Preschooler

by Jeffrey Wells and Jett Wells

Jeff says: Don't feed them just animated kiddie stuff. They all love this sort of thing, of course, but some kids have it in them to understand or feel a bit more. If a film has a strong emotional current, under-fivers can absorb this without understanding the particulars.


Jett was really into ET: The Extra-Terrestrial by the age of two. He called it "ET Home." This excellent Steven Spielberg movie is all about growing up and showing love. ET also says kids can see things that adults can't, so it's an empowerment film of sorts.

Jett says: ET was the first flick to give me the chills, which started for me with the space vessel landing in the forest and the grunts and shrieks of the brown "turd" alien with the glowing index finger. Being a preschooler and all, the idea of an enchanted alien accomplice with the power to levitate was attractive. ET also introduced me to several feelings ‑- fear, depression, confusion and contentment. I owe ET gratitude for introducing to me these aspects of human nature, and for basically wising me up.

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