Positive attitude proves powerful

After watching the Winter Olympics, your daughter is inspired to take her ice-skating skills to a higher level. But to land a single toe loop, she has to overcome her lanky legs that make her clumsier than other skaters. Every day she watches videos of her favorite skater for motivation, and each time she steps on the rink she tells herself “I can land it!” One day she finally sticks her toe loop, elated that her upbeat attitude has helped her succeed.

Your kids will see the payoff of staying positive in the movie Dreamer, released on home video March 21. After watching the movie, race into a conversation about how attitude affects outcomes. Then make our “Winner's Circles” to bring the big-screen lesson to life!

Dreamer features Cale (Dakota Fanning), who wants nothing more than to spend time with her hero and dad, horse trainer Ben Crane (Kurt Russell). Tagging along to the track for a bonding experience, Cale instead witnesses a terrible racetrack accident that could have been prevented had Ben's boss followed Ben's advice. At the end of the day, Ben returns home jobless with an injured racehorse named Soñador—the Spanish word for “dreamer.”

Cale falls in love with the ailing horse and rewards her with pilfered Popsicles. While everyone else's hopes for the horse diminish, Cale remains optimistic that Soñador will not only recover, but also race again. Can Cale's upbeat attitude fix a horse's broken leg and her own broken family?

Talk Together

Cale and Ben handle tough times in different ways. Think of a time you faced something disappointing. Did you react more like Cale or like Ben? How did your reaction help or hurt you?

Take turns sharing a time you had a dream or goal that others said you couldn't reach. Did that negativity make you more determined to succeed, or did you quit following your dream? If you quit, do you regret your decision, or did it turn out for the best?

Cale convinces her dad that Soñador needs to know he believes she can win. How do others' positive words help motivate you? What kinds of things can you tell yourself to help you achieve your goals?

Play Together: Winner's Circles

Have fun horsing a-round with these positive reinforcement reminders.

You will need:
• Blank or recycled compact disks
• Acrylic paint
• Colored markers
• Ribbon

Help your kids paint colorful designs on both sides of the compact disks. Let dry. On one side of each disk, they should paint a picture or phrase that best represents their dreams or goals—for example, a picture of an ice skate, or the words “toe loop.”

On the other side, have them write a positive motto that they can tell themselves to help achieve their goals, such as “I can land it!”

Tie a ribbon through the center of the CDs, and hang them above your kids' beds or from their headboard. Tell them that every day when they wake up, and every night before they go to bed, they should think about their dreams and goals and say their mottos out loud. Just as Cale succeeded by maintaining a positive and confident attitude, you can also make your dreams come true.