Dragon Tales
- Network: PBS
- Genre: Educational
Common Sense Media says
Curious kids and dragons take flight.
- Network: PBS
- Genre: Educational
What parents need to know
Educational value
Positive role models
Violence & scariness
Sexy stuff
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the main characters seem to live most of their lives in Dragon Land, spending very little time in the real world with their family. Some parents may see this near-constant escape from reality as off the mark in an educational series. Otherwise, there's not much to object to; this is a positive, entertaining show that mirrors some of the real-life issues preschoolers face. It's worth noting that the show's creators intend it to be paired with other educational media such as online activities and books.
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Kids say
What's the story?
Six-year-old Emmy (voiced by Andrea Libman) and 4-year-old Max (Danny McKinnon) have discovered a way to magically transport themselves to Dragon Land using a dragon's scale. Anytime they want, these lucky kids can go see their colorful dragon friends Quetzal (Eli Gabay), Ord (Ty Olsson), Cassie (Chantal Strand), Zak (Jason Michas), and Wheezie (Kathleen Barr). They have many adventures in Dragon Land and meet all kinds of other creatures.
Is it any good?
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DRAGON TALES intends to positively impact a child's growth and development by encouraging a love of learning and helping children problem-solve and work through the challenges of growing up. The kids and dragons embark on different adventures and attend the School in the Sky, all while learning how to face their fears and handle new situations. The fun, nurturing, and sometimes challenging atmosphere of Dragon Land is a lot like preschool.
Episodes feature situations that preschoolers are likely to face themselves. In one show, Max was on his own in Dragon Land for the first time while his big sister was at camp. He missed her very much and wished she wasn't missing the fun, but then he got the idea to send her some pictures, which made him feel closer to her. This was a good episode for siblings facing being on their own for the first time. Other episodes have shown characters learning the importance of taking turns, coping with losing a beloved blanket, and believing in yourself when you lack confidence.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the situations Emmy and Max face in each episode. What would you do in their position? Which dragon is your favorite? Why? What would you want to do if you could go to Dragon Land?
TV details
| Cast: | Andrea Libman, Danny McKinnon, Kathleen Barr |
| Network: | PBS |
| Genre: | Educational |
| Topics: | Magic and fantasy, Book characters |
| TV rating: | TV-Y |
| Available on: | DVD, Streaming |
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Ok, but Ord is a whiner
My son directly picked up "It's too hard!" and "I can't!" from the whiny character Ord. We don't watch the show anymore.
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Great, childhood memories... (Ignore Landshark)
Why all the hate? Dragon Tales does not have bad animation, as some people say. It's just the style of animating and, if you can't handle it, butt off. Perhaps, people are a bit too demanding and spoiled, and expect some well-done, Avatar-quality show. Listen. What other people say doesn't matter. I think this is a grade A show and deserves more praise. If anything, it's much better than your annoying, fast-paced Yo Gabba Gabba. This show is much better than that. Much of the latest baby shows have lost their touch, and become dreadful and annoying. Dragon Tales, however, seems more viewer-friendly and actually tries to entertain the child. As a '90s kid, this show really grew on me, as did Teletubbies (believe it or not), Sagwa, Arthur, Sesame Street, Caillou, Between the Lions, Cyberchase, etc. Just to name a few of the shows I watched on PBS Kids. If you want a taste of the older PBS (not the newer, suckish one), I highly recommend this show.
What other families should know
Educational value
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