From the time my kids were little, we have worked together to clean the house, take care of pets, and prepare dinner. Everyone has a job to do that aligns with their abilities and preferences. In the newest adaptation of a classic Disney movie, Snow White remembers how everyone in the kingdom used to collaborate, royalty and ‘regular’ folk alike. She wants to restore the kind of community they had before the Evil Queen took charge.
Watch Snow White with children ages 3+ and explore its spiritual themes with one or more of the following activities.
Working together. In the opening scene, everyone in the kingdom is preparing for a festival to celebrate the harvest. They work together to pick apples from the orchard, set up for a town-wide meal, and bake pies in the royal kitchen. Invite children to brainstorm other things that a family or community might work together to accomplish. Encourage them to act out their ideas.
Family values. Snow White’s parents tell her that she is destined to be a ruler who is fearless, fair, brave, and true. Her father gives her a necklace inscribed with these family values. Invite children to write their family values on a large sheet of paper. Ask: What are some ways you live out your family values? Encourage them to illustrate (with drawings and words) their values so everyone can see how they embody them.
Paying attention. Snow White often stops and listens to the world around her. This practice helps her to connect with nature and other creatures. Invite children to settle into a comfortable position. Say: Today, we are going to pause and pay attention to the world around us. Take a deep breath in (pause) and let it out. (pause) As you continue to breathe slowly in and out, look around you. Notice all the things you can see. (pause). Now close your eyes and take another deep breath in through your nose. Notice all the smells that your nose picks up. (pause) Now breathe very quietly and listen to all the sounds you can hear. (pause) When you are ready, open your eyes. Encourage children to share what they noticed with their senses.
Ethical choices. Snow White wants Jonathan to join her in fighting to take back the kingdom, but Jonathan wants to continue stealing from the rich with his band of thieves. Say: Snow White and Jonathan have different ways of dealing with the Evil Queen. Why do you think they made those choices? What would you choose to do? What factors would influence your decision?
The fairest. The Evil Queen focuses on being the fairest in the land. ‘Fair’ can mean ‘beautiful’, but it can also mean ‘just’. The mirror declares Snow White the fairest of them all, not because of her external beauty but because of her internal commitment to fairness. Encourage children to draw a self-portrait. On one half, ask them to depict what they look like on the surface. On the other half, ask them to illustrate the values and commitments that are hidden in their mind. Invite them to share their portraits with one another.
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