“Being yourself isn’t a bad thing” say child experts in response to parents’ criticism of Disney/Pixar’s “Turning Red”

Child and youth workers in Ontario share their thoughts on how the recent film can be used to educate both parents and kids about a somewhat intimidating topic: adolescence

 Turning Red is the latest Disney/Pixar film to be released; it focuses on 13-year-old Meilin “Mei” Lee, a Chinese Canadian girl who, being on the verge of adolescence, transforms into a giant red panda whenever she experiences overwhelming emotions. The movie has been largely successful, breaking the Disney+ global viewership opening record within three days of making its premiere on the streaming platform.

The new Disney/Pixar film “Turning Red” is described as a heartwarming, culturally expansive coming-of-age story for families to watch together, however some parents are expressing concern over the film’s rather unapologetic depiction of adolescence, arguing it encourages their pre-teenage kids to rebel and disrespect their elders. 

According to Rotten Tomatoes, reviews for the film have been generally positive, holding a 94 per cent score from critics and a 73 per cent scored from audiences, although based on audience contributions, some say that the movie’s message might make some parents uncomfortable.

Child experts based in Ontario are weighing in on how this film can actually promote constructive family discussions as well as provide youth with strategies to help navigate the road to maturation. 

“You just need to be available to them and to set limits and boundaries, but at the same time understand that their job is to ‘walk the system’ and your job is to keep them in place and keep them safe,” said Deborah May, a Child and Youth Counsellor from Bishop Reding Secondary School in Milton, Ontario, during an interview over Zoom.

In any case, May says that like most Disney/Pixar films, these references to ‘teenage rebellion’ in Turning Red aren’t suggestive enough that kids will immediately pick up on them and start mirroring what they see.

As stated in The New York Times by Annie Tao, a clinical psychologist who treats children and teens, “Is this movie going to teach your kids to lie and sneak out? Absolutely not. Defiance is typical during adolescence, but serious defiance often stems from problems within the parent-child relationship, and it’s not something kids will start doing just because they saw it in a movie.”

However there is no reason why parents cannot use this film as an opportunity to have healthy conversations with their kids and help them better understand adolescent behaviour, so that they may have an easier experience with it when their time comes. 

Maureen Pangan, a youth support worker from the Ministry of Social Services, also recognizes the benefits of having family conversations, adding how these discussions might lessen the likelihood of kids experiencing a “cultural gap” with their parents.

“What parents experienced when they were young is definitely different from what their kids are experiencing now. So when that happens, there’s a conflict because they both see things differently,” said Pangan during a phone interview.

Having grown up with Philippine-born parents who internalized a very different set of cultural beliefs than that of the North American ideology, Pangan states that she really identified with the film’s storyline.

Pangan has said that for kids undergoing adolescence, it can be especially hard to establish their own identity if they feel forced to choose between what their parents are preaching to them and what their own experiences have taught them. As such, this may result in disagreements between child and parent.

“In adolescence, the chances are that you’re going to have a lot more confrontations with your parents…but there’s a reason for that: because you need to become a separate person from your family,” said May in a later comment. 

While May recognizes that rebelling is a normal aspect of exercising one’s autonomy, she emphasizes the importance of holding onto those connections with family. After all, adolescence can be a very vulnerable period in kids’ lives.

“I think that without a support system, like family or trusted adults they can talk to, it can be really challenging,” said Pangan in a follow up.

Both social workers hope that, by watching this film, parents understand they can be open with their kids; perhaps even talk about what growing up was like for them and how they got on the same level of understanding with their own parents.

Parents may not be able to completely avoid confrontations with their kids in the future, but if they start these conversations now, in a way that they deem appropriate for their children’s level of maturity, they will definitely ease their transition into adulthood and strengthen that sense of trust and communication between them.

As for kids, both social workers agree that although they may not always see eye-to-eye with their parents, they must remember to be respectful; on both ends, being aware of the other person’s feelings and experiences is important if they ever hope to achieve a common understanding.