Disclosure: This post is part of a yearly series in partnership with Netflix. As a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam, I’ll be sharing ideas throughout the year on some of the best Netflix titles to stream with your family. The content, as always, is whatever streams through my own mind! In addition, this post contains affiliate links. Hope you enjoy!
Last fall I told you about how we’re slowly bringing the tradition of family movie night back. Thanks to the myriad of choices available to stream on Netflix, our list of movies to watch is growing. With the arrival of summer, we’re happy to find ourselves with more time as a family to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
I was thrilled to see The Boxtrolls pop up in our choices of new releases available to stream. Eli and I caught this movie in the theater last fall and we both loved it. The story was fantastic, and the stop-motion animation was incredible. It has a dark and slightly creepy feel to it (perfect to watch snuggled up on the couch with the lights off), but not so much so as to be scary. Leaving the theater, Eli and I both talked about how we couldn’t wait for the rest of our family to see the movie.
I’ve come up with a few ways your family can get the most out of this fantastic movie and make the Boxtroll fun last all summer long.
Read the book
Here Be Monsters! (The Ratbridge Chronicles)
Watch the movie
Stream it from the comfort of your own couch or invite the neighbors for an outdoor movie night!
Serve up a special snack
How fun (and tasty) is this buggy snack idea from Atta Girl Says?
Act it out
As mischievous and fun as the characters are, the kids will love designing their own costumes and play-acting long after the movie is done. I love these paper bag costumes from Poofy Cheeks.
Learn a new game
For older kids who are too cool for dress up, take the box theme to the next level and teach them the classic Dots and Boxes game. Once you have this game under your belt, they’ll never be bored at a restaurant or in the car again.
Play with boxes
I saved the best and easiest for last – the good old-fashioned cardboard box! Those resourceful Boxtrolls knew what was up when they chose the humble box as their favorite thing to reuse, repurpose and recycle. Grab boxes of all sizes, along with tape, markers, and cardboard tubes. Indoors or out, a few simple recycled boxes can inspire hours of creative, open-ended play.
What movies are you watching this summer, and how have they inspired play beyond the couch?
