✦ Discern the Spirit ✦
GODLY SCORE
HomeGuidesIs Dinosaur Train Appropriate for Christians?

Is Dinosaur Train Appropriate for Christians?

Dinosaur Train is a PBS Kids animated series about a young Tyrannosaurus Rex named Buddy who travels with his adoptive Pteranodon family on a time-traveling train to meet dinosaurs from different prehistoric periods. It is educational, gentle, and entirely family-appropriate with one significant content consideration for Christian families.

72
GODLY
Dinosaur Train
Spiritually Safe
3.6/5 · GodlyScore 72/100
Dinosaur Train is well-made, educational, and content-appropriate for young children — friendly dinosaur characters, gentle storytelling, no violence or dark themes. The consideration for Christian families: the show teaches evolutionary science as established fact, including deep time (millions of years), natural selection, and species evolution. This is the standard secular scientific framework. Christian parents who hold to young-earth creationism will want to discuss the creation perspective alongside the show's science. 72/100 Spiritually Safe.
View Full Score →

What Dinosaur Train Teaches

Dinosaur Train is a Jim Henson Company production that combines paleontology education with warm family storytelling. Buddy the T-Rex is adopted by a Pteranodon family and uses a time-traveling train to meet different dinosaur species across the Mesozoic era. Each episode ends with actual paleontologist Dr. Scott Sampson presenting real fossil facts about that episode's dinosaur. The educational content is genuine and accurate within the mainstream scientific framework.

The PBS Kids Dinosaur Train is appropriate for ages 3-7. The family dynamics — Buddy being adopted and loved as part of a family despite being a different species — model beautiful themes of belonging, adoption, and love across difference that Christian families can affirm.

The Evolution Content

The show teaches evolutionary science as established fact, including: species changing over millions of years, natural selection, and the deep time framework of dinosaurs living 65+ million years ago. This is the mainstream scientific consensus and is presented straightforwardly as fact. Christian families who hold to young-earth creationism (6,000-10,000 year earth) will encounter content that contradicts that view.

The practical response: many Christian families watch Dinosaur Train while discussing the creation perspective alongside it. "Dinosaur Train shows what scientists who don't believe the Bible think happened — let's talk about what the Bible says about how God created." The show's character and relational content is genuinely positive regardless of the origins question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dinosaur Train appropriate for Christians?
72/100 Spiritually Safe. Excellent children's show — gentle, educational, warm family dynamics. The significant note: teaches evolution and deep time as established fact throughout. Christian families who hold to young-earth creationism will want to discuss creation alongside the show's science content. Otherwise, no content concerns — beautiful adoption/belonging themes, no violence or dark material. Appropriate ages 3-7 with parental discussion of origins.
Does Dinosaur Train teach evolution?
Yes — evolution is central to the show's scientific content. The show teaches species change over millions of years, natural selection, and the deep time framework as established fact. This is the mainstream scientific consensus. Christian families have different responses: some watch it and discuss the creation perspective alongside it; others prefer shows that don't center evolutionary science (like Elinor Wonders Why or Wild Kratts).
Further Reading
Is Wild Kratts Appropriate for Christians?Is Elinor Wonders Why Appropriate for Christians?PBS Kids: Dinosaur TrainChristian Shows Safe for KidsIs Wild Kratts Appropriate for Christians?Is Elinor Wonders Why Appropriate for Christians?Is Octonauts Appropriate for Christians?Is Bluey Appropriate for Christian Families?
Using GodlyScore for church, youth group, or sermon prep?For Churches →
Share this guide
𝕏 PostFacebook
Get More Details on GodlyScore.com

Rate any movie, show, song, or channel for spiritual alignment.

Visit GodlyScore.com →