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Troop Zero (2020) – Discussion Guide

Discussion Guide:

  1. Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?
    Caregiver Note: This is a simple question that doesn’t ask for anything very deep. It does require for you and your child to learn about each other’s thoughts and feelings and talk about qualities you saw in the characters that you value.
  2. Why do you think the other girls bullied Christmas? Did she do something wrong?
    Caregiver Note: It can be easy for us to simply look at the characters of “Troop Zero” and make villains out of the other children who were bullies. However, this question allows you and your child to explore what might motivate someone to be a bully. Are they trying to please a perfectionistic parent? Are they scared that they’re worthless and need others to appear to be less? Do they lack role models? This discussion shouldn’t excuse the behavior of a bully but simply try to allow for more understanding.
  3. Christmas seemed to think that her mom become a part of the stars and the universe after she died. What do you think happens to people when they die? Why do you think that?
    Caregiver Note: This question requires you to know your child and that this question will not trigger past traumatic events. However, if your child can handle this type of question, it will simply give both of you a good time to talk about beliefs and thoughts. It can also prepare your child for future instances where a loved one or someone close to them might pass away. When we can talk about an issue, discuss it with others, and accept support, a topic that could be scary, like “death,” loses some of its power.
  4. When the children are camping in the woods, they talk about being “outside the circle of protection.” Do you feel like you have a “circle of protection?” Where do you feel the most safe and protected?
    Use your discretion before bringing questions around from talking about the characters to talking about your child. Some children may need the discussion to stay centered around the characters without talking about themselves.
  5. Early in the movie, Christmas tells Hell-No that she is a “walking volcano” and asks her why she behaves the way she does. Hell-No says she burns everything down so she doesn’t “have to look at nothing because nothing is for [her].” What might this teach us about Hell-No? What reasons might lead someone to destroy things? Might someone destroy something because they don’t feel like they deserve it? Or because they end up losing everything any way? Do you think children ever destroy things because they are jealous of what others have?
    Caregiver note: This is a line of questions which, again, can stay safely centered around the characters but can be brought around to discuss this common type of behavior of foster and adopted children. It’s a good way to help normalize this behavior and help a child understand themselves. This is empowering and can eventually lead to healing and changes in behavior.
  6. When Christmas and Hell-No get in an argument, Hell-No says, “I never wanted anything, and I was fine. Why’d you make me want to be permanent?” Do you think it is easier to not want something than to be disappointed by wanting something and not receiving it?
    Caregiver note: This can be a significant question to explore if your child is giving up on hopes and dreams. However, it might be a bit abstract depending on the age of your child. If you child is younger you might come up with an example to explain the question better. For example: If there was a contest where the prize was getting as much chocolate as you want for the rest of your life, would you want to try and win the contest? How will you feel if you lose? Is it better to not know about the contest in the first place so you can get disappointed or is it better to try to have a dream?
  7. After this, Christmas tells Hell-No, “You’re going to be permanent.” Hell-No says, “No one has ever chased me before.” How do you think Hell-No feels at this point in the movie?
    Caregiver note: Some children from traumatic places could feel exactly like Hell-No in that they feel as though no one ever fought for their best interests or made sure they were taken care of no matter what. It would be good for you, the caregiver, to explore what permanent looks like in your child’s life – even if they are in foster care, will they still have your family as a permanent place to come to. It would also be good to discuss how much you would “chase,” after your child or how much you would love your child. You might come up with scenarios to tell your child (What if you lie? What if you break a window? What if you run away from home? What if you shoplift?) and end each scenario with, “Would I still love you?” It’s important for children to hear about this kind of love and concern you have for them BUT be ready to back it up with actions in the next few weeks as they might test your words. If you can follow through, this can be a powerful bonding moment for you and your child.
  8. Toward the end of the movie Christmas mentions to her dad that she didn’t think she was supposed to talk about her mother. Why do you think she felt that way? What did her dad tell her in response to that thought? Do you think you can talk about your birth parents or other family members or friends who are not in your life anymore? Who can you talk to about your birth parents?
    Caregiver note: Children who are in the foster care system or who have been adopted might not talk often about their birth family. However, this doesn’t mean that they are not thinking about them or having complex feelings about being separated from them. These questions can be used to give your child the opportunity to talk about their birth family and some of the complex feelings they are having. It is important to listen and let your child know that you hear them without judging any of their feelings.
    These questions can also be used to discover who your child believes they can talk with about their birth family. It might be that they do not think they can talk to you, the caregiver, OR they might think that it is fine to talk to any stranger. It is significant to help them know about boundaries and who is safe to discuss issues with. Note: Christmas’ father’s response was, “You can tell me anything. Ain’t nothing you can’t tell bossman.”
  9. What were some of the messages Troop Zero and their grown ups recorded to go into space? What do we learn about the characters by the messages they send out? Do their messages tell us anything about reasons for the way they behave?
    Caregiver note: Some examples are: Hell-No says, “I hope you’re always safe and warm and have food.” This may lead us to infer that she has lacked these things. Ms. Rayleen says, “You gonna be permanent. You already are.” Christmas says, “I hope you got Mama. I hope you keep her safe.”
  10. The children yell, “I am here. Here I am.” Another quote is, “See us for all our bursting treasure.” Do you think the children of Troop Zero feel seen and heard in life? Are there adults who see and hear them? What do they do to show them?
    Caregiver note: Many time children from traumatic backgrounds were not seen or heard by the adults that were supposed to be “on duty” in their lives. Thus, they may consciously or unconsciously exhibit behaviors that allow them to be seen and heard. This question about the movie can be a good way for your family to note some of the ways that the children in Troop Zero employed to assure they were cared for, seen, and heard. This could also be a could transition to see if you child feels seen and heard or suggest to them ways you see them attempting to be seen and heard by adults.
  11. What message would you want to send in a time capsule out to space?
    Caregiver note: This is a fun question, but it also may give you some insight about your child and a glimpse into their thought patterns.
  12. Overall, do you think Troop Zero really lost? What did they gain during the course of the movie?
    Caregiver note: The end of this movie is definitely a positive one. However, Troop Zero was not successful in their end goal. This can be a good time for caregivers to lead a conversation in noting that life and dreams didn’t turn out for Troop Zero the way they had hoped for things to happen. In fact there are plenty of negative events that occurred to them. However, along the journey there were many powerfully fantastic things that came about for each child and their community. This could be useful to talk about with a child in the foster care system where their life isn’t going how they would like it to be – even an adopted child can relate to these feelings. Even though events and plans don’t go the way they were intended there are still great outcomes.

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About the Author: Darren Fink

Co-founder and Program Director of Transfiguring Adoption. Darren is a graduate of Illinois State University where he studied fine art. He offers foster and adoptive parents over a decade of experience in parenting foster and adoptive children, as well as his introductory to counseling training.
Darren enjoys visiting amusement parks with his family.


**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.


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Written by
Co-founder and President of Transfiguring Adoption. Darren is a graduate of Illinois State University where he studied fine art. He offers foster and adoptive parents over a decade of experience in parenting foster and adoptive children, as well as his introductory to counseling training. Darren is the author of the "A Guide to Magical Creatures Around Your Home," book series. [email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/darrenfink Book series: www.magicalcreaturs.com

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