The most important lessons from Inside Out 2: for children and parents

The most important lessons from Inside Out 2: for children and parents

Almost ten years ago, on June 15, 2015, Inside out has left its mark on the box office and has since become one of Pixar’s universally beloved childhood gems. The film’s themes of navigating change and understanding emotions resonated universally with viewers and families, making it a relatable experience for moms, dads, and kids alike. Nearly everyone who saw the film shed a few tears in the theater. So expectations were high for Inside Out 2.

Although sequels rarely do better than the original, Inside out 2 did not disappoint. In this sequel, we see Pixar break down something as universal and complex as puberty in such an excellent way that parents and children are made to feel seen, given space to create open dialogues about complex emotions, and, overall, left with a space to leave families feeling comforted and relieved as they navigate this time in life that comes hard and fast for all families.

This film has many gems and important insights for parents and children, making it a must-see. Education Professional Tyreca Elliott, Manager of KinderCare’s Inclusion Services Teamagreed and kindly shared her insights on the film. She also gives us some excellent strategies for dealing with complex emotions at home and in the classroom. But before I get into all that, I have to leave a spoiler warning; it’s just good movie etiquette, so if you haven’t watched it yet and plan to, save this and come back to it later. Okay, you’ve been warned.

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Inside Out 2 and the complexities of puberty

It is now 2024 and we meet Riley and her emotions again. While things have finally settled in San Francisco, Riley is now thirteen and has entered puberty overnight. As joy, sadness, fear, anger and disgust settle into the night and slumber peacefully, an alarm goes off on the control panel and it’s officially demo day; Puberty comes in like a wrecking ball and changes everything.

Riley wakes up from her sleep, and as the emotions on the panel try to work, the slightest touch creates a heightened sense of emotion, which we see when she talks to her mother. Anger hits the panel and Riley responds with heightened anger. We also get a glimpse of Mother’s inner dialogue as her emotions think, “We just glimpsed the next ten years,” while commenting on Riley’s scent. It perfectly captures our feelings and how we grow through puberty.

Parents and children can watch and identify with this moment because puberty comes without warning and develops quite intensely, and that’s all completely normal, according to Lisa Damouran American clinical psychologist and author who collaborated with Pixar on the development of this sequel by sharing her expertise on the realities of adolescent puberty.

Damour helped develop the new emotions in this film, as puberty brings with it a much more complex set of emotions. This time we face envy, shame, boredom and fear. There is also nostalgia, but we won’t see that feeling again in the coming years.

As the new emotions settle in and Riley begins to move through puberty, she receives the news that any thirteen-year-old would find devastating: her friends are not going to the same high school as her. The news shocks almost every emotion and we slowly see fear rise and take over, wanting to protect Riley from the potential loneliness of trying to figure out what life at a new school will be like without her friends.

When fear takes over

The film delves into what life is like when fear takes over and what that can look like for teenagers and, frankly, everyone watching. Riley’s fear is a perfect representation of what happens when we experience fear. It affects everyone key point of how fear works in our minds. Fear comes up with every possible scenario of how things could go wrong to try to prevent them from happening, pushes Riley to try to be the best she can be so she doesn’t have to feel alone, and ultimately leaves her with this overwhelming feeling that even fear, the emotion in the film, didn’t see coming: Riley feels like she’s not good enough.

The feeling of not being good enough, combined with Riley’s isolation from her friends, lack of sleep, and overall loss of self-esteem, leads her to have a panic attack. This moment in particular stands out as a critical one that is important for families to watch. It illustrates what a panic attack can feel like and why it might happen, and it’s a great way to open a dialogue with kids about how to deal with these moments that are more common than people think.

In the film, Riley finds peace by doing some most important things: slow down, focus on her breathing, and touch her chair. All forms of grounding techniques that can help during a panic attack. Although the film does a great job of introducing us to complex emotions, are not datum a lot of information about strategies for dealing with these emotions in the real world. This is where our expert from KinderCare Inclusion Services comes into the picture.

KinderCare is committed to provide the best education for children, by offering expert care and proven programs in safe, trusted centers. We had the pleasure of speaking with Tyreca Elliott, manager of KinderCare’s Inclusion Services team, parent and former classroom teacher at KinderCare Learning Center, some questions about fear and how Inside Out 2 approaches this universal feeling and experience.

Expert advice on how to tackle anxiety

What important things should parents and children consider after watching? Inside out 2?

Inside out 2 allows families to talk about the different emotions we all feel every day. Parents can use the film as a starting point for conversations with their children about how they’re feeling by asking questions like, “Have you ever felt this way before?” or “Remember when Riley felt like (emotion)? I feel this way sometimes, too, how about you?” It’s a great an opportunity to help children identify and name their emotions, to make it normal to share how they feel, and to learn how to manage their feelings when they arise.

How can Inside out 2 be used to teach emotional intelligence and mental health?

Parents can use Riley’s experiences to show their children that it’s okay to feel different emotions and that they can express those emotions in healthy ways. They can also learn to recognize the emotions of others and show empathy when others are feeling the same emotions. By providing that kind of support and using encouraging dialogue, children learn emotional intelligence and are given a solid foundation for managing their mental health.

What common signs of anxiety in children and adolescents have you seen firsthand?

Experiencing some anxiety is a normal part of a child’s development. Anxiety can manifest itself in different behaviors in young children depending on their age, such as restlessness and difficulty sleeping, persistent worry or anxiety, or sudden big emotions such as anger or crying. When children experience anxiety, it is important to be with them, help them express their feelings, name the emotions they are experiencing, and show them ways to cope, such as deep breathing.

How does anxiety affect a child’s performance at school and in social interactions?

Anxiety can often affect sleep schedules and cause children to feel tired and unable to concentrate at school. Children may avoid their friends or social interactions to avoid anxious feelings. Although anxiety can affect children in different ways, it can ultimately make it more difficult for them to participate in classroom experiences or take on new experiences with their peers.

Can you share strategies for dealing with anxiety and other complex emotions at home and in the classroom?

Are important to teach and practice coping strategies when the child is calm. Once families or teachers start to notice a change in the child’s mood or if there are things that usually cause anxiety or great emotions, adults can then refer to the tools the child has already learned. By helping the child identify when he or she starts to feel those specific emotions, the child learns to ask an adult for help to start to regulate their emotions independent.

For example, when children feel When overwhelmed, parents can take the time to acknowledge and validate their children’s feelings, hear their point of view, and provide them with the support they need. Every child is different: some children need cuddles, while others need to talk about it just now have a caring adult are be present as they work through it. Some children need to express their emotions by playing with their large bodies or by having an object to squeeze or cuddle while they regulate themselves.

Inside out 2 has become a box office hit and may be a must-see for families with teens navigating a new world of emotions. It’s a great film for all ages and we definitely recommend heading to the cinema to catch this summer’s must-see animated film.