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News