Children have become much more
interested in cartoons over many years and it has become a primary action to
some lives. Typically, children begin watching cartoons on television at an
early age of six months, and by the age two or three children become
enthusiastic viewers. This has become a problem because too many children are
watching too much television and the shows that they are watching cartoons have
become violent and addictive. The Children who watch too much cartoons on
television are more likely to have mental and emotional problems, along with
brain and eye injuries and unexpectedly the risk of a physical problem
increases.
According to a report titled "The Effects of Cartoon Characters as Motivators of
Preschool Disadvantaged Children," cartoon characters stimulate interpersonal
behavior, learning and social growth. Children associate with cartoon characters
more readily than adults in many cases and tend to retain the lessons imparted
more readily. If a cartoon character conveys an educational or moral lesson,
then it can help speed up the learning process in children.
Many cartoons depict scenes of violence or danger, yet whitewash the effects of
that violence. For instance, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle may beat up a bad guy
in one scene, only to see that bad guy appear unharmed in the next scene.
Without proper lessons to counterbalance those effects, children may grow up
aggressive and eager to engage in violence -- unaware that the real world
contains far more consequences than what a TV show depicts.· Because children
identify readily with cartoon characters, such characters can be positive role
models that encourage good moral behavior. Superman, for example, is honest and
brave, constantly standing up for the rights of others. The characters in the
"Toy Story" movies move heaven and earth for their friends, while Jimmy Neutron
demonstrates the value of studying and intelligence. Even Popeye, who lives in a
world where violence solves problems, can encourage children to eat their
spinach.
Children who spend inordinate amounts of time in front of the television don't
always get as much exercise as they should and thus are more likely to be
overweight. Furthermore, reports from Bowling Green State University cite a
detrimental effect on the brains of children who watch too many cartoons,
including children developing attention deficit disorder and, in one infamous
case of the "Pokemon" show in Japan, seizures. Regardless of the effects,
children must have a balanced lifestyle that includes exercise and outdoor
activity.