Are you unsure about the latest film or Netflix series – does it promote un-Christian messages? We’re here to help. You’ll find a wealth of reviews, all written from a Christian point of view to help you navigate the themes and messages contains in popular media today.
2023-12-20T16:42:00+00:00By Andy Peck
Andy Peck is transported back to a wholly different time and world in a modern rendering of a classic children’s author
2023-12-20T14:01:00+00:00By Andy Peck
Your favourite film of 2023?
2023-12-20T12:11:00+00:00By Andy Peck
Do you recall any articles from the last year?
2023-12-13T08:30:00+00:00By Charles Merritt
Your favourite Christmas film?
2023-11-30T09:49:00+00:00By Charles Merritt
Do you have a favourite Disney movie?
2023-11-28T12:44:00+00:00By Claire Hailwood
What was your best source of information growing up?
2023-11-23T16:48:00+00:00By Claire Stewart
What is your favourite book on parenting?
2023-11-23T16:27:00+00:00By Claire Hailwood
Do you watch children’s TV with your children or leave them to it?
2023-11-22T09:07:00+00:00By Robin Barfield
What is your favourite children’s book series?
2023-11-20T09:10:00+00:00By Charles Merritt
Charles Merritt finds the prequel to The Hunger Games franchise provides much food for thought at a time when daily news is full of the same kind of violence
2023-11-13T09:51:00+00:00By Becky May
Do you recall any pre-school TV having discussion points?
2023-11-02T13:22:00+00:00By Victoria Beech
What’s your favourite book series?
2023-10-05T11:00:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
Charles Merritt was confused and concerned by this stock-market comedy
2023-10-02T06:35:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
Have you got to grips with what AI can do?
2023-08-29T09:58:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
How ‘powerful’ are the bonds in your family?
2023-08-14T07:39:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
How do your children respond to horror?
2023-08-04T08:05:00+01:00By Lisa Skinner
What is your kids favourite franchise?
2023-07-26T06:40:00+01:00By Lisa Skinner
Did you have a Barbie doll or Action man growing up?
2023-07-17T07:31:00+01:00By Kate Orson
Have you ever warned your children not to watch a film?
2023-07-12T07:14:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
Is this something you would take your family to?
2023-07-03T07:24:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
Does your faith feel like an ancient or a present thing?
2023-06-29T14:34:00+01:00By Ellie Willcock
Is your famly a ’modern family’?
2023-06-26T08:56:00+01:00
Have you taken your kids to a move which they didn’t enjoy?
2023-06-15T08:22:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
What’s been your best post movie discussion?
2023-06-14T07:12:00+01:00By Kate Orson
What TV programmes seem to affect your kids?
2023-06-07T07:41:00+01:00By Lisa Skinner
Can you think of a re-make that is better than the original?
2023-05-23T10:14:00+01:00By Andy Robertson
Were you a console player in your youth?
2023-05-09T07:14:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
Do you think everyone deserves a second chance?
2023-04-20T08:47:00+01:00By Kate Orson
Do you agree that this is ‘wrong’?
2023-04-17T08:05:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
Have you ever hated a film everyone else loved?
2023-04-13T08:54:00+01:00By Mark Arnold
Which book most appeals to you?
2023-04-04T12:11:00+01:00By Charles Merritt
Are you familiar with the video game on which the film is based?
2023-03-30T10:50:00+01:00By Dawn Savidge
Do you recall your first date?
2023-03-27T09:42:00+01:00By Ali Campbell
Are you a fan of sci-fi?
2023-03-21T09:48:00+00:00By Charles Merritt
Do you have a favourite family film?
2023-03-20T08:37:00+00:00By Andy Robb
Did you have a favourite Bible growing up?
2023-02-20T08:44:00+00:00By Charles Merritt
Charles Merritt finds very little to applaud in the latest Antman film
2023-02-16T00:00:00+00:00By Emily Howarth
Sung worship has always been my favourite part of a church service. I love a good sing along, but more than that, I feel a real connection when I sing truths about God as an affirmation of who he is in my life. It’s something I therefore love to fit into my children’s work. Here are my favourite songs to bounce along to, whether with NSYNC style (other 90s boy bands are available) choreography or just by grabbing a percussion instrument and having a good boogie.
2023-01-26T09:43:00+00:00By Charles Merritt
Do you like watching gritty drama?
2023-01-09T10:35:00+00:00By Charles Merritt
Do you enjoy rides or prefer to watch?
2022-12-06T08:36:00+00:00By Becky May
What was your favourite pre-school drama in your youth?
2022-12-01T08:30:00+00:00By Andy Robertson
When did you last play a video game with your children?
2022-11-28T10:10:00+00:00By John Prockter
What’s your favourite Christmas movie?
2022-11-24T12:15:00+00:00By Jo Rowe
Jo Rowe reviews a Kids TV documentary that takes her back to her own viewing habits and causes her to reflect on helping children today
2022-11-16T09:35:00+00:00By Claire Hailwood
Would you want to appear on the show?
2022-11-14T10:36:00+00:00By Dawn Savidge
The new offering from Marvel Studios offers some excellent family conversation starters around revenge, power and mercy, says Dawn Savidge
2022-11-11T09:07:00+00:00By Andy Peck
How do you get on with sci-fi?
2022-10-27T08:46:00+01:00By Alex Taylor
Which was your favourite Doctor Who?
2022-09-19T08:32:00+01:00By Becky May
Are you children fans of Thomas & Friends?
2022-09-08T13:03:00+01:00By Andy Peck
What would your children say matters to you?
2022-08-09T12:36:00+01:00By Becky May
Why is this lastest film so good?
2022-07-13T09:44:00+01:00By Andy Peck
Can you handle the weighty themes in this latest Thor adventure?
2022-06-27T12:49:00+01:00By Amanda Porter and Pais Movement
Might this highly poular TV show be a good starting point for conversation with your children?
2022-06-23T12:55:00+01:00By Andrew Bunt who is Emerging Generations Director for Living Out.
Is this a film you would take your kids to watch?
2022-06-21T13:42:00+01:00By Ali Hull and is a freelance writer and editor
You read up on topics for fun and work. But what are you reading that will improve your parenting?
2022-05-19T15:38:00+01:00By Amanda Porter and
Former boxer meets girl and ends up in church. Can you guess what happens next?
2022-04-28T08:28:00+01:00By Joel Toombs
If there’s a ’4’ at the end of a film title, does it mean it must be good, or inevitably worse than the first three?
2022-04-27T11:17:00+01:00By Amanda Porter
Amanda Porter suspects your teens may well be watching but suggests they really shouldnt be
2022-04-27T11:14:00+01:00By Dawn Savidge
It’s an innocuous sounding title, isn’t this series as bland as it sounds?
2022-04-27T11:12:00+01:00By Dawn Savidge
When a series goes ’viral’ you sit up and notice. But that doesnt mean your children should be watching
2022-04-27T09:08:00+01:00By Dawn Savidge
Bad language and suicide - should you leave well alone?
2022-04-27T08:32:00+01:00By Russ Bellenie
Spiderman has got to be a winner, right?!
2022-04-27T08:20:00+01:00By Joel Toombs
The title sounds like there may be some ’spiritual value, but is there?
2022-04-27T08:16:00+01:00By Amanda Porter
It’s Disney, you can always trust Disney can’t you?!
2022-04-27T08:04:00+01:00By Amanda Porter
What can a famous footballer teach you about parenting?
2022-04-12T14:26:00+01:00By Joel Toombs
A series featuring a Dad and his son. Isn’t that a bit corny?
2022-04-11T15:50:00+01:00By Lucy Rycroft
Can an off the wall series be of value for children?
2022-04-11T15:46:00+01:00By Lucy Rycroft
How does the re-make of an old series stack up?
2022-04-11T15:41:00+01:00By Lucy Rycroft
Adult themes in a children’s series. How does that work?
2022-04-11T11:20:00+01:00By Dawn Savidge
A popular series before nut allergies were a thing. Is it still valuable?
2022-04-11T11:16:00+01:00By Dawn Savidge
Can a series that was around in the 80s still pack a punch?
2020-11-17T00:00:00+00:00By Andy Robertson
Headlines about the dangers of video games may not be so prevalent, but most parents are nervous about the content of games and the time spent on them. Youth and Children’s Work Game Boy columnist, Andy Robertson, suggests the answer may be to play video games yourself. Yes really.
2020-03-24T00:00:00+00:00By Jess Lester
Keeping children and young people entertained with tech may feel like a cop out – but now we’re in isolation, it’s only natural that we will be relying on our TVs, smartphones and gaming consoles for entertainment.
2020-03-16T00:00:00+00:00By is the editor of Premier Youth and Children's Work, head of Youth Apologetics at Premier and a contributor to Hope Rising 365 (SPCK), a devotional for girls and young women.
As a confirmed theology geek and musical theatre fan, I was excited to see this new West End show. However, I still don’t quite know what to make of The Prince of Egypt. The choreography (Sean Cheesman) and set design (Kevin Depinet) blew all my expectations out of the water, but the storyline differs so drastically from the biblical narrative that I left feeling slightly confused.
2020-01-03T00:00:00+00:00By Jess Lester
Have you ever thought about what the Second Coming would actually look like? Other than what the Bible had told me: darkness will rule the earth, Jesus will come to judge and thus will follow a thousand-year kingdom of peace on earth – it t was something I hadn’t considered deeply until this week when I binge-watched Netflix’s latest venture, Messiah, a crime drama about a charismatic man dubbed ‘Al-Masih’, which literally translates to ‘the anointed one’.
2019-12-02T00:00:00+00:00
Gang film Blue Story hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons last month when a brawl broke out between knife-wielding young people at a screening in Birmingham. Tim Sledge, director of fundraising at XLP – a charity aiming to empower young people from disadvantaged backgrounds – shares why he thinks every youth worker should see the film.
2019-07-18T00:00:00+01:00
Heather Riley loved the remake of the Disney classic. But she asks if The Lion King has become too scary to be a kids’ movie
2019-06-24T00:00:00+01:00By Rebecca Hamer
The Lion King was originally released in 1994, shaping emotional and spiritual landscapes for thousands of children and teens.
2018-09-19T00:00:00+01:00
Children and young people can become extremely competitive in team-based situations and, while in some circumstances this can be unhelpful, it can help to create great memories and result in an enjoyable session. Try out some of the races below in teams. You could even put on your own ‘Games’ and give out medals for each event!
2018-08-30T00:00:00+01:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Jonas Blue (ft Jack & Jack)
2018-06-21T00:00:00+01:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman ensemble.
2018-05-22T00:00:00+01:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: New Hope Club
2018-04-25T00:00:00+01:00By Emily Howarth
If you have listened to any conversation with tweens recently, you’ve probably heard the name Fortnite bandied about. The trending game is proving as popular as fidget spinners and flossing (dancing not dental), after being downloaded more than 40 million times since the launch of its popular extension Fortnite: Battle Royale in September 2017. But what is all the fuss about? And should we worry about the game’s impact on our children and young people?
2018-04-18T00:00:00+01:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Sigala and Paloma Faith
2018-03-23T00:00:00+00:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist:Tom Walker
2018-03-20T00:00:00+00:00By Nathan Dennis
Another superhero movie is hardly news, but Black Panther is having a huge impact globally, including on our children and young people.
2018-01-19T00:00:00+00:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Pink
2017-12-14T00:00:00+00:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Stormzy
2017-12-14T00:00:00+00:00
After the Christmas break, it’s good to help children reconnect with each other in their groups. Here are some games to help!
2017-10-20T00:00:00+01:00By Dr Alastair Jones
With around 32.4 million people in the UK playing video games, how can we engage our children and young people with this popular medium? Alastair Jones is on hand to help
2017-09-21T00:00:00+01:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Paloma Faith
2017-06-22T00:00:00+01:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Tori Kelly
2017-05-25T00:00:00+01:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Ed Sheeran
2017-05-23T00:00:00+01:00By Jamie Cutteridge
Imagine being able to tell everyone in your life exactly what you think of them, exactly how they’ve hurt you, without any consequences. The only catch is that you’re dead. This is the premise of 13 reasons why, Netflix’s latest binge-worthy show: a 13-episode suicide note to a teenage girl’s friends and classmates, outlining their role in her decision to end her life. Originally hyped as a smart, important look at mental health and the social issues affecting teenagers, upon release the show attracted criticism for its ‘triggering’ impact, its overly realistic depiction of sexual assault and suicide, and negative portrayals of counselling or other forms of support. So what do we do with it? Ignore it? Watch it with our young people? Something between?
2017-04-21T00:00:00+01:00By Becky May is a freelance writer and experienced children’s and youth leader, and can be found at www.theresourcescupboard.co.uk
Artist: Take That
2017-03-20T00:00:00+00:00By Martin Saunders is the Director of Satellites, a new youth event helping young people to put God at the centre of their lives. His new book We Are Satellites, is out now, published by SPCK.
It’s a tale as old as time. In March, news emerged that Disney’s live-action remake of majestic 90s animation Beauty and the Beast features a gay character and the studio’s “first exclusively gay moment”, and immediately a host of Christian voices loudly raised their objections.
2017-01-23T00:00:00+00:00
This month, we look at video games. So, those in the top right will be worth a play, those bottom left, less so.
2017-01-19T00:00:00+00:00By Jamie Cutteridge
Here are some genuine news stories you may have missed:
2017-01-19T00:00:00+00:00By Jamie Cutteridge
Deadpool is sweary, rude, sexually-saturated and incredibly violent. Young people are going to love it. To be honest, I did too. That’s the problem.
2017-01-19T00:00:00+00:00By Jamie Cutteridge
How far would you go to stop people knowing your darkest secrets? What if virtual reality played on your deepest fears? Could you imagine a world where we’re rated the whole time? How would people react if they knew what you really thought? Who wants to live forever? What if your very worse moments got shared with the rest of the world? Black Mirror is back to answer all these questions, and more…
2017-01-19T00:00:00+00:00By Jamie Cutteridge
You can barely walk down the street without tripping over a super hero these days. We all know the feeling of getting home and finding Spider-Man on the bottom of our shoe or one of the Fantastic Four in our bag – they’re everywhere.
2017-01-19T00:00:00+00:00By Dr Bex Lewis
Smart phones and tablets have placed gaming at the centre of our society. You don’t need to spend long on public transport to see someone playing ‘angry birds’ or ‘2048’, but what does this mean for our children? Are video games evil or could they help child development? Dr Bex Lewis investigates…
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