Down and out dad's drive on display

It's your daughter's first stint as a junior camp counselor. She wants to win the Best Counselor award so badly she'll let the kids do everything from eating candy to staying up super late. Her plan seems to be working, until a sugar high inspires her campers to try to track the legendary camp werewolf at midnight. After the kids get lost and scared, your daughter realizes that being the best counselor doesn't mean letting little campers run wild.

Sometimes trying too hard to be liked can backfire. That's one of the lessons on exhibit in Night at the Museum, now available on home video. After watching the movie, use our conversation starters below for a chat about how far you'd go to get someone to like you. Then make our Dinosnore night light to bring the big-screen lesson to life!

The movie features Larry (Ben Stiller), a divorced dad who can't hold down a job for more than a week. Faced with the threat of not being able to see his son, Larry buckles down and gets a job as the night watchman at the Museum of Natural History.

Larry soon learns his job is anything but natural. He discovers that at night an ancient curse causes all of the inhabitants of the museum to come to life—from Attila the Hun to man-eating lions.

In order to keep the peace, Larry tries to give everybody what they want, such as giving fire to the cavemen. But when his over-the-top kindness leads to disaster, will Larry be able to save his job and his family from extinction?

Talk Together

At first, it seems like Larry is doing a good thing by giving everyone what they want. Do you think you would have done the same thing if you had Larry's job?

Which of the museum characters would you want to like you the most? How far would you go to become friends?

Take turns sharing a time you really wanted to be liked. What did you do to try to win people over? Perhaps you tried to skateboard down a scary steep hill to show just how brave you were. Looking back, do you think you've ever gone too far? Maybe you regret letting the popular kid sneak a peek at your homework in an effort to get invited to her upcoming birthday bash. What's the best way to be liked and still be true to yourself?

Play Together: Dinosnore
You won't fright in the night with this light!

You will need:
• Colored foam sheets (available at craft stores)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Inexpensive plug-in night light
• Glue

Start by asking your child how big a dinosaur he wants to make for his night light cover. If the design gets too big, the light will be hidden. If it's too small, it will be tougher to see the dinosaur.

Use a pencil to draw a dinosaur shape on the foam sheet. Cut out the shape. Use different colored sheets to decorate. Glue the dinosaur to the plastic cover of the night light and plug in.

Explain to your child that he is like the night light. When he tries to be liked by going over the top—such as making a humongous dinosaur—his real self will be hidden. As Larry learned, when you find a good balance, you and your friend will happily let each other's personality shine through!

copyright © 2007 Cinematters