Kung-Fu Panda is a fun, animated movie series that has captured the hearts of audiences of all ages with entertaining storylines and lovable characters. The films are not just entertaining, but they also impart valuable life lessons as you follow the characters in the stories. As a parent, you can certainly pull inspiration from the movie’s protagonist and main character, Po. He laughs heartily, eats voraciously, shouts inappropriately, exclaims gleefully–and often breathes laboriously on his journey to becoming the Dragon Warrior.
In the end, the central lesson that he learns is this…his unique characteristics and personality traits are what truly qualify him to be the most highly esteemed Kung-Fu master around.
We can often compare ourselves to other seemingly perfect parents, and we see many flaws in our own parenting styles. But fear not, my friends… You can take a closer look at Po and glean some ways to become the parent you were meant to be. I want to share some tips for mastering parenting principles while staying true to who you really are.
Embrace your Unique Parenting Style
Every parent is going to have a signature style of parenting. It’s inevitable because we are all individuals with unique personalities and varying backgrounds. While some parents may be strict and authoritative, others may be more relaxed and permissive. It’s essential to understand and embrace your own parenting style. However, it’s also important to be open to learning and making adjustments as needed. In my humble opinion, a good parent is always willing to learn and grow.
Unpopular Opinion…I DO NOT believe that there is one right or wrong way to parent.
Whether you have chosen positive parenting, gentle parenting or conscious parenting…that is your choice. There is no one way to parent well, and often a combination of styles is the right choice in given circumstances.
I believe in taking it one day at a time, in doing research, in finding ways to heal our own inner child, in using tried and true methods, in having a wise and experienced village around you for guidance and input; and in good old fashioned parenting instincts and intuition. You will generally know your child best, and your instinctual decisions in a given moment can often be the best thing.
Kung-Fu Panda emphasizes the importance of embracing your unique qualities and talents. As a parent, it’s essential to recognize and embrace your parenting style. For instance, in Kung-Fu Panda 2, Po discovers his gift for teaching Kung-Fu in a way that is different from that of his mentors. Similarly, you can recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and parent in a way that works for you and your child. There are many ways to excel at parenting your children, while being true to yourself and to your child’s specific needs.
Spend Quality Time with your Children
The Kung-Fu Panda movies emphasize the importance of spending quality time with your children. For example, Po reconnects with his long-lost biological father and meets a whole village of family members. He learns the importance of spending time with loved ones. He also values each moment he can spend with his dad and treasures their time together.
Throughout the movies, Po and his adoptive father, Mr. Ping, stay closely connected as father and son. Po is often visiting Mr. Ping’s restaurant, where his dad spent years teaching him everything about the family business.
Similarly, as a parent, it’s important to set aside time to bond with your children. Whether playing games, reading together, or exploring nature, spending time together helps build a strong connection between parent and child. The key is to be present and engaged!
Encourage your Children to be Confident and Independent
It’s natural to want to protect your children from the hardship and sadness that is an inevitable part of life. It’s also instinctual to want to help them through anything that seems too challenging for them. However, it’s important to encourage your children to be confident in themselves and learn the skills to develop independence.
In Kung-Fu Panda, Po, a seemingly clumsy and unfit panda, learns to embrace his unique abilities and becomes the Dragon Warrior…a Kung-Fu master. It’s important to encourage your children to discover their own unique strengths and talents. Encourage them to take risks and make mistakes, so they can learn and grow. This will help them become confident and independent adults.
Mr. Ping has visions that Po will run the family restaurant and probably taking over the noodle shop one day. Then, he starts to understand that Po has different dreams in store for himself. Instead of pushing his own agenda, Mr. Ping takes a step back and makes room for Po to strive toward his own dream, even if it seemed like a long shot. Po lacked Kung-Fu skills, he wasn’t physically fit, and he didn’t have much discipline. But his dad never once made him feel like he couldn’t do it. He supported him through it all, and became a sounding board for Po when he stopped believing in himself. That support and nurturing love inspired Po to continue in his quest and eventually save everyone in the valley.
We should allow our kids to make mistakes and learn from them. We must help them to feel confident taking calculated risks, help them develop problem-solving skills, and teach them to be responsible for their words and actions.
Learn to Speak Your Child’s Language
As parents, we should learn to speak the language of our children, literally and figuratively. We obviously communicate with words to our children, but some unspoken communication comes through in different ways. We communicate with our facial expressions, our bodies and our actions.
Effective communication is crucial for building strong relationships with your children. It’s important to listen to children, to show them you value their opinions, and communicate in a way they understand.
Mr. Ping is excellent at listening to what Po is verbally expressing, while also reading his body language and using intuition to assess Po’s deeper needs. He knows that oftentimes when Po is feeling emotional, eating delicious foods helps him to feel better. He usually offers Po a meal while at the same time, listening to what’s on his mind. The combination is effective in communicating to Po that all will be well, and he usually feels much better.
In Kung-Fu Panda 3, Po’s other dad, Li, lies to him in order to protect him. The dishonesty creates distance between them and leaves them both feeling disconnected from each other. This dishonesty also instills insecurity in Po’s heart, and he no longer believes he can conquer the bad guy. It’s only when Li is honest with Po that he helps him find the solution that saves everyone.
Encourage your children to express their thoughts and feelings to you, and create a safe space for open and honest communication. Be mindful of what they may be saying to you with their words, as well as, in other ways. By communicating effectively, and allowing your kids the ability to do the same, you can strengthen your relationship with your children and build a foundation of trust. In effect, you are becoming the parent you were meant to be.
Model What You Want to Teach Them
Master Shifu serves as Po’s teacher and mentor as he navigates the path to becoming the Dragon Warrior. Shifu is calm, centered, disciplined, wise and a master in his Kung-Fu technique. These are the characteristics that he instills in his students, after modeling them first. Po’s personality is quite the opposite of Shifu’s, and this initially turns Shifu off. But when Shifu realizes Po’s great potential and determination, he successfully teaches Po the skills he needs to become the Dragon Warrior.
Our kids can learn from what we tell them, but they will pick up even more by watching what we do. The old adage “Do as I say, not as I do” is not an effective parenting mantra. Children often learn by observing their parents’ behavior. It’s essential to be a role model for them. Practice what you preach, and demonstrate the values that you want your children to emulate. Show them how to be kind, respectful, and honest, amongst other positive life values.
Remember To Have Fun
There is never a doubt in these movies of one thing…Po knows how to have fun! He is always excited about everything, and his excitement is infectious and spreads to those around him as well. You’re focused on becoming the parent you were meant to be, but sometimes…you forget that parenting should be fun!
Get down on the floor with your kids, giggle uncontrollably, let the ice cream drip down your arm on a hot summer day…go and jump on that trampoline! Don’t just take the kids to the pool and sit on the sidelines with a sun hat and your book…jump in and splash around with your kiddos. They love having fun, but it’s so much better when their parents join in on the fun with them!
For more fun ideas without even having to leave home, check out this article: https://chucksducksandcoconuts.com/2020/04/28/fun-activities-when-stuck-at-home-with-kids/
In conclusion, the Kung-Fu Panda trilogy offers valuable parenting tips that can inspire parents to become better versions of themselves. By embracing your unique parenting style, spending quality time with your children, encouraging their confidence and independence, modeling positive behaviors, and communicating effectively, you can become the parent that you were meant to be. And by all means…don’t forget to have fun!! These tips can help you build a strong relationship with your children while staying true to who you are as an individual and as a parent.
And if you haven’t watched the Kung-Fu Panda movies, go ahead and plan a family movie night and enjoy some quality time with the whole crew!
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