FROZEN... Bad For Kids?

FROZEN… Bad For Kids?

Since November 2013, Frozen has been the rave for children and adults everywhere. It seems like we’ve heard the song “Let it Go” one too many times. So one has to ask… how good is this movie for my child?

I’ve had this conversation with parents before. Some were saying that the message in “Frozen” isn’t suitable for Christians, especially the rebellious lyrics to the catchy song “Let It Go”. Others say that it’s just a cartoon and is cute and fun for kids. For me the answer is black and white…

Being a cartoonist, I mostly watch animated films, and I am extremely picky concerning the quality of animation, storyline, and character development. I am always watching my cartoons with a critical eye, and there’s not that many that really “WOW” me. Don’t get me wrong, many of the features I love, but there are only certain ones that, after watching, I just sit back and think “Wow. That was amazing.”

To tell you the truth, Frozen was one of them. As I was watching it for the first time, throughout the movie I thought “amazing animation, great characters, and songs like the Renaissance Disney movies… but it’s still just OK”. It wasn’t until the very end when the movie showed its core message when I sat back and thought my “Wow”.

From my perspective, it seems like almost all the Disney “princess” movies had too much guy to girl “love” in it (which isn’t even the real kind of love). The kind of romance shown was not realistic at all, and they embedded in the minds of little girls how love should be like. We are all princesses who deserve a handsome prince… wrong! We don’t deserve anything at all except condemnation for our sins, but by God’s great mercy and grace we are able to stand before His throne and be blessed as the adopted children of the King of Kings.

I thought Frozen would be similar in its description of love… “true” love is when a guy and a girl kiss and get married. When the end of the film came, I honestly was shocked to see that the “true love” that was portrayed wasn’t between a man and woman at all… it was a sacrificial love. The type of love where one gives up all their own hopes and dreams to save someone else that doesn’t give love in return. Especially the twist that this type of love was portrayed between sisters and not a man and woman. This is exactly the type of love Jesus showed to us, and I was so thankful that Disney finally showed that Agape love that was missing from all its other princess features (except “Brave” of course :)).

So what about the song “Let It Go”, with the lyrics “no right no wrong no rules for me, I’m free”? Do we really want our kids to connect the fact that having “right and wrongs” in life is actually a form of bondage? Maybe the message of love vs fear is a good one, but what about the other anti-Christian messages of the movie?

Here’s my take on this… don’t listen to what other people say and take it as fact. Even this article. We’re all different. I can say “yes, the song doesn’t have the type of message you want your kids to follow, but at the same time Elsa is singing the song before she realizes that she can’t be free unless she lets go of her fears and learns to love, not to do whatever she wants. Doing whatever she wanted actually made things worse”.

The answer to “Is Frozen bad for my kids?” is a simple one. It’s between you and God. All parents who follow Christ want to raise their children the right way, but we are going to make mistakes once in a while and we can’t train up children the way God wants us to without God’s help. Whether it’s “what should I let my kids watch?” to “what should I give my kids to eat?” all boils down to the same thing… ask God, and He will show you. Others’ opinions may help, but always come back to God and make sure it’s what HE wants you to do. If you truly want to follow the Lord and sincerely seek His opinion, of a surety He will show it to you. Certain things will affect people personally in different ways. When it comes to kids, if you are close to them as a parent and talk about God and things of God in any situation, they will begin to find God everywhere around them.

Take, for instance, the example of Frozen. Children (especially little girls) may be obsessed with Elsa’s sparkly dress, pretty hair, and awesome ice powers, but if you talk together and point out “wow, look how sad and alone Elsa is until she started loving people.” Or, “Doesn’t that remind you of Jesus giving His life for us just like Anna gave her life for her sister?” Even if your kids are obsessed with the dresses and sparkles, I assure you they will think of Jesus every time they watch that scene where Anna gives her life for her sister.

It really helps to discuss things children themselves are interested in but twist the subject to draw a spiritual lesson. It’s actually rather easy to think about God in everything we see! (True, there are certain things that just aren’t suitable for children’s eyes, no matter where you’re coming from).

We all have different opinions and see things in different ways. While it’s good to talk and share opinions, ultimately we need to respect each other for our individual views and not judge one another.

I really hope and pray this article will help you and be a blessing to you. Even though this article suggests my own personal thoughts, opinions, and ideas, we are all different and it’s ultimately up to you and God to decide what’s the best for your children.

May you be blessed today and always!

Article Written By Arielle Namenyi, February 3, 2015

For questions or comments, please email Arielle Namenyi at:

anchristiancomics@gmail.com

www.anchristiancomics.com

" For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." -Romans 14: 2-5 (KJV)

Art Copyright By Arielle Namenyi. Characters Anna and Elsa Copyrighted By Disney. All Rights Reserved.