How do Cartoons influence Kids?

Written by Sarya Gulec

Cartoons play a key role in shaping children; they are a common form of entertainment in their daily lives and significantly impact them positively and negatively. They also help children's brains forge vital connections, increasing their creativity and imagination by finding new ideas and even creating different stories based on the cartoons they watch. In this article, cartoons’ either direct or interrelated impact will be discussed in a scientific basement.

Firstly, cartoons lead children to start learning at an early age. Especially, educational cartoons not only teach shapes, colors, and numbers, but also demonstrate different countries, cultures, and traditions, such as “Ramayana or Mahabharata” informing kids about Indian mythology, are highly asserted to trigger the learning process. Children are more attracted to cartoons than traditional learning methods because the scenes, audio, visual effects, and colors are well-written, causing them to absorb more information than the classes. 

Secondly, there is strong evidence that watching cartoons can help develop a child’s cognitive skills. Cartoons can help develop logic and reasoning, visual and auditory processing, and sustained and selective attention (3). In addition to cognitive development, kids who watch cartoons tend to have better language skills than others. Cartoons also teach kids how to think ahead. When they see how the characters overcome the problems they face, cartoons inspire them to find solutions to future problems.

Kids mostly watch cartoons for fun. Therefore, they are considered one of the best ways for kids to relieve stress. Probably, the biggest impact of cartoons on children is the power they have to release endorphins that are responsible for that ‘feel good’ state of mind(1). What they have seen in the cartoons may help them discover new passions they might have never discovered. As an example, they might see a sport they would like to try. Cartoons may cause stereotyping related to gender, race, or culture.

Unlike these beneficial properties, cartoons may have various negative effects on children. For example, the aggression shown in cartoons may cause violent behavior. Many cartoons include violence, such as a character repeatedly hitting another character’s head with a baseball bat. Being hit by a baseball bat would cause a lot of pain, which is not shown in the cartoon. This situation may cause children to lose their rationality about the consequences of their actions or feel anxious and scared. 

Sitting in front of the TV may cause several problems including obesity. Kids watching TV for more than 4 hours a day have a higher chance of being obese.  Also, TV might reduce social interaction between the kids which may cause lower self-confidence. Another negative impact is watching cartoons might negatively influence children’s attention span. 

Another problem caused by cartoons is the lack of real role models. Primarily, younger kids may not comprehend the difference between what is real and what is not, which can confuse them. It's also a very dangerous situation that, when they see a character doing dangerous things, such as jumping from one building to another and surviving, they may try to do it. Therefore, parents should pay attention to what their kids are watching or doing.

While cartoons have both positive and negative aspects, parents can take steps to ensure that their children benefit from them while minimizing risks. Here are a few ways to do that: 

Choose cartoons that are educational, age-appropriate, and free from excessive violence or negative stereotypes. Limit Screen Time: Set clear limits on how much time children spend watching cartoons each day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one hour of screen time per day for children aged 2 to 5 and consistent limits for older kids.

Instead of letting children passively watch cartoons, ask questions about the show to promote critical thinking. For example, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why did the character make that choice?” 

Encourage kids to play outside, engage in sports, or participate in creative activities like drawing or storytelling to balance their screen time. 

Teach children the difference between reality and fiction by explaining that actions in cartoons don’t always reflect real-world consequences. This allows parents to observe what their children are exposed to and discuss any concerning themes or behaviors portrayed in the show.

In conclusion, cartoons can have positive and educational effects but also negative and even dangerous ones. Parents should always keep an eye on what their child is watching and intervene if necessary.

References:

1. EuroKids. (2023, May 11). The positive and negative impact of cartoons characters on children: A balanced view. https://www.eurokidsindia.com/blog/impact-of-cartoons-characters-on-children.php

2. Ghilzai, S. A., & Alam, R. (2017, January). Impact of Cartoon Programs on Children's Language and Behavior. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323523698_Impact_of_Cartoon_Programs_on_Children%27s_Language_and_Behavior

3. Magdy, W. (2023, June 8). How cartoons affect children's behavior? Rowad Al Khaleej International Schools. https://www.rowad-alkhaleej.edu.sa/how-cartoons-affect-childrens-behavior/

4. Skariah, F., & Vj, D. (2022, May). Effect of cartoon viewing habits on developmental skills and attention span of preschool children. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360895576_Effect_of_cartoon_viewing_habits_on_developmental_skills_and_attention_span_of_preschool_children

5. Wijethilaka, T. S. (2020, October). Effect of cartoons on children. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345066689_Effect_of_cartoons_on_children