Our family just recently had a movie marathon! We watched DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragon at home one day and the next day we went to the movies to watch How To Train Your Dragon 2.
This animated film comes to life in the world of vikings and dragons. Complete with action, love, excitement and heartwarming moments these two movies were very entertaining! Through the edge of your seat and tug on your heart strings moments come some very important life lessons.
The main character Hiccup is the son of the village’s revered leader and expert dragon slayer. Hiccup is expected to follow in his Dad’s big foot steps, the only problem is, he just does not measure up to the standard. Turns out that Hiccup is more like his Mom who shows up in the second movie. Both movies are filled with high expectations, forgiveness, love and accepting someone for who they are.
5 Life Lessons From How To Train Your Dragon:
1. Encourage your kids to be who they are, not who you want them to be.
Throughout the first movie Hiccup tries to measures up, falling short each time and being looked down upon. Seeing the disappointment in his father’s eyes was almost unbearable. He just couldn’t be who his father wanted him to be. He looked and thought differently then the rest of the villagers. Eventually, Hiccup wins over the favor of his Dad and the villagers when he appears to know how to tame a dragon. It wasn’t until the end of the first movie that Stoick the Vast (Hiccup’s Dad) realized Hiccup’s true greatness was in who he already was.
2. Allow your kids to shine in their own light not to live in anyone’s shadow.
Hiccup literally fit in his Dad’s shadow. He was expected to do things the way they have always been done, the viking way. Beyond the shadows and in secret Hiccup would go off and create his quirky inventions. Hiccup doesn’t begin to step out of his father’s shadow until He attempted to capture, kill and go onto to rescue a never before seen night fury dragon. When it was discovered that he was harboring the night fury dragon Hiccup begins to shine in his own light as one of his inventions helps Toothless, the name given to him by Hiccup, to fly once again. In the second movie Hiccup meets his Mother, Valka, who shows him even more about how to make his light shine in helping those around him.
3. Find out what your kids are great at doing and leverage that.
Hiccup was great at inventing things, being compassionate towards all living things, and had a soft and gentle yet strong spirit that slowly blossomed throughout the two movies. When Stoick finally accepted Hiccup for what he could do and who he could be, there was no stopping the possibilities. Dragons lived among the vikings instead of fighting against them. Hiccup’s friends believed in him instead of thinking he was crazy. Hiccup created inventions that were used throughout the village instead of being stowed away in secret places. Encourage your kids to pursue the talents and passions that live inside them and cheer them on the whole way.
Hiccup was great at inventing things, being compassionate towards all living things, and had a soft and gentle yet strong spirit that slowly blossomed throughout the two movies. When Stoick finally accepted Hiccup for what he could do and who he could be, there was no stopping the possibilities. Dragons lived among the vikings instead of fighting against them. Hiccup’s friends believed in him instead of thinking he was crazy. Hiccup created inventions that were used throughout the village instead of being stowed away in secret places. Encourage your kids to pursue the talents and passions that live inside them and cheer them on the whole way.
4. Tweak along the way of their life’s journey when needed.
On more than one occasion Hiccup’s Dad showed up to his room to talk with him about the things he had done. There are times when we see our kids going down a path that we know is not good and as parents we come along and gently guide them back to the direction they should be walking.
On more than one occasion Hiccup’s Dad showed up to his room to talk with him about the things he had done. There are times when we see our kids going down a path that we know is not good and as parents we come along and gently guide them back to the direction they should be walking.
5. Love never fails, it never gives up.
The love of parents to a son, the love that true friendship brings, the love of a soul mate, and the bond of love created when accomplishing things much greater than ourselves were strongly played out in these two movies. Through the good and bad times, love never fails and it never gives up.
The love of parents to a son, the love that true friendship brings, the love of a soul mate, and the bond of love created when accomplishing things much greater than ourselves were strongly played out in these two movies. Through the good and bad times, love never fails and it never gives up.
Check out the official website for games, movie clips, and details on the characters: https://www.howtotrainyourdragon.com/. There’s definitely more to come as the release of How To Train Your Dragon 3 is anticipated in 2016!
