Family Movie Night Activity: Toy Story 3
When Andy’s toys get accidentally donated to the Sunnyside Daycare, they realize that things are never as they seem. Will they be able to escape the craziness? Will you be able to liven up movie night? Find out with these Family Movie Night Activities!
Movie Snacks:
* Have some Daycare style snacks of course! Cut up some carrot sticks, lay out the cheese slices and crackers, put some grapes in a bowl, and load up on juice boxes.
* Mr. Potato Head does what he can to walk around using all of his body parts on a tortilla. Make pizzadillas for dinner using tortillas, mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, pepperoni, olives and whatever else you like. Let everyone use the toppings to make their own Potato Head face.
Must Pause Moments:
* Andy’s toys are notorious for extravagant escape plans. Set up an obstacle course in your movie room and pause the flick when the Toy Story group is trying to escape from Sunnyside. Or pause the movie when Buzz is trying to get up to the air vent, point out where the kids need to get to (the side of the couch, or the doorway) and where they need to start from. Then explain that they can’t touch the floor to get there but they have to use other more creative ways to get to their destination (i.e. toy cars as skates, an exercise ball to roll on or other furniture to hop along).
* During this escape scene the gang also has all kinds of signals they use to communicate with each other from distances. Come up with your family’s own system of nonverbal communication using hand signals, whistles or flashlight patterns.
*The different ways in which different aged kids play is a big part of this movie. Have your kids point out the differences in the way the toddlers play with toys versus the older kids. Then have them show you the best way to play with their toys.
*At the end of the movie Andy introduces Bonnie to all of his beloved toys. He tells her their names and what each one is good at or what they are known for. Parents, now is a great time to get down and play with your kids! Introduce your kids to their toys kind of like Andy does and then play with them like Andy does. They will LOVE it…and so will you.
Other Activities:
* Where there are kids, there’s art work. The daycare has a clothesline strung up across the room with children’s artwork hanging from it on clothes pins. Have an art-fest with your kids and string up their work on a clothes line across your kitchen or movie room. They’ll love seeing their creations in such a grand display.
* Have each of your kids bring up their most favorite toys to watch the movie with. When Andy’s toys are picking buddies to go to the attic, have your kids identify which of their toys are best buds with each other and which toys maybe don’t get along real well.
* Have a toy cleanup as a family. If your kids have grown out of certain toys or don’t use other toys so much, take this opportunity to clean out their rooms of unused stuff. Make sure to take care though when finding a home for all those well used toys!
Danielle’ - Sheepishly Admitting that I Cried at the End of this Toy Story
Rated G; 103 min; Directed By Lee Unkrich
Toy Story 3
Toys talk! Toys dance! Toys make me cry! Again! Yes, Woody and the gang are back, this time as Andy, their owner, is about to head off to college. The toys, largely forgotten, are slated for the attic (a good thing, says Woody), but mom mistakenly sets them for trash pickup. Various adventures ensue, some quite funny and some that tug very solidly on your heartstrings.
The ClearPlay Factor
You would think the ClearPlayed version would be identical to the G-rated theatrical film. Think again. Bathroom humor, a few gross-out moments and some double entendres (“Nice ascot”) are trimmed.
Is this the same old Story?…
Yes, but in a good way. Toy Story 3 maintains the quality and humor of the first two movies, while still finding new material to mine. This one spends a little more time dealing with change, loss and moving on, (a la Jessie’s abandonment in Toy Story 2), but it’s another jewel in the Pixar crown. The vocal talents of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles and others add to the fun, joined by Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton and Laurie Metcalf. Enjoy.
Marty Nabhan—Rootinest-Tootinest Reviewer, ClearPlay
Rated G; 103 min; Directed By Lee Unkrich