Follow

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021) – Discussion Guide

Discussion Guide:

  1. When Thomas rolls down the hill, one of the bunnies says, “And that’s why adults shouldn’t do kid stuff.” What are some things you think only kids should do?
    Caregiver Note: This is simply a fun question for families to discuss. It can be enjoyable to hear the child’s thoughts and could lead to some fun conversations!
  2. What was in the lunchboxes of the children in the home Peter and Barnabas got taken to? Why does Barnabas say parents put it in there? Do you think that’s true?
    Caregiver Note: Again, this is more of an icebreaker type of question. Do parents put vegetables in kids’ lunchboxes just so teachers won’t judge them? What do the kids think? Do parents agree?
  3. What did Peter have in his ears and why? Do you think this is a good way to handle feeling misunderstood or ganged up on? Is this helpful for Peter? Does it help him control himself? Is it useful in his relationships?
    Caregiver Note: Benjamin commends Peter for the way he is responding, to which Peter responds by pulling things out of his ears that he says he uses (basically as ear plugs) when he is feeling misunderstood. He then pulls out another version of earplugs that he says he uses when he is feeling ganged up on (because the other bunnies are all “ganging up on” him). These questions can open up to discussions about positive ways to handle feelings.

  4. Peter deals with some really big feelings in the movie. What feelings did you see him dealing with? What caused him to feel that way? Could you relate to anything Peter said or felt in the movie? What were some ways Peter responded to his feelings that were helpful responses? What were some not so good responses?
    Caregiver Note: Again, these questions can open up to discussions about positive and not so positive ways to handle feelings.
  5. When the bunnies meet the publisher, Nigel, and hear his ideas, four of them say “Fantastic!” and Cottontail says, “I don’t trust this guy.” What do you think made her say that? Was she right not to trust him? Can you think of any examples of someone who trusted someone else too easily or quickly in the movie? Why did this character trust so quickly? Was it a good idea? What was the consequence? How do we determine who is safe?
    Caregiver Note: Trust is portrayed with good and bad examples. Cottontail is very apprehensive (and turns out to be right!) about trusting the publisher, Nigel. Peter quickly trusts Barnabas simply because Barnabas says he was friends with Peter’s dad and ends up being tricked. This is a good way to introduce the idea that others must earn our trust and that trusting too easily could lead to dangerous consequences.
  6. Barnabas tells Peter to maybe not “open up so much” to strangers. What makes someone trustworthy with our life stories? How do we decide how much of our story someone should know?
    Caregiver Note: This is a good opener for discussing who has the rights to our stories and how much we should share with strangers.
  7. Peter says, “Miss you, Dad. No one gets me the way you did.” Is there someone you feel “gets you?” How does this person make you feel that way?
    Caregiver Note: We all need to feel like someone else understands us. It is important for us to validate children’s feelings, even if they don’t make sense to us, and help us navigate through their experiences.
  8. Bea says that trying to get the book published took her away from who she really was. How did she change and try to be someone she wasn’t? Who else tried to be someone they weren’t? How did this work out for them? 
    Caregiver Note: Here we can introduce the concept of not changing who we are in order to be accepted or have others like us… of not compromising our goals or values.
  9. Barnabas tells Peter that it’s “not hard to lie to someone who wants it to be true.” Do you think Barnabas is right? Have you ever really wanted to believe something?
    Caregiver Note: People who have been victims are often more vulnerable, others can see this, and this makes them more susceptible to further victimization. This is another angle from which to discuss how others gain our trust.
  10. Benjamin tells Peter, “…you need to think things through and take some advice from those who love you.” What do you think Peter should think through more? What advice should he listen to?
    Caregiver Note: Depending on the child, you can personalize this more to their experiences after Peter, but only if you can do so in a non judgmental, safe way.
  11. Peter tells Thomas, “No matter what I do, you always assume the worst.” Do you ever feel this way? How can you handle this feeling in a good way?
    Caregiver Note: This is probably something everyone has felt at some point. Try to think of a time you have felt this way and share your experiences in order to connect with your child.

[Donate to this Project]


About the Author: Margie Fink

Margie received her degree in psychology and has worked in various social work capacities. Margie has been chosen in the past to speak on Capitol Hill about the Refundable Adoption Tax Credit. She is a witty foster/adoptive mom who is able to give kids from hard places loving structure while providing unbelievable homemade cooking. Margie co-founded Community Kids, a resource and networking 501(c)3 created to assist foster, adoptive, and relative caregiver families.


**Transfiguring Adoption is a nonprofit organization seeking to nurture growth in foster and adoptive families by giving a HOOT about their families. Transfiguring Adoption does not intend for its reviewers nor its review to be professional, medical or legal advice. These reviews and discussion guides are intended to help parents to better be able to connect and understand their children who come from traumatic backgrounds.

 

Written by
Margie Fink: Development Director [email protected] Margie received her degree in psychology and has worked in various social work capacities. Margie has been chosen in the past to speak on Capitol Hill about the Refundable Adoption Tax Credit. She is a witty foster/adoptive mom who is able to give kids from hard places loving structure while providing unbelievable homemade cooking. Margie co-founded Community Kids, a resource and networking 501(c)3 created to assist foster, adoptive, and relative caregiver families. Check Out: Thoughts From A Foster-Adoptive Mom

Have your say!

0 0

Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.