Typically, children begin watching cartoons at an early age of six months, on getting to two or three, they become enthusiastic viewers, and practicalize whatever they watch on their TV screen, both bad and good. Here is the need for guidance. – Impact of cartoons on children’s behavior.
Cartoons directly make an impact on children’s minds and nature, thereby affecting them both positively and negatively.
it’s very imperative for you as parent or guidance to take proper consideration of which cartoon your ward(s) could watch.
Why do children love to watch cartoons?
Out of their curiosity to learn, children spend time to obtain information. According to studies, they begin to take short-term interest in television from infant which could later impact their psychological state. They believe it to be real, because they are unable to differentiate between fantasy and reality.
Negative Effects of Cartoons on Children
According to AACAP(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
Children who view shows in which violence is very realistic, frequently repeated or unpunished are more likely to imitate what they see.
Effects on the brain and eyes
- The child’s brain and eyes are usually affected by the speed of the images affects. They can also have seizures which is a general term that refers to a sudden malfunction in the brain that causes someone to collapse, convulse, or hace another tempo.
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- Children who watch violence in cartoon show tend to become less sensitive to pain and sufferings of others; and this makes them to use harmful actions towards others because they never care.
Other Effects on Health
They fail to do much exercise as they should while spending inordinate amounts of time in front of the television, thus, are more likely to be overweight.
According to reports from Bowling Green State University, a detrimental effect on the brains of children who watch too many cartoons was sighted i.e. developing attention deficit disorder.
Positive Effects of Cartoons on Children
Children’s Literacy and Learning
Cartoons are being identified as a possible tool that may be employed to promote child literacy. It promotes learning, being a good substitute to books which they couldn’t find interesting or funny. So, millions of message can easily be captured by watching and that they tend to retain the lessons imparted more readily. For example, cartoons like ‘Barney’ can be used to stop some toddler from crying whereas ‘Blues Clues’ can be employed for some brain activities, thus making children learning shapes or identify colours etc.
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It enhances their talents
At their age, children are in learning stage. And this makes them to dance, sing and do other things being performed in the cartoon show.