Films every child should watch before turning 10

London: Parents have battled to stop their children turning into couch potatoes for decades telling them to “turn that television off!”

But now it seems that letting your little monsters watch a DVD can actually be good for them. Films such as Disney Pixar’s ‘Toy Story’ can teach them important life lessons about everything from self-belief to family values. Child psychologist Dr Kairen Cullen has drawn up a list of the top films children should see by the age of 10. She selected ‘Toy Story,’ featuring characters cowboy Woody and spaceman Buzz Lightyear – catchphrase “to infinity and beyond” – as her No 1. She said the lessons learned could stay with us for life. The ‘Lion King’ came second, for teaching children self-belief and the benefit of facing up to challenges. And in third place was ‘Home Alone,’ which is credited with bringing home the importance of family. Dr Cullen asked more than 5,000 adults to choose their favourite children’s classics, then worked out which sent out the best messages. “The hardest lessons children have to learn are not the sort that fit neatly into the school curriculum or can be found in any parenting guides,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying. “These lessons relate to emotion and relationships, both of which lie at the heart of any good film. “Not only does Toy Story entertain and engage children, it also teaches about inter-personal relationships and the acceptance of people from different walks of life. These are themes which stay with us as we grow up,” she said. Helen Cowley, editor of LOVEFiLM, the DVD rental and online streaming giant, which commissioned the research, said: “The films in the Top 10 encourage positive development and they are also a great introduction to the world of film.” The top 10 films are: 1. Toy Story 2. The Lion King, 3. Home Alone, 4. Labyrinth, 5. The Jungle Book, 6. Mary Poppins, 7. The Wizard Of Oz, 8. The NeverEnding Story, 9. Matilda 10. Up.