Akron Children’s Dr. Weyand snaps a pic with her kids after seeing “Inside Out 2” in theaters.
Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” comes to theaters at a pertinent time as our society faces rising rates of childhood mental health concerns. In true Disney and Pixar fashion, the box-office smash hit doesn’t just entertain, it educates.
The main character, Riley Anderson, confronts complex emotions as she navigates life as a 13-year-old ice hockey player on the cusp of puberty.
“’Inside Out 2’ dives deeper into a greater understanding on why kids’ emotions change during puberty and how these feelings are all interconnected. Often times, we’re a mix of emotions and it can be difficult to understand that,” said Chelsea Weyand, PsyD, interim director of psychology at Akron Children’s Lois and John Orr Family Behavioral Health Center. “In an entertaining way, it does a nice job explaining these difficult changes by walking viewers through Riley navigating the universal challenges of growing up.”
Dr. Weyand saw “Inside Out 2” in the theater with her own kids and shares her takeaways on what she says is a must-see for preteens and adolescents. But, don’t worry if you haven’t seen it yet. While she points to a few movie scenes, there are no plot-line spoilers!
“Inside Out 2” talking points
Normalizing emotions: Embrace all emotions, not just the good ones.
One of the things Dr. Weyand appreciates about the movie is it recognizes the complexity of these emotional experiences all adolescents go through, while normalizing them.
Some kids may feel like it’s not OK to feel sad, afraid or angry. But, the fact is we all have these emotions at one time or another. It’s perfectly natural. “Inside Out 2” created these likeable characters and personifies feelings of sadness, anger and fear to show audiences it’s OK — if not a necessity — to have them, as opposed to fighting them away.
Dr. Weyand points to a part in the movie where Joy creates a contraption that hides all of Riley’s sad and anxious memories, so they won’t impact her belief system.
“But, Joy later realizes that being sad is OK, just like being happy is OK, and feeling all of these emotions — whether bad or good — helps to create a stronger sense of self,” she said. “We need to trust our kids to feel sad and work through it. That’s what builds character and self-assurance.”
All kids go through complex emotions during puberty as they grow from child to adolescent. “Inside Out 2” shows audiences in an entertaining way how these experiences are normal — and universal.
Trust kids to navigate complex emotions on their own: It builds confidence and self-assurance.
In the movie, Riley experiences these shifts in emotions while away at hockey camp and, therefore, is left to navigate them on her own.
“As parents, it’s important to give our kids space to figure out this shift and navigate this time on their own. That’s a powerful experience for the child,” said Dr. Weyand. “That’s not to say parents shouldn’t be there for support or help when asked, but a parent’s job is not to fix it for kids. Instead, it’s important to take a step back and trust kids to figure it out on their own.”
Exploring the struggles of self-identity: Staying true to oneself builds self-assurance and resiliency.
During the adolescent years, kids are exploring their identities and may try on different roles to discover who they really are, while trying to fit in with others.
In the movie, Riley is anxious about fitting in with her older and cooler classmates and is anxious about being rejected. She allows Anxiety to drive the ship by pretending to be someone different in order to be accepted.
“Ask your kids about some of the choices Riley made and how they worked out for her,” suggested Dr. Weyand. “Lead kids to recognize that when Anxiety is in charge, we don’t always make the right decisions. Instead, staying true to yourself by embracing both your strengths and weaknesses fosters genuine confidence, self-assurance and resiliency.”
You’re not alone: Puberty is universal.
All kids go through these complex emotions as they grow from child to adolescent. In an entertaining way, this movie shows audiences how these experiences are normal and universal.
“Remind your kids that they aren’t the only ones making mistakes on this journey of growing up,” said Dr. Weyand. “Every child will let their emotions get the best of them at times and may even fall apart while navigating puberty. The messiest parts of growing up are normal.”
When to seek professional help
“Inside Out 2” entertainingly depicts it’s perfectly normal for kids to feel all of these emotions. However, if your child feels sad, anxious or angrier than normal, begins to withdraw from friends or activities she once loved, has changes in appetite, sleep or motivation, it may be time to seek professional help.
A good place to start is with your child’s pediatrician. Most pediatricians are sensitive to mental health issues and have the screening tools to identify them. They also have the resources to best refer your child to a mental health specialist, if necessary.
“Therapy can be a great tool to help kids process and understand these difficult emotions,” said Dr. Weyand. “We can help your child develop the coping skills she needs to face life’s challenges now and through adulthood, while helping parents navigate this difficult time, too.”
If your child is struggling through the adolescent years, talk to her pediatrician. Your provider can refer her to a mental health specialist, if necessary. Get to know our providers and schedule an appointment.
