Pokemon Detective Pikachu – Discussion

Discussion Guide:

• • 1. Which character did you like the most? Why? Which character did you relate to the most? Why?
       Caregiver Note: Children may relate to Tim, who feels a lot of pain following intense instances of loss and grief and as a result has resigned himself to life as a loner. Other children may relate to Pikachu who acts silly and tries really hard (sometimes too hard) to be likable to avoid being alone. Take note of not just what your child is saying but how they are saying it. At one point in the film, Pikachu discusses how humans and Pokemon can relate to one another without words, explaining that Pokemon can sense the intention behind words. Much like Pokemon, it is important that we don’t just take words at face value and look for the need attempting to be communicated by our children.
    2. Have you ever had someone who made you very angry or very sad? What did you do? How did you feel?
       Caregiver Note: This discussion can help encourage introspection. Often children may not connect internal feelings to external behaviors. This can also segue way into other words for emotions. Anger can be a big word to cover a lot of feelings like betrayal, disappointment, frustration, irritation, etc. Often when we pinpoint what kind of anger we feel, it can better explain why we are acting out with a particular behavior. Think of this as netting together the symptoms to differentiate between a sore throat and strep throat. If you keep throwing cough drops at strep throat, the infection will remain though the symptoms may temporarily be suppressed. We have to have the right treatment and/or tools to take care of the root issue, or we will be stuck in a cycle of putting out fires to survive, which is not therapeutic for you or your child.
    3. Why do you think Tim was so angry with his dad, Harry? Why did Tim not come visit when Harry tried to reach out?
       Caregiver Note: As I discussed earlier, sometimes those who hurt us most are those who we consider closest to us. Children may lash out behaviorally without realizing why exactly they hurt so much. This can be a great discussion to open up talking about when people hurt us and forgiveness versus boundaries.
    4. Why did Pikachu keep following Tim?
       Caregiver Note: As the film progresses you’ll eventually learn that Tim can speak to and understand Tim because Mewtwo temporarily placed Harry’s mind in Pikachu so some of this can be explained by that subliminal bond. Pikachu shows some poor boundaries in discussion subject matter and in physical boundaries (i.e. – climbing on Tim’s shoulder after being told not to, etc.), but Pikachu does capture a few things right with emotional boundaries. Notice how Pikachu shows care and companionship for Tim and is comfortable with Tim not reciprocating at first and letting a relationship develop mostly at Tim’s pace. Pikachu clearly cares for Tim’s wellbeing and wants companionship (he suffers from amnesia but knows he’s “lost” his partner Harry at the beginning) but respects levels of Tim’s personal boundaries. This can be a good discussion to facilitate concerning how you can be like Pikachu and support your child in ways they feel comfortable.
    5. Activity: Dr. Daniel Siegel’s Hand Model of the Brain
       Caregiver Note: No matter what age, most children in care struggle with connecting feelings to behaviors. Using Dr. Daniel Siegal’s Hand Brain Model will help visualize why. Imagine your right hand as a brain, with your wrist acting as the brain stem. This part of the brain provides the most basic functioning for living such as breathing. This is how you can breathe without having to consciously take a breath. Now imagine your thumb as an amygdala. This is your “fight or flight” part of your brain. This fight or flight activation can be represented by bringing your thumb into your palm, taking over in times of stress for survival. Now, your remaining four fingers (or phalanges for you technical folks out there) represent your prefrontal cortex. This is the front part of your brain that handles executive functioning, which is more rational and logical thought and understanding. In short, this is the part of your brain that says to the amygdala, “No, I’m not being chased by a bear. I just have a deadline,” and calms down the amygdala. Bring your fingers down over your thumb to represent this. Now, a brain that had endured long-term trauma may have an overactive amygdala due to a child not knowing how to utilize coping skills, use interpersonal skills to determine how they feel, and then sort out the behaviors and emotions. That prefrontal cortex may not be able to respond to the amygdala, and a child may need help with that. Take your left hand and place it over your hand brain to help your right hand’s fingers cover the thumb. This represents a caregiver co-regulating emotions with a child to help them slow down and connect feelings to behaviors. This is the heart of how a caregiver can help a child in crisis. Feel free to show this model to a child and teach them this. Young and older children both respond well to physical images with movement incorporated into learning. Look at how quickly your children learned the Baby Shark dance if you don’t believe me. This model can also help a child communicate where they are emotionally dysregulated when words are hard in the moment. Practice acting out a scenario utilizing the Hand Brain Model for an example. (I may use something like “When Someone Takes My Coffee Mug” as my children know my relationship with coffee.)
    6. Why did Pikachu push Tim away after finding out he may have contributed to Harry’s death?
       Caregiver Note: There is a common phrase that goes “Hurt people hurt people”. This is to illustrate how when people are in pain, they tend to act out in ways they may not otherwise in a better mental state. Explore with your children and teens how in times of struggle they may have pushed others away rather than show grief, pain, anger, or depression. This can be an open discussion about vulnerability and how loved ones can be a resource during hard times that won’t judge them as “weak” or “too much”.
    7. How did Psyduck seem at the beginning? How did Psyduck help the team run away from the lab?
       Caregiver Note: Throughout the original Pokemon animated series, Psyduck was often portrayed as a “problem” due to confusion and headaches creating unpredictable (and dangerous situations) when he wasn’t in the way or bothering someone. This is very similar to the portrayal Psyduck received in the film. Psyduck received special care throughout the film (i.e. – soothing music, being carried in a body pack, foot rubs, etc.) that were in place to prevent him from acting out with psychic power during a headache. However, as the team flees the lab, Psyduck’s weakness ends up saving the team. This can be a good discussion to facilitate how once we learn to regulate our emotions, we can use them to help ourselves and others in hard times. This also can be a good discussion in how members of teams can support one another though they may look or act very different.
    8. Do you think Tim and Harry living together again will have any consequences? How can Harry help Tim transition into living with him in Ryme City? What boundaries may Tim and Harry need to develop together?
       Caregiver Note: Often times children and teens have a fantasy-like view of what “going home” may look like. In reality all change (even as welcomed as a homecoming) can come with potential pitfalls as children adjust to relearning boundaries and personalities adjust to living in close proximity. Remember to keep the discussion strength based as to prevent catastrophic thinking, but this can be a valuable discussion to help children be prepared for when (not if) conflict arises.
    9. Activity: Draw a Dream Pokemon Apartment
       Caregiver Note: Have your child draw their dream home complete with a physical layout, household rules, and who can live in the apartment. Take this as an opportunity to discuss appropriate boundaries and listen for ways that a child may be looking for support. And, of course, they need to pick a Pokemon partner! Make it fun with butcher paper for smaller children (so they can spread out and draw) or collage materials for older children or teens.
    10. How can we help you when hard times are happening?
        Caregiver Note: Sometimes children know exactly what they need but don’t know they can tell us. Sometimes children may need guidance on asking for support and giving names for feelings/behaviors/needs. Talk to your child about how to help them when they are angry or sad. Some children welcome warm hugs when upset, while others may need space and not to be touched until they calm down. Feel free to give examples of things that help you when you feel angry or sad to provide examples. Also talk about things to do as a family after something has happened to provide closeness in response to grief. Remember, children need us to walk through grief with them and will rely on us to figure out how to navigate big feelings.

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