Movies are a fun way to connect as a family and I love to build on and extend those connections with more activities to tackle together.This list of 30 family movie night crafts vary from super simple to just right for school age kids. In the screen time debate one of the points that is always made is that watching with your kids, interacting while watching and building new experiences on to screen time is a positive thing. Crafts, sensory play even a little early literacy are included in this round up. The best advice I have is that when you are watching anything with your children that those questions that pop up don’t go ignored. Dive into them. You never know what new learning opportunity may be lurking in your DVD player!
All DVD titles are linked with affiliate links to Amazon. The activity links take you to the tutorials for each activity.
Watch Frozen and then have fun with a Frozen Sensory Tub by Nurture Store , Frozen Silly Putty by Paging Fun Mums , Sled Races by Mom Endeavors, and Frozen Fractals by Happy Hooligans.
Watch Monsters University and then explore gooey Monsters University Sensory Play by B-Inspired Mama.
Watch Horton Hears a Who then create your own Paper Plate Horton!
Watch The Polar Express and then create your very own Winter Train Table by adding a few simple things your train table!
Watch Madagascar and then create your own Penguin Place Mat !
Watch Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and then get messy with this rad Molten Lava Slime from Fun-A-Day and Lego Star Wars mini-figs.
Watch Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and then turn those dollar store bubble wands into a rad Lightsabre !
Watch Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
and then create this fun Lorax inspired math game from Inspiration Laboratories.
Watch Antz and then whip up these super simple Egg Carton Ants !
After watching Robots make your own robot, then remake it, and remake it with this simple Robot Magnet Set.
Watch The Incredibles and then get your superhero on by making a Superhero Cuff from a paper roll!
Pop Ice Age into the DVD player then play with your own Arctic Ice Sensory Tub!
I have dozens of ideas for activities to do after watching Cars , but my favorite for the summer is a simple Backyard Car Wash!
The LEGO Movie just found its way into our DVD collection and Lego Challenges are equally a hit. They are a perfect pair.
In the movie Cinderella, the animals help her make a beautiful gown and after watching your child can create one with this Shape Princess craft.
Like Cars,A Bug’s Life has multiple crafts that would be great after movie activities but these is something special about a classic Egg Carton Caterpillar.
In Brave Merida is a fantastic archer. You can make and play with your own Backyard Target after watching the movie.
Minions are rad and after watching Despicable Me you can create your own Dry Erase Minion to dress up however you want.
If you liked the first movie you will love Despicable Me 2 and why not work on some matching skills after with this simple Minion Match from Study At Home Mom.
The Lion King is a classic and after you watch you can work together to create this big Scrap Paper Lion.
After watching Finding Nemo, you can create your own Toilet Paper Roll Fish. Use white and orange paint to turn one into Nemo!
In  The Princess and the Frog Tiana and Naveen spend a lot of time as frogs in a swamp. So make your own swamp and get gooey!
Monsters Inc is the cutest monster movie and after watching you can work on letter recognition or even spelling with Letter Monsters.
After watching Planes zoom into play with this fun Airplane Sensory Bin.
There are a lot of crafts for Harry Potter , but I love these simple Harry Potter Glasses and Tie from East Coast Mommy because I can’t help but see the opportunity to practice making patterns!
I love Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in book and movie form and this DIY Weather Station gets kids into the role of meteorologist from their own window.
After watching Tangled you can create your own Cardboard Tangled Tower from Pink and Green Mama and recreate the best parts of the movie.
In Cars 2 the characters travel the world and after watching you can make some Landmark Blocks to play with!
The sequel to How to Train Your Dragon is in theaters now and after watching the either one of the films you can make How To Train A Dragon Playdough from Kids Activities Blog .
There were so many ideas to go with Toy Story, you could make a letter pizza, a toilet paper roll rocket, or even a cowboy vest but our favorite is this Alien headband!
Jennifer says
Such a cool feeling to wake up on my daughter’s third birthday and see a craft that we did together on one of my favourite blogs! Thanks for including our minion matching game!
Allison McDonald says
So sweet!
Happy birthday to her and thanks for letting me share your game 🙂
Almost Unschoolers says
We love to craft along with movies – these are great!