As a Disney lover, I have watched Aladdin over and over again. As I grew older, I began to realize what Aladdin can teach us about parenting, particularly emotional maturity. Many of the characters in the story display a lack of emotional maturity, and it is through their experiences that we can learn valuable lessons on how to be better parents.
First, let’s talk about Aladdin himself. At the beginning of the story, he is a street rat with a chip on his shoulder and a desire for more in life. He steals to survive and yearns for the love of Princess Jasmine. Throughout the course of the movie, he learns to be honest, brave and selfless. He finally realizes that true happiness and fulfillment come from being a good person, rather than having wealth or royal status.
Aladdin’s transformation shows us the importance of guiding our children towards strong moral values and instilling the importance of honesty and integrity. As parents, we should not only teach children right from wrong, but also practice and model such values ourselves.
Aladdin also teaches us about respecting and understanding other people’s needs and perspectives. Let’s take the example of the Genie. The Genie is a powerful being with magical powers, but he is also captive to his master’s wishes. Once freed, the Genie finally experiences true freedom, but he also realizes the importance of using his powers for good.
In the story, Aladdin listens to the Genie when he reveals his hidden desire for freedom. In this moment, Aladdin demonstrates empathy and understanding. This teaches us as parents to be there for our children in their struggles, understand their wants and needs, and provide emotional support.
Jafar is another character in the story who lacks emotional maturity. He is obsessed with power and control and is willing to do anything to achieve it. While his desire is understandable, his methods are wrong, and he puts his own desires above everyone’s else’s well-being. His lack of empathy is highlighted in the scene where he traps Jasmine in the hourglass, showing how far he is willing to go to attain his power.
This exemplifies how we should discourage these traits in our children. Children should be taught the value of compromise and the importance of putting others’ needs before their own. We should encourage them to be kind, empathetic, and compassionate towards others.
Finally, let’s talk about the most important lesson in Aladdin – the importance of being true to oneself. Jasmine is a headstrong and independent woman who seeks a partner who values her as an equal and treats her with respect. She is not content with being just a trophy wife and desires to make a difference in her kingdom.
When she tells Aladdin, “I am not a prize to be won,” she teaches us the importance of respecting ourselves and our needs. This also teaches us as parents to encourage our children to find and express their true selves, rather than forcing them into molds of who we want them to be.
The conversation between Aladdin and Jasmine highlights this:
“You’re not a prize to be won, Jasmine. You should be free to make your own choice.”
“I am. But my father still chooses who I marry.”
“But you’ll be a queen!”
“I don’t want to be queen. I want to be myself.”
In conclusion, Aladdin is a story that shows us the importance of emotional maturity, empathy, and being true to oneself. As parents, we have the responsibility to guide our children’s emotional development, teach them to be kind to others, and encourage them to be true to themselves. We must remember that guiding and supporting our children emotionally is as important as providing for their physical needs.
Aladdin teaches us about emotional maturity and parenting. Aladdin, Jasmine, and the Genie show the importance of honesty, empathy, and being true to oneself. Jafar highlights the negative consequences of a lack of empathy. As parents, we must guide our children’s emotional development and teach them to be kind and true to themselves.
“Always be true to yourself, and never let anyone dim your light due to their own insecurities.” – Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex.
This quote aligns with the message of being true to oneself in the Aladdin story. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself despite external pressures and influences. It is a message that can be applied both in parenting and in life in general.
