Spring Break 2021 is here! This time last year, the pandemic shutdowns had just begun. Kids left school after the first or second week in March not knowing when they would return, but surely none of us thought it would be a year later.
A year ago this week my kids’ school shut down for Covid “at least through Spring Break.” I guess they were technically right, I just didn’t expect it to be Spring Break 2021
— Christopher Miller (@chrizmillr) March 9, 2021
In the last 12 months, parents everywhere––even celeb parents––have juggled working, teaching virtual school, and parenting full-time simultaneously. We’ve torn through all our tricks to keep the kids busy. The craft closet has been raided, the kids have learned to ride two-wheel bikes, and the playdoh is all dried out.
So with another week off, we’re searching for ways to keep the kids busy. The good news is movie theaters across the country are reopening and with remakes of classics like Tom and Jerry and new movie releases like Raya and the Last Dragon, there are a few good kid movies in theaters worth watching together.
Check out our extra tips for how to safely return to the movies and if you’re traveling and need some streaming downloads for the kids to get you through a plane ride or road trip, we’ve got some great kids movie streaming picks for you below.
To break up the screen time be sure to bring along some of these children’s books written by Hollywood celebs.
Oh, and wherever you enjoy these movies or books––in the movie theaters, at home, on the road, or in the air––don’t forget the popcorn.
Kids Movies In Theaters Now
There’s nothing like seeing a movie in a theater. So imagine how much larger than life the whole experience is for kids. The screen is huge, they sink into the recliner seats, the sound is epic, and popcorn and candy are a treat they rarely get at the same time. We imagine your kids will remember going to the movie theaters much like this scene from the 1982 movie Annie:
And for parents, to have your kids sitting still is a real spring break:
For kids movies in theaters, you have three great new movie releases: Raya and the Last Dragon, Tom and Jerry, The Croods: A New Age.
Kids Movies In Theaters Now: Raya and the Last Dragon
Kids Movies In Theaters Now: Tom and Jerry
Kids Movies In Theaters Now: The Croods: A New Age
Be sure to check the movie theaters open near you as many theaters are showing additional classic films like Annie and others.
Find out which movie theaters are open near you:
Use this tool to search for an AMC movie theater near you.
Use this tool to search for a Cinemark movie theater near you.
Use this tool to search for a Paragon movie theater near you.
Use this tool to search for a Marcus movie theater near you.
Use this tool to search for a Bow Tie movie theater near you.
Have a group of kids? Consider renting a movie theater (we have all the details for you right here) to get an experience that you just can’t replicate in your own living room.
Kids Movies Streaming Now
If you’re hitting the road or traveling for spring break, there’s a ton of streaming options for kids to keep them entertained during the trip. Maybe––just maybe––they’ll get wrapped up in these movies so much they will only say “Are we there yet?” 25 times instead of 100.
We know what you are thinking: over the last year in quarantine, surely the kids have watched every single last one, right?
That’s why we’re adding a twist to our kids streaming movie list: here are the kids movies you may have loved as a kid that your child has not seen yet.
Kids Movies Streaming Now: For Younger Children
The Sound of Music: Disney+
The original 1964 Mary Poppins: Disney+
Curly Sue: Buy or rent on Amazon Prime
Little Giants: Buy or rent on Amazon Prime
The Love Bug: Disney+
The Little Rascals: Buy or rent on Amazon Prime
Matilda: Buy or rent on Amazon Prime
The Sword in the Stone: Disney+
The Black Cauldron: Disney+
Rescuers Down Under: Disney+
Dennis the Menace: HBO Max
The Bellboy: Hulu
Kids Movies Streaming Now: For Older Children
Jurassic Park: Buy or rent on Amazon Prime
Goonies: Buy or rent on Amazon Prime
Sandlot: Hulu (with Starz add-on) or buy or rent on Amazon Prime
The Mighty Ducks: Disney+
Home Alone: Disney+
E.T.: Buy or rent on Amazon Prime
The Princess Bride: Disney+
The Wizard of Oz: Hulu
Back to the Future: Buy or rent on Amazon Prime (We compiled a whole list of time-travel movies to watch here)
Men in Black: Hulu (with Starz add-on) or buy or rent on Amazon Prime
Maybe it’s not the kids who need spring break at all but rather the parents. So call up the grandparents, the babysitters, the neighbors and check out new movie releases in theaters for a well-deserved night out of the house and away from the kids.
More Like This: 9 tips for safely going back to the movie theaters
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