7 ways Kung Fu Panda 3 can make you a better parent

It wasn’t too long ago we sat down and watched the first installment of Kung Fu Panda as a family. It was a movie I remembered liking even before having kids and I knew it would be a hit. Little did I know it would become almost an obsession. We quickly progressed to the second and finally the latest in the trilogy.

But what surprised me as I took my girls to see Kung Fu Panda 3 was just how much this last one taught me about parenting.

Reunited with his biological father in this film, Po ultimately finds he has two dads who love and support him, Kung Fu Masters that believe in him, and finds confidence and strength in himself. And what a beautiful lesson each teach.

As we raise our kids to be productive members of society, they too will have mentors & cheerleaders along the way as well as having to truly find themselves on the journey.

Affiliate links included. Kung Fu Panda 3 is now available on Amazon Instant streaming to rent or buy, on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital copy!

9 Kung Fu Panda 3 Quotes that will improve your parenting

“If you only do what you can do,  you will never be more than you are now.” – Master Shifu

This powerful quote is one we can all put in our tool bags as parents because what a positive way to encourage our children when they are scared, fear failing, or think that they can’t do something.

We can learn to encourage our children to stretch the limits of what they think is possible and to try because if they don’t, they may not know what it feels like on the other side to succeed.

Read more on encouraging your child through the “I can’t” stages to help them be able & capable. 

“I’m not trying to turn you into me, I’m trying to turn you into you.” – Master Shifu

Sometimes this is something we have to think about as parents. What is our motive? How are we helping? What do we want to see come from it?

And in the end when we see potential in our children, we can highlight their strengths that we don’t have.

“I’m already awesomely proud.” Mr. Ping (Goose Dad)

Unfortunately, we don’t vocalize how proud of our children we are and sometimes we push them so hard that they start to feel like they’re not living up to your standards.

When we stop and tell our kids how proud of them we are, how hard they’re working, and what great effort they’re showing, we’re better empowering them and instilling self-confidence.

Read & listen to the podcast episode on ending overpraise, but still boosting our kids’ confidence without feeding their egos.

“I realize having you in Po’s life didn’t mean less for me it means more for Po.” – Mr. Ping (Goose Dad)

When coaches, teachers, maybe even step parents come into the life of our children, it’s pretty typical to become a little jealous of the influence and impact they can have on our kids and even that maybe they’re taking part of our child away from us in the time they get to spend together.

However, from the wide angle lens, we can see that our kids’ lives are blessed more richly with more people pouring into them. They get to experience more love, more life lessons, and learn a greater sense of community.

“Your real strength comes from being what makes you, you. So what are you good at? What are your strengths?”- Po

Another great quote to keep on a parenting cheat sheet. Especially when kids feel like they have to fit in or that they’re not succeeding in one area of their life, it’s such a powerful way to encourage them.

Help them focus on what they excel at, how they contribute, and what they can do for others.

In our family it’s a compliment to be called “weird” because as my husband always tells me… it’s what makes someone not easily replaceable. If we’re just like everyone else then what are we bringing to the relationship table?

Po: “But how did you know I could?”
Master Oogway: “The day we meet I saw the future…”

This quote absolutely reminds me of the children’s book The crown on your head. There is something special about every child, and every person changes the world in some big or small way.

What makes us unique is part of how we’re born and what makes us special. And we can recognize it as the parent before our kids even see their potential. If we can encourage our kids when we know they can accomplish great things, if we can tell them we see it in them, it’s an empowering message they can repeat to themselves in the process.

Just like the idea of our words becoming their inner-voice, how are we equipping their self-confidence?

“Can you, teach me?” – Master Shifu

Our children have so much to teach us! They have strengths, abilities, and insight that we may not have.

When we can set aside the fact that we are the adult or that we have more life experience than our children, there are a variety of ways our kids can teach us. They can help us see from their perspective, show us what they have learned, and maybe even teach us something completely new.

Rent, watch, or buy Kung Fu Panda 3 as of June 28th!

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