Summer vacation. Almost two months of blissful enjoyment, if not more. What a sweet ring that phrase has, especially for school-going children.
For the parents, it means coming up with creative ways to keep them happily and healthily occupied. Oh yes, there are summer camps and hobby classes, but obviously they are not all-day activities and certainly not for everyone.
Some families plan trips, but again, that's a challenge because you simply do not want to plan a frying-pan-to-fire trip, what with most places being warm in May. The cooler climes are always crowded.
Research shows that kids are stressed during school with their academics, homework, the social scene, and all the other activities that keep them busy. They need time to chill and relax and summer holidays are usually packed with plenty of fun with family and friends and outdoor activities. And, after exciting picnics on beaches and resorts, playing with friends, swimming in the pool, or playing cricket and getting their dose of exercise, most kids get indoors and look forward to relaxing with their favorite TV shows, especially in the afternoons when it is too hot to play outside.
And if you, like me, are hosting folks over at your place, how to keep the kiddies happy when they are too excited to nap in the afternoon?
Meditate?
Nah!
Read my blog?
Ok, just kidding!
&pictures has them covered with a delightful offering. &pictures presents Kiddies Express from 9th May - 13th May daily at 12 noonAs George R.R. Martin says, "Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well."
Take a look at what &pictures has got lined up:
&pictures - India's premium mass Hindi movie channel - presents the opportunity of a perfect afternoon for kids to ensure that they watch some blockbusters. These are not just great movies - each comes with a subtle life lesson shared in the most entertaining manner.
It's latest summer movie festival, 'Kiddies Express', takes audiences on a fun-filled ride with entertaining global successes along with a lot of learning.
Monday, 9th May, it will air daily at 12 noon up to Friday, 13th May.Get aboard the &pictures 'Kiddies Express' to enjoy five fantastic movies that will transport your kids to the land of imagination.
Oh yes, you're allowed to go, too!Kung Fu Panda
Who doesn't love this movie? In the Valley of Peace, Po the Panda, finds himself chosen as the Dragon Warrior despite the fact that he is obese and a complete novice at martial arts. The movie is directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne and stars the voices of veteran Hollywood talents like Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, and Jackie Chan.
An excerpt from the film:Po: "Maybe I should just quit and go back to making noodles."
Oogway: "Quit, don't quit... Noodles, don't noodles... You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."
Madagascar
I have lost count of the number of times I've watched this movie! And of course, will continue to watch it!
This film showcases the story of four animals who have spent their lives in blissful captivity in Manhattan's Central Park Zoo. Chris Rock voices Marty, a jaded zebra is ready for a change after ten years of comfortable captivity at the Zoo. He flees for the green fields of Connecticut, prompting a rescue mission by his best friends: the Zoo's star attraction Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), a bossy hippo named Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith), and the clumsy, hypochondriac giraffe Melman (David Schwimmer). They are unexpectedly shipped back to Africa and end up getting shipwrecked on the island of Madagascar.
The film teaches us to rejoice over everything that life throws our way.
Enjoy the little things in life cause one day you'll look back and realize that they were the big things! - Kurt Vonnegut
Stuart Little 2
Another winner, and a series to multiply the enjoyment!
With subtle humor, lovable characters, a great script by Bruce Joel Rubin (Academy Award-winner, "Ghost"), Stuart Little 2 is one of the best family films of the summer.
The story begins with Stuart's brother, George ( Jonathan Lipnicki has given his voice) who finds a new friend to play with, and Stuart (brilliantly voiced by Michael J. Fox) feels left out. His mother Mrs. Little ( Geena Davis' voice) is overprotective of her minuscule younger son after he narrowly escapes an injury in a soccer game. His father (voice over by Hugh Laurie) sympathizes, but reminds Stuart of an old family adage, "Always look for the silver lining in the cloud. "
The silver lining appears when Stuart rescues a homeless bird named Margelo (voiced by Melanie Griffith) from the sinister Falcon.
They become friends and all is well until Margelo disappears one night. Stuart is convinced that Falcon is responsible and ventures out with the family cat Snowbell (voiced by Nathan Lane) to rescue her.
Stuart Little 2 is a must-watch film for its characters, dialogue, music, and animation and fun moments. Stuart Little is courageous and humble while Snowbell is hilarious.
This visually impressive film provides wholesome entertainment for kids with Stuart enlightening us with some serious friendship goals like determination, trust, respect, and acceptance.
Jumanji
Based on a gorgeous picture book story of the same name by Chris Van Allsberg, Jumanji takes us through a beautiful magical adventure and makes it into a thrilling ride that defies everything. The excellent combination of adventure and comedy are the big attractions.
A timeless adventure film, Jumanji is about two kids who play a magical board game. While playing it, they release an adult trapped in the game. They encounter various dangers which will come to an end only when the game is completed. The film was written by Greg Taylor, Jonathan Hensleigh and Jim Strain. It stars Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde and Bebe Neuwirth.
Mr. Go
A crisp narrative and some truly amazing technical expertise combine to make Mr Go one of the best family films with big laughs, big emotion and even bigger thrills. Its engaging plot offers a thoroughly enjoyable experience for all ages. It is based on the classic 1980s comic '7th Baseball Club', the title character refers to a 285 kg circus gorilla who is the first to be recruited by a savvy baseball agent to join the professional Korean Baseball League.
Setting the stage for the gorilla Ling Ling's journey to Korea is the Great Sichuan Earthquake in 2008, which causes the death of 15- year old Wei Wei's (Jiao Xu) grandfather and leaves her in charge of his circus with a huge debt over their heads. As debtors harass her, Wei Wei is worried about how to save the circus and the forty other orphans who stay under its roof.
And so, when the wily Sung (Korean actor Sung Dong-il) comes in to assist, she readily accepts his offer to transform Ling Ling into a baseball star. Dreaming of success, Wei wei and Ling Ling go to South Korea and Ling Ling quickly becomes a superstar in the baseball league.
What makes it a must-see film is that it makes you smile with its heartwarming, poignant and inspiring story.
Cool eh? I can't wait because I love all these movies just as I am sure my young friends will!
So stock up on that popcorn and other eats!
Catch the 'Kiddies Express' from Monday, 9th May to Friday, 13th May daily at 12 noon only on &pictures!Visit the &Pictures website here: http://www.andpictures.in/
Follow them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/andpictureschannel
Catch them on Twitter: @AndPicturesIN
Enjoy!
Writer, editor, blogger, social media enthusiast. Love DIY, Coffee, Music, Reading, Photography, Family, Friends and Life. Mantra: Happiness is a DIY Project. In my free time I play with my dust bunnies and show my diabetes who's boss. Tweet as @vidyasury
