Prehistoric pals fear flooding

Your family has been looking forward to the annual year-end neighborhood hike. But a few footsteps into the trail, a garter snake slithers across the path, inches away from your daughter's foot. Her happiness turns to hysterics and she refuses to hike another step, even though the snake is harmless. She's frozen with fear, and it's impossible to defrost her.

The animated movie Ice Age: The Meltdown can teach your kids about moving forward in the face of fear. After watching the film, now available on home video, break the ice with our family conversation starters about how to handle scary situations. Then do our group activity, “Freeze Frame,” to bring the big-screen lesson to life!

The story starts with the beginning of the end of the Ice Age. As the ice melts, Manny the mammoth (voice of Ray Romano) and his friends revel in the newly formed water parks and ponds.

But they soon learn that the miles of melting ice are about to cause a major disaster—a break of the gargantuan ice wall that will flood and destroy their valley. Their one hope of survival is a boat that's miles away.

With destruction and death looming, Manny faces his fear of being the last of his species, while Diego the sabertooth tiger (voice of Denis Leary) is traumatized by his phobia of water. As the prehistoric pals embark on a daring exodus, will their fear of disaster freeze their common sense to escape the impending doom?

Talk Together

When you're scared, what character do you act most like? Are you the type of person who panics when faced with a frightening situation, or do you take action?

What would have happened if Manny and his friends panicked and froze when they realized the ice wall was going to break? Have there been times you've been paralyzed in the face of fear? Take turns sharing how your reaction helped or hurt you. Perhaps screaming like a madman when a spider crawled on your hand didn't motivate it to move, but your shrieks made the dog start howling, too.

As a family, share your fears as well as what doesn't scare you. Maybe your son can't wait for thunderstorms, or your daughter loves heights. Then strategize how that person can help if something scary comes along. For example, if you're swinging on a ski lift during a wind gust, your daughter can point out the beauty of the snowy treetops, or tell some funny story to take your mind off the height.

Play Together: Freeze Frame
Fashion these frosty faces for your fridge!

You will need:
• 6 golf ball-sized Styrofoam balls
• Colored markers
• Magnetic adhesive paper (available at craft stores)
• Fabric paint
• Precut colored foam picture frame (available at craft stores)
• Foam stickers of different shapes

Using the colored markers, draw faces on the Styrofoam balls that feature a spectrum of emotions—from giddiness to absolute fear. Cut small squares from the magnetic paper and adhere one to the back of each snowball face.

Using the markers, fabric paint, and foam stickers, decorate the Freeze Frame. Write “Today I feel:” on the frame. Cut strips of the magnetic paper and stick to the back of the frame.

Use the magnets to stick the snowball faces and frame on your refrigerator. When your kids are about to face an intimidating or frightening situation—from going to the dentist to giving a class presentation—have them place the face that matches their emotion inside the Freeze Frame. Ask your child what he can do or tell himself that will help him change the face to a happier one.

Your kids will learn, just like Manny and his friends, that to overcome your fears, sometimes you have to put on a brrrave face!