Often, they want to watch new releases or the same movie again and again.

The kaleidoscopic images and non-stop action of today’s movies can be mind-numbing. To stretch your child’s knowledge and imagination, have him watch classic movies instead.

Classics like “Little Women” or “The Prince and the Pauper” can inspire, teach and bring the family together. But they are slower moving and not as colorful as today’s movies. Because they’re unfamiliar, your child may not always want to watch them.

To motivate your child to watch classic films:

• Entice. Tell your child about the challenge or conflict in the movie, but don’t give away the ending. Say it’s a movie you loved at your child’s age.

• Connect the movie to your child’s interests. If he’s a baseball fan, for example, watch “Pride of the Yankees.”

• Challenge. Watch two versions of the same movie: the classic and the remake. Then ask your child to compare them.

• Prepare your child. Read the book with your child before watching the film version together. Talk about how closely the movie followed the book.

• Engage. Watch each movie with your child, and ask questions to help him think about it. Why did a character behave that way? What would your child do if she were in that situation?

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