Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4^th be with you!!!

I am an avid Star Wars fan since I was 10; when my parents rented Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope on VHS. To be immediately enthralled in the universe, enjoying everything from the characters to the action. I collected the toys, read the books and comics, bought whatever gear I could, and learned about the expanded Star Wars universe to delve deeper into the story that George Lucas created for us to enjoy. And I geeked out hard growing up and geeked out harder once I got a job and got money to buy more stuff.

The question is: How do I get my kids into Star Wars?

Both my sons know and love Star Wars, can name all the major characters, and know the Millennium Falcon when they see it. G1 will be five later this year and he seems ready to handle the excitement. G2 is three and loves R2-D2, but the movies might be a bit much for him now. Luckily there are other ways to ease them into the magic.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: This is how G1 was first introduced. After Disney took over the franchise and cancelled the series I got the Blu-ray and immediately watch the series from the beginning. The later seasons of the series got very ominous, but seasons one and two are perfect for a four year old to enjoy without having to explain much. The episodes are simple, good guy bad guy stuff, with enough cartoony comic relief from C-3PO and R2-D2. It is also a good way to build them up to the darker seasons which handle heavier subjects (which made the series much more outstanding for me but might be too gloomy for a 3-4 year old to enjoy).

Star Wars: Rebels

The first TV installment of the new Disney-Lucasfilm think tank, Rebels takes place 5 years prior to SW IV: A New Hope, and so far it has drawn both the boys in. As a family, we went to see the premiere of Rebels before it aired on Disney XD. G1 has identified with Ezra, the young Force adept teenager who ends up joining a rebel cell. He would get excited when I tell him there’s a new Rebels on the DVR (the show airs at 9:30pm on Disney XD, which is after bedtime), and G2, although a little scared of the more actioned pack sequences, can’t wait to see Chopper, the group’s astromech droid. It too is taking up heavier tones, as it is made by the same people as The Clone Wars series, but the first season it perfect to introduce a new generation to Star Wars.

Merchandise

Star Wars has always had collaborations with different companies for different products to keep the brand out there. We all have seen the action figures or toys lining the aisles at Target or Walmart, but now some of kid’s favorite toys have a Star Wars line. Hot Wheels have their Star Wars collection, with different characters manifested in little collectible vehicles. Lego (which has had Star Wars sets for a very long time) now have the Minifighters, smaller versions of vehicles that you can put together with your little ones, and don’t forget the gear you can get (shoes, clothes, hats, etc.) you can score to make your kids Force aware.

Books

Probably the best way to introduce Star Wars to the family. My sons learned the alphabet from Star Wars ABC, G1 practices his schoolwork with Star Wars Workbooks for preschool, and at night they enjoy the adorable nursery rhyme books by Jeffrey Brown. The stories are amusing for the adults and kids alike and leaves them asking for more Star Wars. Even G3, who is barely over a year old, love going through the pages of Vader’s Little Princess, which one the cover has a picture of Darth Vader and a 4-5 year old Leia having a tea party with her stuffed Ewok. ‘Awwww’ is right!

The list goes on and on, and there is no shortage of Star Wars material you can get your hands on to make your kids aware of this great universe. Of course the children have to enjoy it too, but how can you NOT like Star Wars? I’m sure if you’re reading this you agree.

My next post will be about how to watch the movies with your kids. And it ain’t the way you think it should be.

Until next post, follow me on Instagram for Star Wars Shirt of the Week, baseball stuff, and overall token randomness.

TheTokenElf