9 Parenting lessons you can use from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars isn't just a great movie

If you and the kids have watched the latest Star Wars movie, we're sure you've gotten the toy light sabers out and are practicing some moves for the next movie.

But did you know that we can learn so much from this movie as parents? Take a look at some parenting lessons you can learn from the latest story about the Skywalkers.

Keep your promises

Your little one might be waiting for something that you mentioned last week—or we don’t know, ten years ago in the hopes you remember—and come back for them.

Do you want them to feel like Rey stranded on Jakku?

Your kids should have a way to let out their frustrations

Kylo Ren's coping mechanisms were as shocking as his powers. Your kids can feel the same anger, but they don't have control panels to randomly destroy!

Your children’s tiny bodies have to let the stress out. Let them make a mess or destroy disposable items. But make sure they know they have to clean up afterwards!

Seek professional help for anything you can’t handle

You don't know who or what could be influencing your child. It could be the internet or someone like Snoke, an evil Master of the Dark Side sitting in the shadows.

Talk to his teacher, a doctor or a therapist or psychologist to help you figure out what to do. It’s the right thing.

Visit your grandparents more often

An overarching theme in all the Star Wars movies is that our parents and grandparents (like Han and Leia) are suffering while we are away. We're looking at you, Luke and Anakin.

Don't wait for dire visions or a wise Jedi Master to tell you to go home and see them, because you might be too late.

Never give up on your children

Han and Leia made this irreversible mistake when they could not handle how sensitive Ben (now Kylo Ren) was to the Force.

In the end, even Leia admitted that, "Sending him away was a mistake." So don't give up, moms and dads. They'll learn--eventually.

Let your children disobey if they do the right thing

The first lesson the movie teaches is that even someone bred from birth to follow orders like a Stormtrooper can still stand up to do the right thing.

Finn is an example of how our kids should grow up brave enough to do the right thing--even if it means disobeying us or other authority figures.

Don’t let arguments and bad feelings fester overnight

Han and Leia probably didn't speak or interact with each other for at least fifteen years after Kylo Ren killed all of Luke's apprentices.

The longer you let an issue or fight affect you, your kids or your spouse, the longer it will take to resolve it.

Spending time with your kids is more important than money or gifts

Rey, despite being basically left on Jakku to fend for herself, knew that she shouldn't replace BB-8 with a whole mound of credits.

Whoever her parents were, they taught her well about the value of other people (and the occasional droid).

Keep your children close to you while they’re small

Don’t make Leia’s mistake. Don't send them away.

Keep them close to you while they let you—before you know it, they’re grown up and going down the path of the Dark Side.

May the Force be with you and your family.

What other parenting lessons did you learn from Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Let us know in the comments!

Read: How watching Star Wars as a child made me a better adult

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Written by

Danielle Ann Abesames-Santos

English