Whenever we think of the cartoon, the first impression that comes to our mind is children who are innocent, playful, happy and are darling to parents. We all are aware that animations are simply loved by children and they are great sources of entertainment to them.
Earlier, a child used to spend time by playing outdoor games in groups or reading story books. But now those days are replaced and children are found glued to TV watching animation for long hours, mostly without the supervision of their parents who still find animations to be cute and colorful.
With the extension of cartoon channels, youngsters often find it more convenient to watch their favorite ones on a single click. Who can forget watching Looney Tunes or Dora the Explorer on mornings? But with years, things have changed a lot and cartoons too have drastically changed. Today, children begin to watch animations from an early age of six months and by the time they are three, they become more addicted to the shows. Parents often express satisfaction with the educational benefits of watching TV. Yes, it is true that these little spectators can become creative and their imagination is enhanced. But, this tremendous impact on children is not always positive.
The effects of cartoon on child psychology and behavior
Aggression: A research study conducted by The American Academy of Pediatrics has revealed that children who see animations, in which violence is frequent and realistic, tend to imitate what they see in their life. If a child views his favorite character hitting and beating the bad person, he too will pick the behavior as the show does not reveal the consequences for such behavior, but in a sense tries to glorify violence.
Role models: Most children identify the cartoon characters as real and their favorite character often becomes their role model. Characters like Spiderman or Superman are brave and honest. But many kids while trying to act like a Superman cause great harm to themselves. Kids should be made to realize the fact that these fantasy characters have no real identity and that they should imitate them.
Health concerns: On an average, a child watches about 32 acts of violence per hour on TV and this number has in fact skyrocketed in the past few years. Young people who spend a long time before the TV are likely to be overweight as they are not involved in any physical activities. Many animated shows can also have a detrimental effect on the brains of the children and they can suffer from increased anxiety, nightmares, and antisocial behavior. So, to help them spend their time in a more productive manner, search the net for downloadable coloring pages and bring bits of joy into a dull and boring day.
Summary
The effects of cartoon shows can be made positive with a little effort from the elders. They should be alert and allow only selective cartoons to be watched by their kids and make them understand the stark difference between reality and the fantasy world.
