?? Warning: This article contains spoilers for Frozen II

Frozen II’s success is no surprise. Frozen broke massive records and quickly became not only a household name but the anthem of a whole generation’s childhood. The long-awaited sequel hit theaters this November and amassed $130M in sales the opening weekend.

But beyond the icy glamour and catchy tunes, what is the moral of Frozen II’s story? What will our kids learn from the film? Here we give you the movie’s top five life lessons!

1. Tolerance And Acceptance

Perhaps the biggest life lesson in Frozen II is accepting those who are unlike you. We’re soon introduced to an indigenous tribe called the Northuldra, which is actually based on the Sámi people of northern Europe. The Northuldra have always been misunderstood by the people of Arendelle, who we later find out attacked them many years before to steal their natural resources.

Both Elsa and Anna immediately greet these people with open arms, winning their friendship, and eventually bringing the two peoples together. This plotline shows children to accept those who look, speak, and act differently from them.

2. ?? Girl Power And Sisterhood

This value which was so present in the first film continues in the sequel. Both Elsa and Anna are strong, brave women who stick together and lift each other up. This is an extremely important lesson for little girls (and little boys, too, as we saw in the viral video of a father and son dance to “Let It Go”)!

Seeing strong female leads in their favorite Disney films—like Moana or Merida—inspires kids to dream big, no matter their gender.

This is taken a step further in the world of Frozen, as we see two strong female leads consistently supporting each other. In fact, at the end of the story, Elsa decides to crown Anna as the new queen of Arendelle, stepping down from the throne to focus on her newfound calling, which brings us to our next value…

3. Caring For The Planet

A major theme in Frozen II is the environment and the four elements: air, water, earth, and fire.

Elsa feels herself being called “into the unknown,” and it’s later revealed that she is a mediator between these elements and humans. Nature itself comes to life—as Disney has done before in stories like Pocahontas—and the audience is left feeling very connected with and protective over the environment. Water, for example, is said to “have memory,” and fire shows when it’s happy, sad, or angry. The elements work together to do what’s best for the planet and its inhabitants, and by the end of the movie, the people start to do what’s right for nature, too.

This theme, which is heavily present throughout the film, teaches our kids to care for the environment and ensure the future of our planet. As our little ones are going to be the next generation of leaders, this topic is especially important.

?? 4. Doing “The Next Right Thing”

It’s not unlike Disney to teach kids to do what’s right—even if it’s difficult.
This moral is very evident in Frozen II, becoming a recurring catchphrase and even the title of the song that Anna belts out in a dark cave when she feels all hope is lost: “The Next Right Thing.”

The message of the song sets a good example for our little ones: the right thing to do won’t always be the easy thing or the thing that benefits you most.

This life lesson is made very clear when Anna decides to sacrifice Arendelle to save Northuldra. She must destroy the dam and flood Arendelle in order to restore the ecosystem of the enchanted forest. In the end, she does the right thing and everyone is happy—Elsa saves the day by stopping the waters from flooding Arendelle.

5. Understanding the mistakes of your ancestors

Disney has worked hard to keep up with the times, tackling tough subjects like feminism, LGBT rights, and colonization. The fight continues in Frozen II, when Elsa and Anna realize their very own grandfather, who was king of Arendelle, was the one who started the war on the Northuldra tribe. He was the one who “gifted” them a dam, secretly using it to kill their crops and weaken their economy. The royal sisters learn this hard truth, and work hard to right the wrongs of their ancestors, destroying the dam and uniting the two towns.

On the other hand, the film reveals that their mother was actually Northuldra by origin, and saved the life of their father, Prince of Arendelle, during the battle between the two kingdoms. At the end of the story, Anna and Elsa erect a statue of their parents together as children. This shows kids the importance of accepting those who are not like you, and the power of unity!

Haven’t watched Frozen II with the kids yet? Make it an activity for the whole family, and be sure to ask them what they learned afterward!

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