Parents' Guide to

Dinosaur Train

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Young dino's travels teach kids about science and diversity.

TV PBS Educational 2009
Dinosaur Train Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 56 parent reviews

guttergoblinparent
guttergoblinparent Parent of 3 and 4-year-old
July 25, 2022
age 3+

Oh boy my eggs are hatching!

A fantastic show full of edu-tainment. Plenmty for young and old here, with fun stories, education regarding dinosaurs and ancient life, while still holding family as the central message. Highly recommend this show.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Sandra.gal
Sandra.gal Parent of 1 and 3-year-old
February 10, 2022
age 3+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 56 parent reviews

What's the Story?

DINOSAUR TRAIN centers on a young Tyrannosaurus Rex named Buddy (voiced by Phillip Corlett) and his adoptive Pteranodon family, who live in a giant nest near the sea. Inquisitive Buddy is always on the lookout for adventure, and there's no shortage of it when he and his siblings Tiny (Claire Corlett), Shiny (Erika-Shaye Gair), and Don board the Dinosaur Train and speed through time to meet other prehistoric creatures. As questions arise, Buddy comes up with theories and eagerly makes discoveries that will solve the scientific riddles he faces. The show also includes live-action segments starring paleontologist Scott Sampson, who chats with kids about science and fun dinosaur facts.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (56 ):
Kids say (36 ):

This delightful series combines typical preschool interests like trains, dinosaurs, and a healthy appetite for adventure -- and the resulting tales feed kids' vivid imaginations. Through Buddy's travels within the Mesozoic era, young viewers learn about different species' lifestyles, diets, and unique characteristics. Kids are also encouraged to think critically about the world around them; comparing dinosaurs' traits to those of modern animals, for example, and learning to classify different species by size, appearance, and lifestyle habits.

And Dinosaur Train's value isn't limited to early paleontology education or its fun take on basic scientific processes. There are also plenty of positive messages about tolerance and respect for differences. Buddy's adventures introduce him to a range of species with obvious differences, and his curiosity allows him to discover not only the unique traits that separate him from his new friends, but also the basic similarities that make them all alike.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the dinosaurs lived and what we can learn about them in Dinosaur Train. Kids: How was the Earth different during their time? How did different species adapt to their surroundings? What traits differentiated the species?

  • How do scientists work to answer our questions about the past and the future? What tools do they use to uncover and piece together clues? How do modern inventions improve our lives?

  • Kids: What did you learn from this series? What questions do you still have about prehistoric creatures? What other shows have you seen that teach you something about science?

  • How does Dinosaur Train promote curiosity? Why is this an important character strength?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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.

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