My boys (Will, 5 and Jed, 3) love Paw Patrol. Do you have kids like that?

Paw Patrol is an animated show about a boy named Ryder and his pups, each who have a unique skill set. This team, the Paw Patrol, responds to various “emergencies” that happen in Adventure Bay.

As I’ve watched this show a couple times with my boys on my lap, I’ve realized that in each episode there are five crucial life lessons hidden in plain sight.

OK, you may think I’m taking this cartoon a little too seriously, but these are lessons I’m not sure everyone is learning today. So, here we go…

1. RESPONSIVENESS

Every show opens with the pups having fun, but when they are called to respond to a need, they immediately respond with a positive sense of duty. Rather than not complaining, they are excited to help.

When needs arise, a lot of people today don’t always lean into responsiveness, defined as “the quality of reacting quickly and positively.” Rather, they lean into a sense of being inconvenienced. Paw Patrol helps me teach my boys that helping others is our obligation and our exciting privilege!

2. READINESS

After all the pups rush to Lookout Tower to get ready, Ryder fully explains to the whole team the need that has arisen. Then Ryder lays out the plan for how the Paw Patrol will respond and only a few of the pups are sent out to respond, even though all get ready.

This is key: They all are called for action, but only a few of the pups are called to action.

In our selfish day-in-age, too many people would see that as a waste of time for those pups who stay back. “Why make them get ready when they aren’t even sent out?”

Why? Because that’s what a team does! That’s being ready for action. That’s called being selfless. (There’s also another reason we’ll get to…)

3. RESILIENCE

Inevitably for the Paw Patrol, their first attempt at rescue falls short. But when the first plan fails, they don’t give up. They reassess the situation and try again.

This is a great life lesson in learning from failure. Failure doesn’t hold us back, it can aid us to better success – if we learn from it.

4. RESPONSIBILITY

When the first attempt at rescue fails, more of the Paw Patrol are put into action (another reason to always be ready!).

• Pride says, “Since I’m not on the starting team, I don’t want to play.” And too many parents say that for their kids.
• Humility says, “I’m part of the team and I’ll play my best whenever, if ever it’s my turn to play.”

This is important: In Paw Patrol, the pups see each crisis as equally their responsibility, even if an individual pup is not immediately called to action. In the midst of not being called first, they keep their sense of responsibility and they remain ready and willing.

We all need to learn and remember that.

5. RECREATION

Here’s the best part: They get to play when….the work is done! The Paw Patrol takes rest and recreation seriously – because they seriously have a great time in Adventure Bay after the work is completed!

In age-appropriate ways, I tell my boys that they get to play after their chores are done just like how Paw Patrol plays when their job is done. And believe me, me and my boys like to have some fun!

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Paw Patrol is designed for ages 2 – 5. These five lessons we talked about are all “big boy” lessons, but that doesn’t mean we don’t start training our young children while they are young and using what they love to teach them.  These are concepts they’ll grow to learn and appreciate.

Have fun watching Paw Patrol and blessings on your parenting.