Pixar Clips and Emotions
Using The BOUNCE Approach®
What’s happening
- Children often find it hard to name or explain their feelings directly.
- Pixar films (like Inside Out, Finding Nemo, or The Incredibles) present emotions in playful, exaggerated, and relatable ways that make invisible feelings visible.
- Watching a short clip together can give children a safe distance to explore emotions without feeling exposed.
- Energy battery impact: using film as a proxy helps children learn about emotions without draining their own energy through direct disclosure.
The BOUNCE Approach®
🖤 B — Body and Nervous System (Inside Tool)
- Pause after a clip to ask: “How do you think their body feels right now?”
- Link what’s seen on screen (shaking, hiding, smiling) to real body signals.
❤️ O — Openness to Connection and Attachment (In-Between Tool)
- Watch side by side — sharing the experience builds trust.
- Emphasise curiosity, not correction: “I wonder why they felt that way?”
🧡 U — Understanding Sensory Differences (Outside Tool)
- Choose clips that match the child’s tolerance — short, visually clear, not overwhelming.
- Provide fidgets or sensory supports during viewing.
💚 N — Navigating Emotions (Inside Tool)
- Use parts language: “A part of them felt scared… what part of you feels like that sometimes?”
- Invite children to map the clip’s emotion to the colour system (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Blue).
💙 C — Connection to Self and Others (In-Between Tool)
- Compare perspectives: “How do you think the other character felt in this moment?”
- Build empathy by exploring misunderstandings or different viewpoints.
💜 E — Esteem and Identity (Inside Tool)
- Reinforce: “You understood how that character felt — that shows empathy.”
- Encourage children to share a time they felt similarly, affirming their self-awareness.
Adult Focus:
- Keep discussions short and playful — don’t over-analyse.
- Let the child lead — if they want to laugh at the scene first, that’s fine.
- Always bring it back to safety: “It’s okay to have all kinds of feelings.”
Next Steps
- Join the Professional Learning Portal: Access 80+ trainings, printable activities, and resources that show how to use creative tools (like Pixar, LEGO, and sand play) to make emotions visible and safe to explore. Click here
👉 Pixar moments give children a mirror for their inner world — helping them see, name, and share emotions one story at a time.
