Resource Review: Inside Out & Inside Out 2

My two cents on, Inside Out and Inside Out 2

​​Inside Out is a movie that beautifully illustrates emotions and how they influence our thoughts and actions. The story follows Riley, an 11-year-old girl, and her core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—as they navigate a big life change when she moves to a new city.

For highly sensitive children (HSCs), this movie can help them understand that all emotions have a purpose and that it's okay to feel a wide range of feelings. It shows how working together with our emotions helps us grow, process change, and build resilience. 

Fair warning - for HSC who already feel a lot of feelings (and often feel other people’s feelings) this movie can actually be quite powerful. That can be a beautiful thing, but can also be too emotional if they’re not prepared for it and/or not yet ready for it. Just know your child and if you watch it with them, keep an eye on them. 

In Inside Out 2, Riley, now a teenager, faces the challenges of growing up, including navigating puberty, friendships, and her evolving identity. Her core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—are joined by new emotions like Anxiety, Envy, and Embarrassment, which complicate things further.

Again, a lesson to embrace all emotions, recognizing that they each play a role in our life. 

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Is it worth a watch?

Yes 100% - whether or not you watch with your child I leave up to you. But even if you watch it alone after the kids are in bed, it is well worth it.