Category Archives: movies

The Star: heartwarming Nativity or violent, sexist missed opportunity?

Has anyone been wondering about seeing The Star with kids? It’s a new animated Nativity story, with lots of Hollywood voice talent, and some funny moments. It’s also stuck in the 1980s when it comes to portrayal of women, casting and content. Sigh.   I went today with my son and friends, so here are […]

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The Maisy Test for Sexism in Kids’ TV Shows and Movies: What to look for and what to do about it

This is something of an experimental post, so please be kind in your comments! I’d love your help to hone it. I’ve been working on it for months, so it’s time to let it out into the world and get your help. Thanks! Sexism in kids’ TV and movies I’m thoroughly, wretchedly ambivalent about children’s television and […]

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The 4 Cutest Nativity Videos in the World (Honest)

I know the title is a big call, but I’ll eat a suitcase of carrots if you can beat these 🙂 As I said in a post last Christmas, partly about the differences between Southern and Northern Hemisphere Christmas celebrations: St Paul’s Anglican Church in central Auckland is blessed to have some very artistically and […]

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Lent with Kids, Week 6, Palm Sunday: Jesus is a Surprising King

This is an all-in-one post for Week 6 of our Lent with Kids plan. To fill in some background, start here. You can also see the series index here.     Charles Dickens could have been writing about Palm Sunday: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of […]

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Lent with Kids, Week 5: Jesus is in Charge of Life

This is an all-in-one post for Week 5 of our Lent with Kids plan. To fill in some background, start here. You can also see the series index here. Let’s start with a prayer: We give you all thanks and praise, O God, for yours is the power of life that even death cannot hold back. You […]

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Lent with Kids, Week 4: Jesus Gives Us a Fresh Start

This is an all-in-one post for Week 4 of our Lent with Kids plan. To fill in some background, start here. You can also see the series index here. The collection of Lectionary texts for the fourth Sunday of Lent includes these three Gospel readings: John 9, where Jesus heals a man who has been blind his […]

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Lent with Kids, Week 3: Jesus Gives Us Important Jobs

This is an all-in-one post for Week 3 of our Lent with Kids plan. To fill in some background, start here. You can also see the series index here. One of the things I love about the Montessori philosophy is that kids can make do meaningful work. Give kids brooms and cloths to match their size, and […]

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Lent with Kids, Week 2: Jesus and the Prophets make us Brave

This is an all-in-one post for Week 2 of our Lent with Kids plan. To fill in some background, start here. You can also see the series index here. Week 1 of Lent is almost done, and Sunday is a-comin’! I’m experimenting this week with just one post with everything we need for the week. Let me […]

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