When the first Star Wars film came out in 1977 (Star Wars: A New Hope), it was not quite like anything audiences had seen before. Talking robots, dazzling lightsaber duels, impressive space ships, and philosophical yet powerful Jedis were completely groundbreaking, as were the special effects that made all these elements seem true-to-life. The long-lasting appeal of this saga is evident in its continued consumption by younger audiences. One of the highest-grossing Star Wars films, The Force Awakens, was released in 2015 and it earned a whopping $936.6 million at the domestic box office alone. The truth is that although younger viewers may not know that Darth Vader was once a good guy, or appreciate the importance of Han Solo in the earlier films, they eagerly await new releases and connect strongly with characters like Kylo Ren or Rey Skywalker. If you have little children you want to introduce to the saga, make it all about fun and make sure that the timing’s right.
At What Age Will Your Child Connect with Star Wars?
There is no ‘right age’ for introducing Star Wars to children. Some recommend that you start when your child is aged around six, and they are ready for something light like Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles. Many parents report, meanwhile, that the first thing their kids became interested in were toys—such as Lego Millennium Falcon kits, stuffed Grogus, toy lightsabers, and similar. They may also enjoy dressing up as characters like Boba Fett, Princess Lea, or Darth Vader on Halloween. In the meantime, your child may observe you watching a Star Wars film or series. When they express interest in watching one with you, it’s time to choose an ideal order.
Use Star Wars as Part of Your Children’s Learning Material
Try to introduce Star Wars as part of the everyday habits and skills you teach your kids. For instance, if you are trying to boost your children’s financial literacy, then you will probably start by teaching them skills like saving, understanding the worlds of loans and interest, and talking about finances. If your child has been saving for a new Star Wars Lego set, for instance, teach them how to save by setting aside a little of their allowance every week until they reach their goal. You can even download a special investment app for kids that will enable both of you to make savings in a diver set of mutual funds. Your child may become very excited about making money off investments and treating themselves with Star Wars games and merchandise.
Check Out Kids In Mind
If you like to know how ‘adult’ specific Star Wars films are (i.e. you want to check out language, levels of violence and similar), pay a brief visit to KidsinMind.com This website provides ratings on these and other elements. They also provide detailed information on specific categories. For instance, when discussing the 1977 film, they explain that the ‘violence’ contained therein includes “smoking skeletons…people (being) threatened with laser guns, and shooting (with no blood).” You can then decide whether or not this is okay. Common Sense Media recommends that kids are ready to see Star Wars: A New Hope by around age seven and The Empire Strikes Back at around age eight.
In What Order Should You Watch the Films?
Because the films are not chronological, keeping track of a linear plot can be challenging. The theatrical release order is IV, V, VI, I, II, III, VII, VIII, Solo, and IX. However, one very popular order, coined by Rod Hilton, is ‘Machete Order’. It recommends seeing the saga in this order: IV, V, II, III, VI and as follows. He leaves I out, because its contents are mainly irrelevant to the rest of the series. Some parents take a pause after Attack of the Clones (II), because the next film, Revenge of the Sith (III) is a bit darker. Scott Hanselman recommends leaving III until children are around age 10.
There is no better way to get kids excited about Star Wars than to take them to the movies, surprise them with a trip to Comic Con, or dress up alongside them in the garb worn by their favorite characters. Introduce Star Wars into special events such as birthday parties and cinema nights. So long as your children associate this sage with quality time spent with you, they are likely to cherish Star Wars for many years to come.