Effects of Cartoon in Children
Literature Review
Following the introduction of entertainment, the television offers varieties of shows in which the entire family can enjoy. The television became the baby sitter for those children left by their parents to fulfill their work. During the orientation of child and the television, the attention of children is transferred and their eyes are entertained. One of the most popular shows is cartoons. At first glance, the cartoons are just picture, or rather moving pictures that aim to entertain the children and the young adults. The moving pictures are often contains the comical reactions and sometimes overzealous characters of which the parents finds a little stupid and annoying, but the children are still entertaining.
Because of the growing cartoon shows and the demand for the shows that delivers education and at the same time entertainment, the industry learns to shift their targets which are the children. Following the efforts of the successful cartoon shows, the marketing of children’s products became more focus in adopting the style of the cartoon characters (e.g. printing a cartoon character into the t-shirts and tumblers). Because of the popularity of the cartoon shows, the promotion of the products that features the cartoon became more effective. As an observed trend of the cartoon shows, there is a great influence that affects the children.
In present time, the children have become much more interested in cartoons and it has become a primary action to some lives. It is identified that television became a “member” of the family that affects the child even at a six months and by the age two or three children, typically as they begin to watch cartoons on television. The continuous effects can be carried until these children become enthusiastic viewers. However, the patronization of children becomes a problem, because too many children are watching too much television and the shows that they are watching (even if they are cartoons) have become violent and addictive. Based on the past studies in United States, stating that the marketing of cartoons has become overpowering and so has the subliminal messaging that it can even used as a franchise to attract the children customers. And because children watch the cartoons on the television, the parents are disturbed that they might see a material that is not appropriate for their age group (Choma, et. al, 2004). In the conclusion of the previous article, he directed that 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.
The most critical time that can be affected during the development of the children is their attention which can be observed in mealtime. Mealtime is a regular activity where it poses many opportunities for language learning and mealtime conversation skills. The previous study of Spohn, Timko, & Sainato (1999), they identified the children’s ability to initiate interesting dinnertime conversations at home. They stated that “conversational participation was apparently being maintained by natural consequences such as parental attention, increased interaction, and interesting new topics of discussion” (p. 601). During the conversation, there are chances that children carries the behavior of their favorite cartoon character, or telling stories about their favorite cartoon shows, and the worst is rushing in front of the television just to catch the cartoon shows which might affect their healthy diet and ignoring their meals.
There is also a recognized increase in risk pertaining to the child’s safety because of the portrayal of roles. They often see the cartoon characters jumping, diving, and falling from very high heights, then landing without being harmed. Parents seem to be happy with this as long as the cartoon doesn’t promote sex or any kind of violence. But still, these scenes might harm the children. At a young age, this false sense of reality can really affect them. It has been proving that children on average watch 4 hours or television a day. Children believe that when they grew p, they will be like the superheroes in the cartoons that are why they were encouraged to try things that they see their favorite super hero do. Even though the children are not witnessing any sexual activities or violence, the false realities among children are influenced their mind that can increase the risk for the children by just a simple jump that later lead to serious injuries (Choma, et. al., 2004).
References:
Choma, C.J., Hossler, S., Leu, R., Nelson, D., Ray, S., Wilcox, B., & Ybarra, B., (2004) Mental and Psychological Effects of Children’s Cartoons, Effects of Cartoons on Children [Online] Available at: http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103fall2004/gp9/ [Accessed 14 October 2010]
Spohn, J.R., Timko, T.C., & Sainato, D.M., (1999) Increasing the Social Interactions of Preschool Children with Disabilities during Mealtimes: The Effects of an Interactive Placemat Game, Education & Treatment of Children, 22(1)
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