Can you remember the thrill of childhood play? The joy of imagining different worlds and characters, making up skits or games, and of meeting new friends and discovering new areas in your neighborhood. Can you recall the autonomy of being able to do this on your own with your own amazing childhood skills?
The film series Toy Story does a beautiful job of illustrating the joys of childhood play. The most recent movie, Toy Story 5, depicts the change of childhood play in the context of what they call “Tech.” The characters are saddened by the amount of children stuck inside, alone, and with their faces illuminated by bright lights coming from screens. The toys mourn the loss of group play, and become concerned about how difficult it is for kids to connect with each other.
Being careful to avoid spoilers, I would like to express my gratitude to the filmmakers who successfully illustrated a very real concern among our youth. Throughout the movie, relevant themes and issues are explored in a child-friendly way that I hope will encourage more people to put down their devices and engage in old-fashioned play with each other.
We see how difficult it is as parents to make intentional decisions for giving access to Tech to our children and teens. This is displayed in the movie with the struggle many parents feel that the only way their child can stay connected to others is with a device that will allow them to be part of group chats, games, and social media. The film demonstrated how this decision can expose our youth to distressing content, negative social experiences, bullying and unkind behavior that is happening literally right next to parents. This is one example that suggests the importance of parents knowing what their children and teens are engaging with and/or consuming online.
The use of humor is evident, which the kids truly appreciate (as do I). Humor is a wonderful tool for coping with challenging or difficult situations, as well as making the film enjoyable and providing some comic relief. Toy Story 5 also reminds us that our decisions matter, and that our connections to others matter. Re-discovering the joy of pretend play is fantastic!
It is important to also note that this film accurately reflects the importance of technology, and that there are great possibilities and functions when used appropriately. As human beings, we have our own agency with how and when we engage with technology.
For me, the most touching part of the movie was both included in a major plot lesson and reflected in the end credits as a statement of gratitude and dedication: "Dedicated to our loved ones, past and present, who were there for us at the right time. You mattered."
I hope you enjoy this movie and now go play (adults too)!
