Little House Homecoming Movie Debut Review

Movies

Little House Documentary Premieres Thanksgiving Weekend

The whole family is invited to gather around your flatscreen TV or monitor at home to watch the new documentary film Little House Homecoming exclusively on Trellis Virtual Cinema. The debut of this home entertainment release marks 50 years since the beloved Little House on the Prairie hit television show, starring the late Michael Landon as Pa Ingalls and Melissa Gilbert as Laura, first aired in 1974 on NBC television.

Many thanks to Trellis Virtual Cinema for providing a screening in advance screening to facilitate this review and the Little House Homecoming Giveaway we are hosting.  Opinions are 100% my own.

Interviews with Original Cast, Michael Landon's Children

The TV show, like the documentary Little House Homecoming, is inspired by the Little House fiction book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder based on her frontier life and first published in 1932. During the film, original Little House TV cast members take viewers on a virtual roadtrip to visit each of the real life historical Midwest small towns where Laura lived during her lifetime from early childhood in Pepin, Wisconsin until her passing at the age of 90. She was laid to rest in 1957 next to her husband Almanzo Wilder in Mansfield, Missouri.

Co-hosted by original TV series actors Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder) and Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), the documentary features Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls), Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle, the teacher) and Wendi Lou Lee (who played Baby Grace along with her twin sister Brenda). Two of Michael Landon's nine real life children also appear, including Michael Landon, Jr. and Jennifer Landon, reminiscing about their father and their lives together both on the set and at home.

A Virtual Journey to Places Where Laura Really Lived

The documentary visits all the important Laura Ingalls Wilder historical homestead sites. The fascinating footage gives the audience the opportunity to see important preserved buildings, artifacts, and vintage photos related to Laura's personal life as well as her work as an author.

• Pepin, Wisconsin, setting of Little House in the Big Woods 
• Independence, Kansas, setting of Little House on the Prairie
• Walnut Grove, Minnesota, setting of On the Shores of Plum Creek
• Burr Oak, Iowa, Laura lived here between books
• De Smet, South Dakota, setting for By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years.
• Mansfield, Missouri, where Laura lived and wrote all her books until her death
• Malone, New York, Almanzo's childhood farm homestead

With a wonderful script, heartfelt interviews and behind the scenes cinematograpy, the documentary beautifully ties together Laura's pioneer history with the Little House TV series which generations of viewers have loved.

Kids, Parents, Grandparents and Will Love It

Whether you're 8 or 90+ years old, Little House Homecoming has something for every member of the family. The characters like Laura and her family remind us why they have endured for generations. Their resourcefulness, strong work ethic, faith, creativity, and love for one another during pioneer days remain with us, despite our lives today living in a fast-paced world. Without a doubt fans of all ages, young and old, will enjoy watching this together.

Virtual Movie Giveaway

Win a Chance to See Little House Homecoming

Hurry, Enter NOW, Giveaway Ends 12/1 

To Enter for chance to win a virtual code to see Little House Homecoming, follow @mommyblogexpert on Instagram and leave a comment on this Instagram post. Winner will be notified by Instagram direct message

More about the Movie

Little House Homecoming is available for viewing now exclusively on the Trellis Virtual Cinema. See the movie trailer, Buy Tickets and learn more about the new documentary on the official movie site.

The Rise of Multigenerational Travel

Family Travel

Guest Post

by Michelle Catin, Vice President Marketing

Club Med

Travel Across Generations is Trending

Traveling with a small family unit including kids might seem simple, but it often isn't. Mom and dad typically handle all the vacation planning and payments, with mom usually shouldering the burden of vacation reservations, trip organization, packing, and caring for the children. On these so-called vacations, parents more often than not end up spending little time unwinding when they need it most. That’s why more families, especially millennials and Gen Z parents with young kids are considering multigenerational travel. By incorporating grandparents to help with childcare as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins into the mix, everyone has something to do that they enjoy and can also have a little time to themselves. 

Reasons to Consider Big Family Trips

Vacations with extended family do require work, but they also yield huge benefits

• Tag-team childcare, taking turns taking care of each other's kids
• Increased quality time and bonding with family who may not live nearby
• Time as a cohesive family unit, helping pass traditions on to younger generations
• Lasting family memories that everyone will cherish for a lifetime 

As long as you keep your expectations realistic, you can get these rewards and more. 

Great Options for Multigen Travel 

Since travel is a time-honored tradition for millions of families, it’s easy to find vacation variations that work even for both small and large family trips. 

Your best bet is to choose family trips that have something for everyone like

• All-Inclusive Resorts
• Cruises
• Theme Parks
• National Parks 
• Cities with family-friendly activities 

Be expansive in your lodging options, and you’ll find something that works for the group.

 

How to Incorporate Everyone Into Your Travel Plans 

Designate a coordinator 

The first thing you should do as part of your travel plan is to designate a family member coordinator. This person should be primarily responsible for getting the discussion going and keeping it progressing toward actual decisions and commitments. Ideally, the coordinator has some experience in navigating reservation systems and general travel planning. Skills in working well with others and finding the best options to present to the group are also highly desirable. Note that this person should not be doing 100% of the work. It’s just wise to have a single point who can organize suggestions and do some of the legwork of executing the plan. 

Plan early

Family travel planning is essential. Multigenerational travel is not usually a thing you can plan on the fly, so it really helps to get a head start. The designated coordinator should aim to allow three months or more to coordinate and gather everyone's preferences and dates for reservations. Everyone should commit to an affordable budget and be considerate of family size when you breaking down what each group will pay. If you need to stick to a specific budget and not go over, consider options like all-inclusive vacation packages that have all the costs included from the outset. 

Encourage collaboration 

The goal is to have a trip that everyone enjoys, which means that all parties need to have a say in the location and activities. Kids' opinions should be considered, too! Create a group chat to discuss options and get consensus before the trip coordinator starts planning the itinerary. If you notice that someone slows their participation in the chat, considering them aside to find out if there’s a reason they aren’t investing. They might feel bowled over with the discussion and need some help contributing.

Create some flexibility

While family trips ought to have plenty of activities to keep everyone occupied, they also need to provide some flexibility. Babies and young children may need breaks throughout the day to nap or decompress. Older adults may want to dip in and out based on their energy levels. Big families often have varying opinions about what counts as fun, so they’ll want to choose how to participate. When planning activity options, be sure to include some time for everyone to relax or do things as an individual family unit. 

Work and play 

There’s no doubt that family trips take a lot of work in preparation and during the event. To avoid the most Type A person getting left with all the responsibility and none of the fun, break down the work into tasks. 

A few ideas to create balance

• Ask each family (or generation) to take over planning everything for one day 
• Have all the adults take a shift to attend to the kids
• Use a sign-up sheet template to coordinate meals, reservations, and other activities 

Remember you don't need to have people sign up for every minute of the trip, but you should aim to cover all the basics before you go.

 

The sky's the limit for the family vacation you dream up ...

Multigenerational family travel is increasingly popular because it offers so much more than a nuclear family trip. The trick is to make vacation plans that work for everyone, by getting input and making choices that value each person’s physical and emotional needs, likes and dislikes. With these tips, you'll have some great ideas to help make your next family trip a memorable experience for everyone. 

About the Author

Michelle Catin is Vice President Marketing at Club Med, a provider of premium all-inclusive vacation packages. She has over 20 years of experience in marketing PR, and specializes in the hospitality industry.

Grow Movie Family Friendly Review

Movies 

Movie Review: GROW the Film 

There’s a new family-friendly movie opening today in theaters nationwide that’s just in time for pumpkin spice season and Halloween. Announcing the big-screen release of GROW, a film that kids and parents will enjoy seeing together which is full of the coziness of a hot pumpkin spice latte as well as a funny and entertaining alternative for those families who prefer not to watch scary movies. 

Many thanks to US Pumpkin Distribution, LLC for providing advance access to this movie for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

The Latest in Kids Fall Entertainment

If you’re looking for a wholesome, feel-good movie to celebrate fall, GROW will warm your heart and leave you smiling. The story centers around Charlie, an imaginative and curious young girl who discovers the magic of nature in her own backyard when one of the pumpkins she's growing for the town pumpkin contest, an adorably named pumpkin named Peter, starts to talk. What begins as a small gardening project blossoms into a delightful adventure about friendship, patience, and learning to care for something that depends on you. 

Charlie’s bond with Peter the pumpkin is what makes this film truly special. Their conversations are both funny and full of gentle life lessons that resonate with kids and adults alike. Peter isn’t just a talking pumpkin— she’s a reminder that growth, whether it’s a plant or a person, takes time, care, and love. Parents will appreciate the film’s deeper message about nurturing responsibility and the importance of protecting the environment. 

Check out the

GROW Movie Trailer

The colorful fall scenery, from golden leaves to pumpkin patches, creates the perfect cozy autumn vibe, while the film’s gentle humor keeps even the youngest viewers entertained. The animation (or, if live action, the practical effects) brings Peter to life in a way that feels real and magical at the same time—think a friendlier cousin to Olaf from the movie Frozen, but made of pumpkin and kindness. 

Beyond its entertainment value, GROW quietly teaches kids about sustainability, gardening, and appreciating the natural world. Charlie’s enthusiasm for planting seeds and caring for his little garden patch is contagious -- you might just find your own children asking to grow something after watching this movie! 

GROW Kids Activity Book

8 Pages of FUN FREE Printable

Ideas to discuss at home after seeing GROW together

• The Power of Patience: How did Charlie learn that growing things takes time and effort? What other parts of life need patience too? 
• Friendship and Caring: What does Peter teach Charlie about being a good friend and taking care of others? 
• Love for the Earth: How can your family help the environment like Charlie did in the movie? 

Some fun kids activities inspired by the movie 

• Plant a Pumpkin Patch: Get hands-on by planting pumpkin seeds. Kids will love checking each day to see how their plants “grow,” just like Charlie. 
• Make Recycled Planters: Reuse old milk cartons, jars, or yogurt cups as planters. Let kids decorate them with paint or markers to personalize their “Peter the Pumpkin” pots. 
• Start a Compost Pile or Recycling Bin: Start a family compost bin or set up recycling containers to learn how to reduce waste and help the planet. 
• Outdoor Gratitude Walk: Take a family stroll through a local park or your neighborhood to appreciate nature and discuss what you’re thankful for this season.

With its uplifting message, relatable lovable characters, and gorgeous autumn visuals, GROW is sure to become a new seasonal favorite. If you'd like to plan a fall family movie night out, this heartwarming film reminds us that the smallest seeds—of kindness, care, and curiosity—can grow into something truly beautiful. 

More About the Movie 

To learn more about GROW the film, visit the official movie website as well as follow the film on social media @GrowTheFilm on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Find a theater near you and Buy Tickets Now.