Posted on 12/29/2025 7:09:48 PM PST by gdzla
I have a five year old grandson who seems to have very much enjoyed the movie "White Christmas" with Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby a couple of days ago.
I would like to put together a list of age appropriate classic movies to recommend for a weekly afternoon movie with grandpa.
Keep in mind he is only 5 and as yet not polluted with the "common" culture or exposed to a public school. He lives with a stay at home mom and a working dad and goes to a private school. He and his two younger sisters are much loved and cared for.
His screen time (TV or moms phone) is vert limited and only allowed with mom's or dad's permission. We only have a limited time to lay the groundwork to create a strong and stable character so it's important right now to be able to control what he is exposed to. Lord knows the dam will break one day and he will be flooded with the sh*t that is so pervasive now. Hopefully he will be able to navigate it all.
Below are a few of what I would like to have him discover with me.
What others would the Freeper Universe suggest?
Alice In Wonderland 1951
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves 1937
A Charlie Brown Christmas 1965
Blackbeards Ghost 1968
Holiday Inn 1942
Journey to the Center of the Earth 1959
Lilies of the Field 1962
Mysterious Island 1961
On the Town 1949
Spaced Invaders 1990
Swiss Family Robinson 1960
The Court Jester 1956
Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation 1962
White Christmas
Anything with dancing by great dancers like Danny Kay appeal to kids little kids. They’re developing their math brain pathways. The dance is what they’re tuning in to
Though it was reported back then that a good number of parents took their kids to see that movie, not knowing what it was.
Dr. Doolittle.
At 5 I liked movies about animals. Black Beauty, Old Yeller. Mighty Joe Young. Lassie.
Old Disney movies were ok.
My folks are boomers, so I was provided with lots of tv classics, silent movies, Little Rascals, Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy comedies, etc.
Musicals. From the 1930’s to the 1950’s. All of them!
And more modern fare: Faerie Tale Theatre! Still have every one in the series. Emperor’s New Clothes, Frog Prince were the best. They are free online. Try archive.org.
Favorite religious themed film: Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima.
Cowboy movies. The old ones tended to be simple good v. evil stories that a child could understand.
But I have to say, none of it was as wonderful as having Mom or Dad read to me. I was a veteran reader by age 5 but still loved hearing them read.
Darby O’Gill And The Little People
Abbott & Costello and The Jolly Green Giant
Bedknobs & Broomsticks
What, no “High Plains Drifter”...”Pale Rider”?
Cheetah was butt-nekkid the whole movie.
According to my dad, my great-grandfather always loved “The Real McCoys” and laughed a lot when he watched, but he didn’t understand more than a dozen words in English.
Kids, likewise, don’t catch all the flavor of a story, even one written for children.
Some would enjoy watching Jerry Lewis cross his eyes and annoy Dean Martin.
Though I didn’t. Jerry seemed a bit creepy to me.
By the way, I started watching Bells of St. Mary’s, a few days ago, and while seeing Bing Crosby, I realized, I never did like that man. White Christmas, Holiday Inn — anything I saw him in, he gave off a bad vibe.
To each his own!
Don’t forget “Unforgiven” ... And, of course, spend a month or so binge watching “Breaking Bad”.
😀
I’m joking. Mostly.
Can’t leave this thread without a shoutout for “The Miracle Worker” — Patty Duke, Ann Bancroft.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People.
Starring Sean Connery!
Sound of Music is based on a true story of 7 children of von Trap family. I saw that one a dozen times during my younger years
Abbott and Costello movies
Its a mad, mad, mad, mad world
We had the Palace Theater in my hometown. They had cartoons on Saturdays. My dad knew the owner. Mom said she was grateful...as she watched us leave for the Theater.
All Dogs Go To Heaven
My two nieces used to watch it on loop.
Old Yeller is a bit intense for a kid.
The end is very traumatic.
Peanuts Thanksgiving and Christmas specials.
The Little House on the Prairie movie.
**Swiss Family Robinson**
As a 6 year old, the python scene spooked me. I had some nightmares about that. Dan-o almost didn’t make it.
Even as an adult I loved the animated movie called “UP” that has a very uplifting conclusion with adventure along the way.
The Prince and the Pauper. The 1937 movie with Errol Flynn based on the Mark Twain book. It’s a great movie and I loved it as a child, though I may have been a bit older than 5.
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