Category: Netflix

January 19, 2017

When Kids Want More From Their Movies and TV Series #StreamTeam

I still remember to this day when my parents decided we as children were finally ready to start watching adult comedies and horror. I remember being so full of pride and excitement – we were finally being accepted as adults. Granted we had to cover our ears and eyes at many of the bad parts BUT we were finally allowed to stay up late to watch these movies. While most were harmless, I still am a bit traumatized by Child’s Play – I don’t think I will ever be able to look at my porcelain dolls without just a tad bit of fear they are plotting my demise.

But how do we as parents decide when our children are ready for more mature comedies, adventures and even some horror? I have no idea how my parents figured out we were ready to watch it and while I think it is a personal decision for parents to decide, I do believe there are some verbal and non-verbal cues that our children are ready for just a bit more.

Is your child interested in adult conversations? Maybe they are trying hard to be included in the conversations you have when friends come visiting? We definitely noticed a switch in our eldest two years ago and even more so now. He wants to be included in our adult conversations with friends, he likes to start up his own conversations with our friends about sports and his thought process has matured. He is craving and needing a more mature audience and this also translates over to his viewing preferences. He has begun to enjoy series like That ’70s Show and Two and A Half Men (although I cringe a bit inside at parts of this show!). We have had to adjust and adapt to allow him to grow. He now watches a greater variety of movies and series but we still monitor his choices to ensure they aren’t too mature for him.

Is your child verbally asking to watch more mature series and movies? While our five year old is constantly asking to watch The Walking Dead, we know that he is not ready for it and that he is doing it for the shock value but we also realize that his viewing preferences are changing and that we as parents need to understand and respect that. It is finding the right shows to help him make the switch that is the tough part.

Netflix has some great options for both your older child and your younger children as they graduate into a more mature viewing preference. One of the newest shows to air on Netflix is Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. In this series, we watch the orphans deal with terrible trials and the evil Count Olaf to uncover family secrets. It is a darker comedy that is the perfect transition for older children into more mature comedies and movies.

If you are still not sure check out the trailer above to get a better idea if this series is right for you and your children.

At the end of the day, we as parents know our children the best. We can watch for cues that they are ready for more but the final decision lies with us. What works in my home, may not work in yours and that’s okay!

How did you as a family decide when it was time to transition into a more mature viewing preference for your child?

Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.

December 14, 2016

Create Family Adventures with Trollhunters This Holiday Season

We are so close to the Christmas holiday break and soon the kids will be out for school for two weeks. While they are always super excited to be home (yay no school!), too quickly the ‘I’m so bored’ can set in. While you may look at them and wonder how can you possibly be bored with all the new gifts, we know this happens year after year. Netflix is here to the rescue with the release of DreamWorks Trollhunters on December 23rd, 2016.

Trollhunters follows the tale of a fifteen year old boy who finds a magical amulet. This amulet gives him the title of Trollhunter, defender of the trolls that live below the human town of Acadia. With his friends, they become tangled in this new world and in the fight between good and bad trolls.

There are twenty-six episodes which total thirteen hours of adventure, suspense and imagination. Parents will love the acts of bravery and friendship, as well as the adult humour tied in there that we get but will go over the kids heads (big thumbs up there!). Kids will love the twenty gross out moments and the forty-six moments that will make them laugh out loud.

To help you out on this adventure (and to keep active children busy), check out this handy battle and armor sword activity to help bring the action to life. Just print out this PDF and get ready for action packed fun. And if you really want to embrace the Trollhunters fun, make some delicious hard rock candy – we all know Trolls love hard rock candy and so will your little adventurer.

So my question to you is: how do you handle the long two weeks of the Christmas break? Do you have any go to favourite movies/activities/crafts?

Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam Member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.

December 13, 2016

How Do You Binge? #StreamTeam

Binge: a short period devoted to indulging in an activity, movie or anything else in excess.

I am sure so many of you have heard about bingeing habits, especially when it comes to Netflix. You have the extreme, wont move from the couch until they have finished the series viewers or the ones who watch a couple of shows and quit.

I have tried to binge watch my favourite shows but none of them are appropriate for when my children are around (I love Borgia, Orange is the New Black and Call the Midwives would just bore them). I learned the hard way when I turned on Orange is the New Black and the opening scene came on while my kids were running around and I was left scrambling for the controller! I have had to change my binge habits and watch my shows early in the morning or late at night for several hours at a time. Talk about being exhausted the next day! It would be pretty neat to see a study on the bingeing habits of parents – there is so much to take into consideration when choosing shows.

The newest trend? Netflix has found that over 30 million members around the world pair TV shows with movies. So what does this mean? It means that members are bingeing on their favourite TV shows and then take a brief three-day break. During this break members are watching complementary movies that reflect their favourite show or are in contrast to what they just viewed (from horror shows to comedy films).

So what are some common pairings? Check it out:

While we don’t follow this binge habit, it seems like many others do. In our house we alternate in the middle of series to a movie and back again. I really liked this table of choices – they definitely make sense! Marvel’s Luke Cage to Deadpool and Gilmore Girls to Mean Girls, these are definitely choices I would have made.

How do you binge? Do you follow this bingeing pattern?

Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam Member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 14, 2016

A Letter to My Sixteen Year Old Self #StreamTeam

Wow it’s weird to look back over the last fifteen years of my life – to remember my fears, hopes, anxieties and dreams. My life has changed, some things turned out very differently then I had planned for but I would not change anything. As women, we are strong, powerful and independent. We are loving, caring, open and full of life. As women, we sometimes forget to celebrate these unique traits we have and appreciate how far we have come from our teen years to our adulthood. Taking some inspiration from some leading ladies from trending Netflix shows (think the Crown and Chelsea), here is a letter to my sixteen year old self with all the things I wish I could tell my sixteen year old self to help guide myself through some of the most difficult years of becoming a woman.

Dear Carla,

Spend more time with your family. They are the most important thing in the world, appreciate every moment you have with them. You never know when those precious moments will be taken away from you, so cherish each moment.
Be kind to your parents – there is so much that they do for you that you will never fully understand or appreciate until you become a parent. When you become a parent you will be shocked and amazed at just how much your parents gave and did for you (and maybe even more shocked that they had three kids!).
Focus on school but still have fun. Education is important but so is living in the moment – don’t worry about getting 100% on each test, those grades will no longer matter when you have graduated. Work doesn’t care what your grade point average was but you will remember those missed opportunities.
Always tell the truth – no matter what it is, tell the truth. Honesty will get your further in life.
Be wise with your money – do you really need those $100 jeans? Trust me you don’t! Instead save that money for your education, a trip or your down payment on your house (I know weird to be thinking about a down payment but trust me the earlier you start saving the better off you will be).
Ignore the hurtful comments of others, their opinion of you, your clothes and style does not matter. If and when it becomes too much, reach out for help. Never ever be afraid to ask for help from your family, friends or a counsellor. Everyone wants you to succeed but know when you need the help and ask for it.
Live in each moment, eat the ice cream, poutine, cake, go on the scary ride, go for the hike – don’t turn down opportunities because of fear or lack of time. You never know when you may get another chance.
LOVE YOURSELF! Never, ever stop loving yourself no matter what. Do not let anyone take this away from you.

Carla, enjoy and cherish each moment of your life. You are special and unique. There will never be another you so never let anyone dull your shine. Live your life to the fullest.

Love,

Your Much Older (but still feeling young) Self

xoxoxo

Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 27, 2016

Skylanders Academy Set To Be A Number One Show For Kids

Last week I shared with you the news about a brand show coming exclusively to Netflix, Skylanders Academy. The new show is set to release October 28th, 2016.

About Skylanders Academy

If you didn’t get a chance to read my post, here is a little bit of background information about the new series. Skylanders Academy follows the heroic adventures of the Skylanders team, a ragtag group of heroes with unique elemental skills who travel the vast Skylands universe, protecting it from evil-doers. They achieve victory by setting aside their egos, learning to trust one another and fighting as one to maintain harmony and balance in the land.

Led by show runner Eric Rogers (Futurama), the series features the voices of Justin Long (Ask Me Anything) as Spyro, Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical, Phineas and Ferb) as Stealth Elf, Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) as Eruptor and Norm MacDonald (Saturday Night Live) as Glumshanks. Additional voice talent includes Susan Sarandon, Daniel Wu, Parker Posey, James Hetfield, Catherine O’Hara, Chris Diamantopoulos and Harland Williams, among others.

Our Thoughts About Skylanders Academy

This week our family was lucky enough to watch a screener of the very first episode in this series. WE LOVED IT!!

This new series has to be one of the best animated series for children out on television right now. While my youngest isn’t as familiar with Skylanders as his older brother is, he fell in love with the characters comparing them to Pokémon. His older brother enjoyed watching some of his favourite characters come to life – more specifically Eruptor. The characters were hilarious, I found myself cracking up along with the kids. Especially Spyro he has such spunk and it was definitely not what I was expecting at all. I guess in my mind I pictured them as serious defenders of their universe but instead they are realistic, young, funny heroes who are just trying their best (well most are and Spyro seems to want to get by with his obvious talents and good looks!).

Skylanders Academy has been by far the best animated series I have seen this year. Not only was it a show that captured my boys attention (who are 12 and 5) but also my own. I didn’t want the episode to end. We were laughing, concerned and drawn right into the series. This series will definitely be a top one this fall and should be a definite must watch on your family list.

The Trailer

If you want to get a quick glance of what is in store for you, check out this trailer now.

Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam member and receive perks associated with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.