Inside Out 2 Lessons by the Elf. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Watch Inside Out 2
Movie: Inside Out 2
Rating: PG
Genre: Family, Comedy, Animated
Length: 1 hr. 36 mins.
Age suggested: 5+ Check out our parent review below for more info!
Release Date: June 14th, 2024
Warnings: Anxiety, panic attacks, mild discussions about what puberty is but nothing more than G/PG. One use of moron. *Riley is a neurotypical teen and medication is not discussed, if you have a kiddo on medication-it’s something to consider* I think everyone can get a little something for this though- lots of great Inside Out 2 lessons.
– Check out these Inside Out 2 Goodies! Loungefly bag, Lego set, Emotions Pineapple –
Do you need to see Inside Out 1 before you see Inside Out 2?!
No! There is a nice little recap of who all the emotions are and who Riley is at the beginning of this movie. I was surprised that the 2nd movie is actually friendly for young kids than the first one is, even though it deals with puberty. This is one of the few Disney/Pixar movies that has a healthy family dynamic, engaging story, and is packed full of goodness for all ages. Adults can learn a lot from Inside Out 2 lessons too!
You can watch Inside Out 1 on Disney Plus or Rent it Here!
Inside Out 2 Quick Summary
Riley is a teenager. And with that comes new emotions! But can Joy and Anxiety work together? This second adventure with the emotions inside of Riley’s head is a fun ride for all ages. There are so many Inside Out 2 lessons for adults and for kids, we recommend this movie!
**SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT**
Inside Out 2 Parent Review: (May Contain Spoilers)
When I heard that this movie was going to focus on puberty and anxiety, I thought it would be more like Turning Red or Ruby Gillman and I was surprised! This is a friendly watch for younger viewers! Inside out 2 is more appropriate for younger kids than Inside Out 1 is. The first movie has a lot of slower and very intense sad spots, and character loss. The second movie does not. It’s fast paced, there’s not major losses or language. And I loved what a fantastic reminder it was for parents that our kiddos brains and sense of self are in constant construction mode.
The movie was fantastic, and we will be watching it again. The two things that I wish had been a little different are that I wish that we had seen inside friends brains who thought different or were neurodivergent. And I would have loved to see another positive emotion be added to the team with puberty. Especially since one of the main themes of the movie is that puberty isn’t all bad.
Is Inside Out 2 Appropriate for Little Kids?
Yes. I have very few warnings for this movie. It shows a healthy family dynamic, there is no death, very little language, and the puberty talk is very appropriate for littles. There is a big monster (Riley’s deep dark secret) that could be a little scary. The hockey game at the beginning has very loud buzzers.
There is one use of the word moron. Anger says ‘kill me.’ at one point.
If anxiety is something that you or your kiddo struggle with, this could be a really good resource to talk through together! It might also be too triggering for this moment in time.
But overall, this is one of the most appropriate and meaningful movies we have seen in a long time. It could be engaging for kids and adults of all ages.
Inside Out 2 Discussion Questions
Inside Out 2 Themes to Discuss: Sense of Self, Friendship, Puberty, Trying to Impress Others, Confidence, Embracing Positive and Negative Emotions, Teamwork
- What new emotion did you think was the most surprising?
- What old shows do you still love? Are there animated characters from shows you don’t watch anymore that would make you smile?
- Do you feel like they got the new emotions and puberty right?
- What’s really hard about being the age you are right now? What’s the funnest thing about being the age you are right now?
- Do you feel like you can change the projections in your mind?
- Who do you feel like you could talk to if you were having a panic attack? Do you know what to do if you have a panic attack?
- How many blue strings do you feel like you have? Orange?
Inside Out 2 Lessons for Parents
1) Our voices become the soundtracks in our kids heads. And it’s not too late to change how we talk to them, or to start noting what we say over and over again. They’re going to get enough angry and anxious threads without us, I want to provide a lot of blue strings.
2) It’s important to be able to name our own feelings and bring calm to their chaos. Many adults were not taught how to feel and move through their emotions, but we can do better for our kids and learn now.
5 Lessons from Elemental
3) You can’t just ‘let go’ of panic and anxiety. Anxiety is our body trying to protect us. And telling someone to just let it go or that they shouldn’t be worrying often makes it worse.
4) Show them how you are a friend. It’s important to be an example of and to teach our kids how to care for friends that are struggling. When it’s appropriate, how to forgive and how to be a good friend. And not to taunt or be mean to kids that are younger than them.
5) Our brains are elastic. They grow and can heal in remarkable ways. It’s not too late to try to add positive soundtracks to your kiddos main frame, or your own.
Were there other Inside Out 2 Lessons you picked up?!
Find Inside Out 2 Quotes Here
Mental Health Resources
The one critique I have of this movie is that Riley is a neuro typical teen and they really don’t talk about mental health that is anything other than healthy. Which is fine for a kids movie. But it’s important to recognize when our kids, or our own, mental health is not healthy. We highly suggest talking with your doctor, but here’s a short list of additional resources…
–National Institute of Mental Health Resources
-Online Counseling Options. You can fine coupon codes on this list. Check out Talk Space and Brightside.
-What did Riley do that helped pull her out of her panic attack? Can we use it too?!
Absolutely! It’s not all inclusive, but after a couple of years of grief counseling, I’d like to share 3 grounding techniques that you can see in the movie and use yourself- that have personally helped me!
- 5 Senses: What are 5 things you can see? What 4 things can you touch? What 3 things can you hear? What 2 things can you smell? What’s 1 thing you can taste? More here.
- Talking to a Friend: This can be a wonderful distraction that distracts your brain into feeling safe. I’ve also found that when I mention I’m having a panic attack and need distraction, and the friend obliges, it helps a ton.
- Deep Breathing: When you’re panicking, your body goes into flight mode. Elevated heart rate and quick breathing. Intentionally taking deeper breathes and breathing out for longer can help.
Thanks for checking out our Inside Out 2 lessons and parent review post. Before you go, check out these related articles!
–What age group is Turning Red best for?
–Why the Strange World reviews are Wrong
–5 Lessons from Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
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