Children's lives can be tough, but in general, they are usually less tough, more protected, more interesting, and even, more than adult lives. Happy, healthy children are, if anything, more likely to be captivated by the world of fantasy says, Gwen Dewar, Ph.D.
Engaging with fantasy can stimulate creativity and boost vocabulary. It may help children develop better self-regulation skills. It might even enhance their working memory performance. In fact, according to Neuroscience News, cognitive science suggests that children may love fantasy not because they can't appreciate the truth or because their lives are difficult, but for precisely the opposite reason.
Children may have such an affinity for the imaginary just because they are so single-mindedly devoted to finding the truth, and because their lives are protected in order to allow them to do so.
Dragons in particular are a popular part of the fantasy world. They are known for flying and being able to spit fire. However, many movies don't portray them as something to be afraid of, more like kind companions of humans who use their power and magic to help save the day. It's easy to see why children love them so much.
10 Shrek
The Shrek Franchise features multiple characters. Among them, the dragon, known as Dragon. She is a red dragon with green eyes. She starts as an antagonist in charge of keeping Princess Fiona in her castle, but later reforms and helps Shrek. She is also in love with Donkey, [her future husband] and the only Dragon in the Shrek franchise.
9 Raya & The Last Dragon
Long ago, in the world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned, and it's up to a lone warrior to track down the last dragon and stop the Druun for good.
8 Dragon Rider
Firedrake is a young silver dragon, who has had enough of constantly having to hide in a wooded valley. He wants to show the older generations of dragons that he is a real dragon. When humans are about to destroy his family's very last refuge, Firedrake secretly sets off on an adventurous journey with forest brownie, Sorrel. He wants to find the "Rim of Heaven", the dragons' mysterious haven.
7 Maleficent
When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king's successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora -- realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.
6 Zog
Zog is an accident-prone dragon who is desperate to impress his teacher at Dragon School while becoming friends with a powerful princess.
5 Pete's Dragon
The 1977 Disney musical "Pete's Dragon" combines animation with live-action. Pete, an orphan on the run from his abusive adoptive family, is joined by his only friend Elliott, a green dragon. The two are taken in by a kind lighthouse keeper and her father, but Pete's adoptive parents are in pursuit, and a corrupt doctor wants Elliott for medicinal purposes.
Common Sense Media says the film has a "number of positive takeaways" including a good story that contains "a certain sweetness" with a good message "about finding love and security in a crazy world."
4 The Ice Princess
A young dragon looking for his own fire must fight against an evil wizard with the help of the beautiful ice princess, Lilli.
3 Room On The Broom
To the annoyance of her cat, a kind witch allows a dog, a bird, and a frog who have helped her retrieve things she has lost to ride on her broomstick, making it top-heavy. The broom is destroyed by a fire-breathing dragon who threatens to eat the witch but the creatures band together to impersonate a monster and save her. As a result, she fashions a luxurious new broom with seats on which they can all ride comfortably.
2 The Dragon Spell
A young boy, a wannabe wizard, and a feral wild child embark on a quest to save the world of humans and the world of magic.
1 How To Train Your Dragon
Hiccup, a clumsy Viking, is determined to join the fight against the dragons that invade his village. He creates a device that brings down a dragon but instead of killing the injured dragon, the two work to end the feud.
MovieGuide.org calls the film "funny, entertaining, exciting and heart-warming family fun" with a "hero who is constantly willing to sacrifice for others."
Sources: Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., Neuroscience News, Shrek franchise., MovieGuide.org, Common Sense Media