Guidelines for Family Movie Night from Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media has some common sense guidelines for family movie night.  The range of opportunities for solitary consumption of media has led to less time for families to sit down at the same time to enjoy — and talk about — the same movie.  CSM suggests making it a regular part of the schedule and taking turns selecting the movie.  Younger children will enjoy the pride and sense of responsibility that comes from making a choice.  Families should not object when it is the same movie they have already seen — that is appropriate at this stage of development and it is the movies seen over and over again that become part of family lore.  When I was growing up, our family watched “On the Town” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” countless times.  And wise parents can learn a lot from the selections of middle schoolers and teenagers.