SciFi Primers for kids

Bromptonboy · September 08, 2009, 11:56:10 AM

I have 2 younger kids - girl 9 and boy 7 who are mad about Star Wars. I am looking to broaden their Sci-Fi horizons, and looking for family friendly suggestions from the group.

I was thinking that the old Charlton Heston movie 'Planet Of the Apes' would be a good start.

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Rico · September 08, 2009, 12:07:01 PM

Hmm, do they enjoy fantasy too? Harry Potter might be a good choice - not Sci-Fi of course. Oh, there's this other Sci-Fi TV series that started back in the 1960's too. Now what was that called?

Bromptonboy · September 08, 2009, 12:12:04 PM

Quote from: Rico on September 08, 2009, 12:07:01 PM
Hmm, do they enjoy fantasy too? Harry Potter might be a good choice - not Sci-Fi of course. Oh, there's this other Sci-Fi TV series that started back in the 1960's too. Now what was that called?

Good idea about HP. The 9 year old is on Book 5, and the 7 year old laboring through Book 4 (I say with pride!).
TOS is an excellent idea! ((why didn't I think of that!))

Rico · September 08, 2009, 12:14:10 PM

That's about the age I get into TOS, or a couple years older. Even try the animated Trek series too.

billybob476 · September 08, 2009, 12:23:20 PM

Over labour day weekend the Space channel up here had a "Trek remastered" marathon. I caught a few with my wife (City on the Edge of Forever, Amok Time, etc) and it actually convinced her to watch through them with me!

So TOS doesn't just appeal to kids. :)

Rico · September 08, 2009, 12:26:18 PM

Good job Joe! Now is the time to strike! With Trek being "cool" now to those that didn't know, it's ALWAYS been cool! ;)

billybob476 · September 08, 2009, 12:28:25 PM

LOL. We've watched every other series from start to finish, so she is most definitely a fan. The problem with TOS is she couldn't see past the effects a lot of the time. With the enhanced episodes she was able to look past it and see the show for what it is.

I just need to show her a few more scenes of 60's The Shat getting his shirt ripped. :)

Rico · September 08, 2009, 12:36:06 PM

"City on the Edge of Forever" is just such an amazing episode with very little need for effects. I defy anyone who likes heart wrenching drama to watch that episode and not be moved.

billybob476 · September 08, 2009, 12:38:32 PM

Exactly, though she kind of giggled when they jumped out of the guardian in slo mo at the end.

ori-STUDFARM · September 08, 2009, 01:08:08 PM

Well, at risk of sounding like a stuck record, have you thought about something light hearted...a sci-fi comedy maybe.....perhaps a Red Dwarf or two?

Only ask as I have 2 daughters. A 6 year old and a 10 year old. I told them that they could stop up to watch the RD Easter specials if they had watched all the previous series of Dwarf. They did and they loved it.

Though the wife got a bit upset at the shoe shop when my 6 year old started telling the assisstant about the end of the Backwards episode when Cat goes for a ............anyway-we were saying...?

sheldor · September 08, 2009, 01:39:05 PM

Quote from: Rico on September 08, 2009, 12:07:01 PM
Hmm, do they enjoy fantasy too? Harry Potter might be a good choice - not Sci-Fi of course. Oh, there's this other Sci-Fi TV series that started back in the 1960's too. Now what was that called?

Ummmmmm....

sheldor · September 08, 2009, 01:43:21 PM

Quote from: bromptonboy on September 08, 2009, 11:56:10 AM
I have 2 younger kids - girl 9 and boy 7 who are mad about Star Wars. I am looking to broaden their Sci-Fi horizons, and looking for family friendly suggestions from the group.

I was thinking that the old Charlton Heston movie 'Planet Of the Apes' would be a good start.

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance!

There's all sorts of kid friendly sci-fi. What about animation? Close Encounters? There are quite a few series/movies from the time of Star Wars. I can't remember when I saw POTA but I think I was in my teens.

Rico · September 08, 2009, 02:27:12 PM

Also, some of those 80's movies like "The Goonies", "Explorers", "Flight of the Navigator", "Short Circuit", etc. might be good too

Bromptonboy · September 08, 2009, 03:00:23 PM

Excellent suggestions. I am glad I consulted the hive-mind, since I forgot about The Goonies. I'll ad that to the Netflix queue along with Planet of the Apes (old school one, none of this Markey Mark nonsense in my house! :) ), and perhaps Forbidden Planet for starters.

X · September 08, 2009, 05:31:09 PM

That's hard. I wouldn't recommend TOS to kids that age. I tried it and they were put off by the graphics. Enterprise has a better chance.

Here are a few that have worked with the kids around me:

Flight of the Navigator
*batteries not included
E.T.
The Last Mimzy
Willow (not Sci-fi but timeless)
The New Star Trek
Titan A.E.
Treasure Planet
The Middle Man

Believe it or not, the Power Rangers have also stoked the Sci-fi furnace in the kids as well. Now, the daughter is migrating to Aaron Stone and Clone wars, but you get the point.