Star speedster refuses to share spotlight

Your son is scripting a Thanksgiving play to perform for the family. He refuses to let your artistic daughter help with the set and is unwilling to let anyone critique his creation. Your daughter's given the dinky part of Dinner Roll, while he snags the starring roles of both Turkey and Mashed Potatoes. You soon realize your son needs a heap of humility on his plate.

If your child thinks he's king of the road, the movie Cars, released on home video November 7, can help him realize how cockiness can leave you lonely. After watching the film, cruise into a family conversation about craving control and attention. Then play our group game, “Crash Course,” to bring the lesson to life!

Cars features the fast and famous Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson)—a hotshot rookie racecar who has quickly catapulted his way into superstardom. However, en route across the country to the Piston Cup Championship, Lightning McQueen unexpectedly finds himself stranded in the rundown town of Radiator Springs.

Upset that he won't make it back in time to win the all-important race, the cocky car belittles the town and its offbeat characters. But the longer Lightning McQueen stays in sleepy Radiator Springs, the more he realizes there's more to life than driving solo.

Talk Together

Take turns sharing which of the cars you relate to the most, and why. Which car would you want for a best friend?

Why didn't Lightning McQueen have any friends at the beginning of the movie? What changed in his attitude that helped him make new friends in Radiator Springs? Be honest—have there been times when you thought you were “too good” to be someone's friend? Do you think you missed out on some neat friendships?

What are the perks of getting all the glory for yourself? What are the benefits of sharing the attention? Take turns sharing whether you liked Lightning McQueen better when he hogged the spotlight or when he shared it, and why.

Play Together: Crash Course
Get into gear with this stop-and-go game!

You will need:
• Three styrofoam cups
• Green, yellow, and red acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Glue
• Cardboard
• Ping-Pong ball

Paint the insides and outsides of the cups—one green, one yellow, one red. As they dry, glue the bottoms of the cups to a piece of cardboard, so the colors are stacked like a traffic light. After the paint and glue are dry, place the “traffic light” at a slight angle against a wall or chair.

There are no right or wrong answers when playing Crash Course. The goal is to explore the benefits and downsides of doing something alone or with others.

Before the first player throws the Ping-Pong ball, another player calls out a sport, project, chore, or challenge—such as building a skate ramp, studying for the spelling test, or collecting stickers. The first player throws the ball at the traffic light until he lands it in one of the cups.

If the ball lands in the green light, then brainstorm ways that doing the task by yourself would make it “go” better. For example, it may be easier to keep a surprise holiday project for Mom under wraps if you work on it alone.

If the ball lands in the red light, shout out how working solo would bring you to a “stop.” You could probably build a bigger and better fort with a team of helpers than on your own.

And if the ball lands in yellow, share ideas on how doing it alone could either “slow” you down or drive you to success.

Your kids will learn, just like Lightning McQueen, that most times when you share the road, you're in for a smoother ride.