First time film for 3 year old any suggestions??

[Lyrasil]

My 3 year old son has not seen tv or had any screen time on any device so far in his little life and I’ve been trying to find something suitable to introduce him to. I feel he has come to the right age to be introduced to it now. It needs to be totally sensitive with no surprises or intense music - film music is so atmospheric that a non violent scene can be suggested by the intensity of the music. I’ve been struggling to find something he would enjoy that would be totally gentle and slow paced. Things like In The Night Garden are perhaps too young for him and I don’t want to introduce things like Peppa Pig partly because of the merchandise that goes with it and I just don’t like the look of it - animals behaving like humans is a bit odd. He loves the original Thomas the Tank engine books the Mr Men, Julia Donaldson and the lost and found, how to catch a star, up and down books. We have also recently been reading fairytales - Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson etc. Some of the films of the books he loves have some scenes where I think he would easily get scared. He’s a really gentle, good natured boy with a great sense of humour. So any suggestions advice would be great.

Aristocats or JungleBook.

Oh this is really Ricky. Most films aimed at children have something scary in them. Coming from never having watched anything, ever, will be tricky.

Anything Disney is a big No-No imo.

Start with Thomas films, or BBC Julia Donaldson ones (gruffalos child less scary than the gruffalo, room on the broom dragon a bit scary).

Or how about The Snowman?

I find commonsensemedia.com very useful.

Would this be for watching at home? Originally I thought you meant at the cinema. But if you're thinking at home, then have a browse through CBeebies - lots of their programmes will be just right. For films I would go for some of the older Disney adaptations.

Mr tumble for first time tv at his age imo.

Pixar do some lovely animated shorts which my 3 year old adores. Each one is about 5-7 minutes long and are not scary, just lovely tobwatch. I recommend the volcano one but my 3 year old adores the blue umbrella

Wow thank you everyone, your suggestions are really good, I checked out the CBeebies and that seems perfect as you can pick and choose. The Pixar shorts seem good too.
I didn’t want to introduce my wee boy to tv early on as I wanted him to develop his imagination and learn to play indoors and outdoors and although it’s not been the easy option it really has payed off. His language and communication and fine motor skills are well developed.
I had to cut it out completely because if he knew what tv was and I denied him it he would have wanted it more and more. I shall enjoy watching something with him this afternoon after his sleep and see what his reaction is.

Thank you once you’ve been really helpful as I was struggling to find something suitable. Trying to put myself in my sons perception. Room on the broom I watched and had the same thought about the dragon. Stick man seemed okay but the dog jumping out is probably a bit iffy.

So thanks, thanks a million, thanks without end 😉

Please feel free to keep the suggestions coming, your experience is valuable and you all seem to get where I was coming from too. Much appreciated.

Yes it’s for watching at home. I have taken my son to see live shows such as children’s ballet and children’s theatre designed for 1 to 3 year olds but I don’t think he’s ready for cinema yet. Disney adaptions are another good idea, will need to watch them myself first as it’s been a while lol

Boundin' - a animated short by Pixar

He does get sheared though.

"Animals behaving like humans is a bit odd" but talking trains with faces running amok is ok?

You could have asked for the recommendations without the bragging. My dd has exceptional language skills and watches loads of tv

I think it is brilliant you have kept him away from the tv! Well done

The bee movie!

Is this a joke?

If you are worried about a dog jumping out in stickman then I honestly think you are being ridiculous. How could that scare him?
Surely he’s seen an actual dog in real life?

My Neighbour Totoro. Beautiful film for young DC.

I heard the director reckons children should only watch one film a year - but that it should be one of his

Not sure I agree with that but his films really are something special.

My dd watched loads of tv from birth because her older brother has asd. He learned to read from Letterland and abc videos. Her first word at 8 months was bob as in bob the builder. She was talking full sentences at 12 months and is super advanced. 11a* at gcse.

So chill out a little....
Your child is not advanced simply because of no screen time....tho clearly he has a loving family and that is great.

Look at the Eric Carle YouTube videos like sing a song or the very hungry caterpillar.

And remember that your dc will need to know how to use a screen etc as this is the modern world. There are loads of fantastic educational apps.

Ps you also need to build resilience so he can cope with "scary" things.
If he knows he can be scared but it is ok he will have resilience to deal with life..

Well done you. My sons have had TV and screen time from a young age and are complete idiots. One of them can't walk because he would rather sit watching you tube videos of kids playing with toys.
Or not.
I think you may find that restricted items are the most desirable rather than the other way around.
My 3yo is very sensitive he likes go jetters/ octonauts/ Sarah&duck/ Numtums on cbeebies. Quite educational. He likes pixar films and the Julia Donaldson, blaze and the monster machines. Dh took him to watch cars at the cinema but it was slightly too long. He was getting antsy toward the end. Disney cars 1 is good and despicable me, finding new, how to train your dragon. He does get scared at some scenes bit we sit and talk it through.
Thomas the tank scared him btw.
How is the merchandise associated with Thomas any better than peppa pig? Peppa pig is actually quite a feminist satire if you watch one.

Another vote for peppe pig.

Wallace and gromit are great, only 30 mins and easy to understand. Close Shave has a scary robot dog on though...

Also hungry caterpillar and Going on a Bear Hunt, Snowman etc.
My son could say and recognise numbers age 1 and I've no doubt this was down to some of the videos he watched.

My DS3 loves cars, muppets, monsters inc. we have to be careful with the traditional Disney ones as they freak him out, the wolf scene in beauty and the beast had to quickly turned off.

albion dd found the dog bit in stickman scary for the first 2-3 times.

I do think short CBeebies is good to start. My dd has loved Sarah and duck and octonoughts (3.5)

Dd was captivated by the snowman aged 2.5

The Very Hungry Caterpillar on Netflix. Sarah and Duck on Cbeebies - beautifully narrated, gentle music, good comedy for pre-schoolers

My 3 year old loves all the Julia Donaldson and she loves Bear Hunt. She also loves Peppa, Paw Patrol and Fireman Sam.

We don’t restrict screen time and she’s all the things you’ve bragged about in your OP. When at home we allow her to watch telly if she wants, today she hasn’t watched anything and she had about 10 minutes on the iPad (trying to type her name repeatedly is her recent obsession) but that’s it. Because it’s not deemed as a treat it’s not a battle turning it off or doing other things.

FWIW my DCs were watching CBeebies from 12 months (eldest, youngest since birth!) and playing with iPads and iPhones since 6 months.

The eldest was reading at 3 years and the youngest was signing all the CBeebies themes before he could string a sentence together.

You've totally given yourself the "hard option" for no reason whatsoever. Just think of all those quiet loo trips you could have had!!!!!