Each story begins with characters in some kind of danger -- a kitten set adrift on a toy boat, a girl and her pet stuck on a train that's trapped by a rockslide, etc. But they're always rescued by the PAW Patrol by the end of the episode.
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Each team member is valued for what they bring to the table, and they all serve an important purpose. Characters show courage in the face of emergencies and do their best to help others.
Positive Messages
a lot
It's important to care for your neighbors and to put your strengths together to work for a common purpose. Other themes include compassion, citizenship, and problem-solving.
Educational Value
some
Kids can learn about different jobs within a community and how everyone has an important part to play. Lessons about teamwork and the importance of curiosity.
Diverse Representations
very little
All six main rescue pups are voiced by White actors, and only two are female. Ryder, their human leader, is voiced by different actors -- one, Elijha Hammill, is Black. Female pups Skye and Everest usually have secondary roles in rescue missions and sometimes need to be rescued themselves. Most human characters are White. Characters of color often fulfill stereotypes: Carlos (voiced by several Latino actors) lives in the jungle, Raimundo (voiced by Argentina-born Canadian actor Juan Chioran) speaks with an accent, Kendra (Yara Shahidi, multiracial with Black, Iranian, and Choctaw heritage) is a scientist known for losing her temper, and Mayor Goodway (Kim Roberts, Afro-Caribbean Canadian) gets flustered easily and has over-the-top reactions.
Parents need to know that PAWPatrol is a cute animated kids' series that premiered in 2013 and focuses on an energetic team of rescue dogs. Kids can learn about solving problems through teamwork and how everyone has a strength that makes them important. Expect a bit of peril: Each episode begins with a character in danger, but they're always rescued by the pups, and no one ever gets hurt. Very mild romantic interest is suggested between some characters. There's no product placement in the show itself, but the series has spawned countless off-screen products aimed at preschoolers. While the show teaches kids about citizenship and solving problems through teamwork, and how everyone has a strength that makes them important, it lacks diversity. All rescue dogs are voiced by White actors, and most are boys. Human characters of color draw on stereotypes, with Latino characters living in the jungle or having an accent and Black female characters being emotional and quick to anger.
This show is low effort, formulaic, and mainly focused on selling various trucks and playsets. The animation is super lazy and the stories make no sense. All the action boils down to a pup (usually Chase, the police dog) using their gear to stop a baddie. I really, really dislike this show.
What's the Story?
PAW PATROL is the story of six rescue pups who respond to the call when their neighbors need help. Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma, Skye, and later Everest (all voiced by multiple actors), are as brave as they come, and each has a specific job to do when an emergency strikes. Leading the charge is their human friend, Ryder, who sounds the alarm through his handheld communicator to assemble the team at headquarters so they can make a plan and execute a rescue.
It's all paws on deck when something's amiss in Adventure Bay, and the team at the heart of this cute, energetic series is always up to the challenge. Whether the trouble calls for Rubble's digging skills or Chase's keen sense of smell, there's nothing to fear with PAWPatrol on the case. But there's much more to these stories than cute puppies playing heroes; the show's reminders about caring for others and being brave in the face of danger are spot-on for the target preschool audience.
Perhaps the show's best attribute is how it demonstrates the value of thoughtful problem-solving. Do the pups jump into action so quickly that they're trying to outdo each other with their own versions of a rescue? No, they don't. Do they squabble among themselves over whose role in the rescue is the most important? Nope. Instead, they take a moment to collect their thoughts, identify the skills best suited to the job, and support one another's efforts. Kids may not be scaling tall buildings to rescue a neighbor anytime soon, but these same skills can help them tackle smaller stuff like cleaning up messes or resolving disagreements with siblings.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the rewards of showing kindness to others, like the characters do in PAW Patrol . How does it make you feel when you lift someone else's spirits or lend a hand? Have you ever been the one to need help? How did someone help you?
Families can talk about the importance of showing kindness to others, like the characters do in PAW Patrol. How does it make you feel when you lift someone else's spirits or lend a hand? Have you ever been the one to need help? How did someone help you?
Kids: What special qualities or skills do you have that you can use for the good of others? What can you do in your community or neighborhood to help others?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
