If you or your kids ever get that “we’re the only ones with one parent” feeling, then it’s time to make a quick run to the video store.
There are plenty of movies on VHS and DVD that feature single-parent families. It’s good for children to see single-parent families depicted as normal and functional in popular films.
Here are 10 family films with a focus on single-parent families. Besides the fun of popcorn and a movie, Watching one of these with your kids can reassure all of you that 1) you are a family and 2) you’re not alone.
- Fly Away Home (1996 — PG) — father and daughter. Jeff Daniels, Anna Paquin.
- Pay It Forward (2000 — PG-13) — mother and son. Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey.
- Music of the Heart (1999 — PG) — mother and two sons. Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett.
- One Fine Day (1996 — PG) — father/daughter and mother/son. George Clooney, Michelle Pfeiffer.
- Bambi II (2006 — G) — father and son (deer).
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993 — PG-13) — mother, two daughters and son (and of course, father as Mrs. Doubtfire). Sally Field, Robin Williams.
- The Parent Trap (1998 — PG) — mother/daughter and father/daughter. Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson.
- Sleepless in Seattle (1993 — PG) — father/son. Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan.
- A Simple Wish (1997 — PG) — father/daughter. Martin Short, Mara Wilson, Kathleen Turner.
- The Champ (1979 — PG) — father/son. Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway, Rick Schroder (when he was Ricky Schroder).