Introducing children to iconic movies like Star Wars can be a rewarding experience, fostering shared joy and sparking important discussions. But how do you navigate potentially intense scenes and ensure the experience is age-appropriate and aligned with your parenting style? This guide provides practical tips and strategies for introducing Star Wars to your kids, transforming it from a passive viewing experience into an engaging and educational adventure.
TL;DR: The Force is Strong with These Tips
- Age is Just a Number: Introduce Star Wars when your children are ready to discuss and analyze its themes. This could be 5, 10, or any age in between. Trust your instincts.
- Serial Adventures: Break the movie into 20-minute segments to maintain engagement and allow for discussions.
- Machete Order: Consider showing the films in the “Machete Order” (4, 5, 2, 3, 6) for optimal storytelling and surprise.
- Skip Episode I: Episode I can be skipped initially and presented later as supplemental material alongside Clone Wars cartoons.
- Fan Edits: Explore fan edits like Harmy’s Despecialized Version or Star Wars: Revisited.
- Make it an Event: Incorporate crafts, discussions, and mythology to enhance the experience beyond simply watching a movie.
A Detailed Guide for the Discerning Parent
We are mindful of our children’s screen time. We prefer they are active and engaged in the real world. However, the allure of Star Wars is undeniable. When our kids started asking questions about Darth Vader and lightsabers, we knew it was time to consider introducing them to the saga.
Tiny Baby Boba Fett fan art showing a cute, child-friendly version of the Star Wars character.
Peer pressure, combined with genuine interest in the characters and themes of space, good vs. evil, and adventure, prompted us to introduce Star Wars earlier than planned. However, we approached it with a structured and thoughtful approach. Remember, every child is unique, and what works for one family may not work for another.
Disclaimer: This guide is based on our experiences. It’s not a prescription, but rather a collection of ideas to consider.
“4 year old on Empire Strikes Back:”Why didn’t Luke use The Force to stay warm? This makes NO sense.”
— Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) May 6, 2012
Structuring the Viewing Experience
Before introducing the films, I revisited Star Wars: A New Hope to identify potentially concerning scenes. Resources like Kids In Mind provide detailed content summaries, highlighting violence, scary moments, and other potentially sensitive content.
Kids In Mind succinctly describes some of the elements that gave me pause:
Smoking skeletons are seen; many people are threatened with laser guns and sometimes are actually shot (resulting in some deaths but no blood). An arm is cut off and some blood is seen. A few scuffles and attacks, and a couple of explosions. A man is strangled and a man is lifted by his throat and then his limp body is tossed across a room.
To mitigate these concerns, we adopted the following strategies:
- 20-Minute Segments: We watched the film in 20-minute increments, spreading it out over two weeks.
- Selective Skipping: We skipped the severed arm scene in the Cantina and implied that Luke’s aunt and uncle ran away, attributing the smoking remains to a droid.
- Open Dialogue: We used each segment as an opportunity to discuss the story and its themes.
Fostering Discussion and Understanding
Breaking the movie into segments provides ample opportunity for discussion and processing. Instead of passively consuming two hours of action, our children had time to reflect and ask questions.
Watching “Empire Strikes Back” with the 6 year old. Han and Leia are kissing. “Oh, man, AGAIN in this movie?!?”
— Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) May 6, 2012
We would pause the movie at key moments and ask questions like, “Why did Han do that?” This sparked debates about the characters’ motivations and the consequences of their actions. If we felt they weren’t grasping the story, we were prepared to pause the experience and revisit it later. The goal was understanding, not simply completing the movie.
By pausing for discussion, we transformed an intense movie into a fun weekly episodic serial, building anticipation and excitement for each subsequent viewing. These discussions extended beyond the screen, shaping our children’s understanding of good and bad, and the complexities of moral choices.
Choosing the Right Version
George Lucas has made numerous changes to the Star Wars films over the years. However, many fans prefer the original versions. Fan edits like “Harmy’s Despecialized Edition.” strive to preserve the original theatrical releases.
The Despecialized Edition is a meticulously crafted fan preservation that combines multiple sources to create a high-quality viewing experience.
Nerd on: You likely know that a DVD can hold about 5 gigs and shows films at 480p (480 horizontal lines of resolution) and a Blu-Ray can hold 25 gigs (or 50 gigs when dual later) and show films at 1080p. There was another interstitial format that is used on dual layer DVDs that can hold almost 9 gigs. The AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) format is similar to Blu-Rays (it’s a derivative, effectively) and you’ll find it in many Camcorders. It originally supported 720p.
It’s essential to own a legitimate copy of the films before watching a fan edit and to never pay for a fan-made version.
A YouTube thumbnail comparing Harmy’s Despecialized Edition with the official releases of Star Wars, showcasing the differences in visual details.
The Machete Order: A Different Approach
Instead of watching the films in release order (4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3), consider the Machete Order (4, 5, 2, 3, 6). This order, popularized by Rod Hilton, is designed to enhance the storytelling experience.
- 4 – Star Wars: A New Hope
- 5 – The Empire Strikes Back
- 2 – Attack of the Clones
- 3 – Revenge of the Sith
- 6 – Return of the Jedi
Notably, Episode I is omitted from this order. Hilton argues that Episode I is narratively unnecessary and doesn’t significantly contribute to the overall story.
Every character established in Episode I is either killed or removed before it ends (Darth Maul, Qui-Gon, Chancellor Valorum), unimportant (Nute Gunray, Watto), or established better in a later episode (Mace Windu, Darth Sidious). Does it ever matter that Palpatine had an apprentice before Count Dooku? Nope, Darth Maul is killed by the end of Episode I and never referenced again. You may as well just start with the assumption that Dooku was the only apprentice. Does it ever matter that Obi-Wan was being trained by Qui-Gon? Nope, Obi-Wan is well into training Anakin at the start of Episode II, Qui-Gon is completely irrelevant.
Furthermore, the Machete Order preserves key surprises and enhances the emotional impact of the saga.
Given the intensity of Revenge of the Sith (Episode 3), we plan to pause the series after Attack of the Clones. We’ll wait until our children are older and better equipped to handle the darker themes and violence before continuing the saga.
“Why was Obi Wan the only one who clicked his seat belt in the Millennium Falcon?” – my 6 year old
— Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) April 29, 2012
Conclusion: More Than Just a Movie
Introducing Star Wars to our children has been a rewarding experience that extended beyond the screen. It sparked creativity, encouraged critical thinking, and provided opportunities for meaningful family discussions. We’ve spent more time playing in the backyard, building cardboard lightsabers, and discussing character motivations than actually watching the movies. The goal isn’t just to watch Star Wars but to engage with its themes and inspire creativity. I hope this A Man Of Action Parents Guide helps you and your kids jump into Star Wars.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to settle a debate about who took Chewbacca’s pants.
