Pooh's pals learn looks can be deceiving

Your son is the shortest kid at summer camp. Everyone assumes he's a pipsqueak, even though he's actually the speediest sprinter. When he learns his bunkmate keeps a teddy bear in his sleeping bag, your son believes him to be a wimp. But after they get to know each other, he's surprised to learn his bunkmate is a champion swimmer.

Be careful of judging others based on outward appearance—that's the lesson featured in Pooh's Heffalump Movie, now released on home video. After watching the film, use our questions below for a family chat about discovering what's really behind others' differences. Then play our game “Jump to Conclusions” to bring the big-screen lesson to life!

The animated film starts with a fright when the Hundred Acre Wood is shaken by a rumble—a force that can only be caused by the much-feared Heffalump. Winnie the Pooh and gang head to Heffalump Hollow to capture the ferocious creature that is said to threaten their existence.

Deemed too young for the dangerous expedition, little Roo sets out to Heffalump Hollow by himself, where he successfully traps a Heffalump named Lumpy. Roo is shocked that Lumpy is lovable and is surprised to learn that Lumpy is scared of Roo's silly friends.

As Roo and Lumpy strike up a friendship, they work together to convince their friends and families that their fears about each other are unfounded.

Talk Together

Pretend you live in the Hundred Acre Wood and just heard the Heffalump's rumble. What kind of scary monster would you have imagined? What did Winnie the Pooh and pals think a Heffalump was like at first?

Roo and Lumpy may have seemed an unlikely pair, but they actually had a lot in common. What kinds of things did they both enjoy? Do you have any friends who you didn't like at first, but once you got to know them you found you had a lot in common?

Now think about people in your neighborhood or in your school. Who are you afraid of—maybe an old woman down the street who wears weird clothes? Or the tall, burly boy who looks as though he could stomp you like a grape? If you put your fears aside, what do you think those people are really like?

Share some fun questions to ask people when you meet them so that you can get to know what's on the inside instead of the outside—such as “What's your favorite game to play?” or “What's the hardest tongue twister you know?"

Play Together: Jump to Conclusions

Try these mixed-up munchies to teach how looks can be misleading.

You will need:
• Sugar cookie dough mix
• Cookie cutter
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Frosting and colorful sprinkles
• 1 piece green construction paper
• 1 piece red construction paper
• Marker

Prepare the cookie dough as directed. Use cookie cutter to make shapes. Place shapes on cookie sheet. Bake as directed.

When the cookies have cooled, help your kids decorate them any way they want. Without letting them see, sprinkle half the cookies with sugar, and the other half with salt.

On the green piece of construction paper write “Sweet.” On the red piece write “Salty.” Put the paper on the floor so you can see the words.

Have your kids stand in front of the two pieces of paper. Hold up one of the cookies. Based on the looks of the cookie, have them jump on either the “Sweet” or the “Salty” sign. Then let them break off a bit of the cookie to taste and see if they jumped to the right conclusion.

Keep playing until the cookies are gone (or until you get full). Sometimes your kids will judge the cookie correctly, but sometimes they will think the cookie is something it's not.

Your kids will learn—just like Roo and the gang—that someone who knows to look beneath the surface is a smart cookie indeed!

copyright © 2005 Cinematters