4 Hot Movies for Kids in the Summer of 2010

In the summertime, the weather is often uncomfortably hot and the kids are out of school. When the temperature rises, the movie theaters can offer both a cool respite from the blazing sun and a moment in relative silence from the constant prattling of children, but you must choose your entertainment with care. Older kids and teens prefer movies with some edge to them, while younger kids may get scared of movies with violence or magic. Avoid the threat of movie mutiny by choosing the right summer movie to entertain your kids in 2010.

In Theaters:

Iron Man 2: Good for older kids and teens, no magic.

The ever-awesome and adorable Robert Downey Jr. is back as Iron Man in Iron Man 2. Also starring Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow and hot artsy girl of the moment (and possibly forever) Scarlett Johansson, Iron Man 2 has the star power to please older kids and teens with enough action and antics for mature younger children with parents present. Rated PG-13, Iron Man 2 is a solid entertaining movie that is good for most kids who can take a little violence, romance and exploding stuff. Iron Man 2 has mainly

Shrek Forever After: Still magically fun.

Though Shrek is always good for a fun and humorous cartoon, not much has changed in Shrek movieland this time. The animation does not look much better, if at all, than Shrek 2. The story is also a little weaker than past Shrek movies. Regardless, younger kids will like Shrek Forever After a lot, and older kids will think it is okay to sit through. Shrek Forever After is rated PG.

Upcoming Releases:

Toy Story 3: Take your kids to this or other kids will think they're weird.

The loveable Toy Story crew is at it again, back to entertain kids and adults alike with their cartoonish antics. With the usual star cast including Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and Tom Hanks, Toy Story 3 will be the behemoth of a family movie that your children need to see this summer to avoid being labeled a social pariah when the school year rolls around. Toy Story 3 has some cartoonish magic, and comes out in theaters June 18, 2010.

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang: Good for all ages. Magic included.

Woefully not coming out until late in the summer--August 20, 2010 being the planned date--Emma Thompson will return as Nanny McPhee for the highly anticipated sequel to the popular original movie. Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang is a good choice if you are faced with a mixed group full of all ages. Nanny McPhee does contain magic, so it is not a good choice for children whose parents prefer that they do not watch movies with magic.

Choose your summer film carefully and movie theater enjoyment success will be virtually certain. Factors to consider when choosing a movie for a group of kids includes age, maturity, religious preferences or restrictions, and the gender of the kids. Another consideration when choosing summer 2010 movies for kids is refreshment: snacks will keep the little ones' grumbling tummies at bay, but too much liquid will guarantee repeated trips to the movie theater bathroom.