The side of Finding Dory that could be distressing for some children

“Finding Dory” reunites the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the true meaning of family along the way.

After taking her children to see the film, Jenny Haggard wants to highlight some points of interest to other parents. Especially adoptive and foster parents.

Jenny shares, WARNING for ADOPTIVE / FOSTER PARENTS about the Finding Dory movie:

Good info posted by a mum of an adopted child. (I did not write this review)

“WARNING! Before seeing Finding Dory, all foster/adoptive parents should preview the movie first! We thought our teenage bio kids & 9 yr.-old adopted son (we’ve had him for 4+ yrs) could see it without us previewing it. Our kids sat in the row in front of us. Halfway through the movie, our 100 lb., very tall son, got up and came and sat on my lap for the duration of the movie. Dory has childhood flashbacks throughout the movie as she seeks to find her birth parents. The movie deals with multiple levels of abandonment and loss. While the ending is sweet as she is reunited with her birth parents & we realize her birth parents were looking for her too, there are elements of the ending that can have detrimental results for our adopted kids.

1) It was Dory’s forgetfulness that caused her to be separated from her parents…. basically, her separation was her fault.

2) Her birth parents were physically, emotionally, & mentally stable and ACTIVELY seeking for her. This is not the case for MOST of our tender-hearted kiddos. This birth parent ‘fairytale image’ can create a false image in their forming minds.

3) At the end of the movie, once Dory, Marlin & Nemo find Dory’s birth parents, they ALL (including the birth parents) travel back together to Dory & Nemo’s home and all live TOGETHER Happily Ever After. Some young foster/adopted kids might think that is the end goal.

So, bottom line… preview the movie first & evaluate for each child. There are some heavy topics brought up in the movie that are difficult for every foster/adopted child to deal with even at older ages, so don’t think this cute Disney movie is for everyone.”

Her post has been shared over 17K times.

undefined on Disney Video

One blogger has shared their review with an interesting point – “Finding Dory has some hard scenes involving parental loss and self-blame that could be hard for some viewers, but the overall theme appears to be positive and inclusive for adoptive families; your family will never forget you, and if you have two sets of family, one does not replace the other – they can both be your family. ” Read the full review here.

Definitely something worth keeping in mind.

Share your comments below.

Image via Disney

18 Comments

- - mom71820 said
  - 07 Jul 2016
    1:23 pm
Wow, what a great point. could be very upsetting & confronting for some kids.

- - mom111059 said
  - 03 Jul 2016
    8:40 pm
Thank you for pointing this out. This could be troubling for some children and their foster/adoptive parents.

- - mom134803 said
  - 03 Jul 2016
    7:27 am
Yes it was confronting for one of our foster kids who has abandonment issues. She was removed from her parents when she was 3 years old and is now 6 years old. Her parents hardly phone her and have not been turning up for visits. My foster daughter sometimes has to cry, thinking they don’t love her anymore….

- - mom183717 said
  - 28 Jun 2016
    8:26 am
I never thought about it this way.. Wow!

- - mom140193 said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    10:17 pm
I’d never have thought of this but can totally see how a child would be upset. But i also think the quality of kids movies these days – they always have a message in them and a positive message to takeawy. I hope this side of it could help anyone who’s child is affected. Every family is different but being loved is what counts most.
- mom93821 replied
  
  28 Jun 2016 , 4:59 am
  There are loads of positive messages in this movie and it is one of the better movies out at the moment.
- - mum4107 said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    10:08 pm
Thank you for sharing this warning. Wouldn’t think you would have to with a Disney movie

- - wendy_adhofer said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    9:57 pm
Aboundenment issues are very serious thanks, for sharing and giving me insight.

- - nealsq said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    9:21 pm
wow, it would have never occurred to me to preview a Disney movie, a great heads up!

- - mom112217 said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    7:13 pm
Thanks for the article,it’s good to be warned in case it’s uncomfortable for others.

- - mom186025 said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    6:47 pm
Great that someone is warning parents. A lot of these movies themes and some dialogue are for older audiences and it usually goes over kids heads but kids these days are smart and can figure things out at an earlier age

- - mom93821 said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    6:29 pm
A wonderful movie and the message is also one of family being those you are close to and not necessarily ‘family’. The movie has a big diversity message about being accepted, valued and special for being different.
- mom90758 replied
  
  28 Jun 2016 , 4:09 pm
  I think that’s a wonderful message. So curious to enjoy it too!
- - hologro said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    6:12 pm
I didnt think about this when I saw the movie, but can understand once its been pointed out

- - mom90758 said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    6:10 pm
Thanks for the article and for the warning. I’d really love to go with my daughter to see this movie.

- - mom160421 said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    6:04 pm
This is an excellent warning for parents. Without it, watching the movie could stir up lots of emotions for young adopted and foster children. The makers of this movie should also be warning parents.

- - jools41 said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    4:29 pm
good points that would not even have occurred to me

- - BellaB said
  - 27 Jun 2016
    4:18 pm
Wow. Not an issue for us, but that could be major for some people.