Mother-Daughter Activity Guide

Movies for Moms and Daughters, Preschool to Teen

By Karen van Kampen

Get your snacks ready and watch a fun movie together. Here are ideas for all ages.

Preschoolers (ages 2-5) Watch Dora the Explorer: Dora's Fairytale Adventure, which follows the wild adventures of the little explorer and her friend Boots, celebrating companionship and determination.

Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper, which tells the story of the pauper who must save the princess. There are lots of tunes to sing along to, and beautiful dresses too.

Mulan tells the story of a young girl who breaks the rules to protect her father. It's a movie about honor and love between a parent and daughter.

Pocahontas is another good choice. It follows the travels of a British adventurer who meets a young Indian woman, Pocahontas.

Grade-schoolers (ages 6-10) Ella Enchanted is a Cinderella story of Ella, who is put under a spell that forces her to always be obedient. Ella sets out on a quest to regain her freedom, finding love along the way.

A Little Princess follows the struggles of Sara who is shipped off to boarding school when her father is sent to fight in the second World War.

The Princess Diaries tells the story of Mia Thermopolis, a shy girl who discovers that she is a princess. It follows the hilarious transformation of a normal girl into royalty.

For some action hero fun, girls will love The Incredibles that stars the tough, intelligent Elastigirl who has the power to save her husband, Mr. Incredible.

Tweens/teens (11 +) If your daughter is a tween or teen, plan a chick flick movie night. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a great movie about four lifelong friends who are separated for the first time one summer. The friends are kept connected by a pair of thrift store jeans that travels between the teenagers, giving them good luck along the way.

13 Going on 30 is the story of a girl who wishes she could grow up faster. Her wish comes true when she wakes up on her thirteenth birthday to discover she has magically become 30.

The Lizzy Maguire movie follows Lizzy, who travels to Rome after graduating from junior high, looking for adventure. It's a fun movie for both mother and daughter.

Legally Blonde is the hilarious story of Elle Woods who goes to law school to win back her boyfriend and learns to believe in herself along the way.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is an action-packed adventure staring the combat-trained Croft who fights to save the world, and wins. Lara Croft is a great flick for fathers and daughters.

Get more girl-power movie ideas.

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