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Paw Paws

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Kids will like magical bear tribe's adventures.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    There are no real pointed lessons here, but good always triumphs, and evil is occasionally chastened. The characters' costumes and customs have Native American connections -- which now suggest some dated stereotypes.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    These cuddly creatures are engaged in the eternal battle of good vs. evil -- or, in this case, nice vs. mean. They attack one another, but the methods are never deadly or even dangerous -- any injuries usually come from falling after a failed attempt at some kind of stunt. Grabbing, restraining, and abductions are common.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Once, you could buy Paw Paws figurines at the toy store -- now they go for big bucks on eBay.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Paw Paws

Parents need to know that although the Paw Paws look like adorable Care Bears in Native American dress, there's some violence in this cartoon that, although mild, could be scary for very young viewers. Characters fall from great heights, are grabbed by gigantic creatures, and call to one another in fear, and it can be difficult to tell the "good" Paw Paws from the "bad" ones. The bears' Native American trappings may strike some viewers as being dated and/or stereotypical today.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the show uses Native American/"tribal" costumes and images -- in this case, tomahawks and an all-important totem pole. Would a cartoon made today include these items? If it did, do you think they would be treated differently? Why? How do people's ideas of what stereotypes aren't OK change over time? What changes them?
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