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Cartoons and Their Influence on Children

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lapoissonne

And just wait for the day that Hannah asks to go to Disney World Christmas time is the worst because Nick Jr is the only one that was showing Backyardigans, Dora and The Wonder Pets during a time that my kids like to watch cartoons (breakfast time!) and it was one horrible product after another that they asked for! At least I don't have to worry about the Bratz dolls during that hour. If I can keep them to Curious George and a video here and there they are happy. It's amazing to see how my kids actually learn and take from their shows when I had a childhood of watching Smurfs, Snorks and My Little Pony videos.

baseballmama

I feel very fortunate that we live in an age where there actually is such a thing as quality children's tv programs. I know that sounds like a contradiction in terms, but let me tell you that Spencer has learned so much from Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse. We are always getting comments from his teachers at school about how he's surprised them with something he knows and 9 times out of 10 he learned it from tv. Now don't get me wrong - I'm not suggesting that tv is a substitute for reading or imaginary play, but I do believe that quality cartoons (like the Disney channel) have some very positive aspects.

The DH

I definitely agree with you to a point. There are some TV programs that are really good. Dora the Explorer comes to mind as a great example of a cartoon that does a great job of both entertaining and teaching. I'm never going to forget asking my daughter what the animal was on her computer screeen, expecting her to say "snake", and getting the response "that's an emerald tree boa, Daddy!".

But not all programming is good - even on the Disney channel. The ones cartoon that really get to me (not Disney) are Barbie. The snotty characters outnumber the well mannered characters 5 to 1 and there is just such a barrage of the characters not being nice to each other. The 3 minute ending where they start being nice doesn't make up for the entire rest of the program where kids are inundated with examples of poor behavior.

Another common theme that I find disturbing - yet I'm drawing a blank for a really good example - is cartoon characters explicitly disobeying their parents or other authority figures.

I know the article is a bit "negative nancy", and there are some quality programs out there, but the cartoons that are really good influences are vastly outnumbered by one's that range between only partially good to downright bad. Of course, that's just my opinion. I have been right about at least two things over the course of my marriage, though .

Mcheer

hey Jaye what about Spencers new fave Dora... do you still let him watch her?

lapoissonne

Dora taught my DD more Spanish then I could have ever taught her...

baseballmama

We have nixed Dora at our house. Fortunately that was a short fad.

And yes DH - I will sadly admit that not even everything on the Disney channel is good. Lilo & Stitch drives me up the wall because Lilo is always disobeying her sister and then never gets in trouble for it! And the Doodlebops - they're just plain creepy! Fortunately, Spencer only wants to watch Wiggles, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and Handy Manny - all good programs IMO.

lapoissonne

He's just bitter that Rolie Polie Olie isn't on anymore. They were a happy loving little family.

What is with the afternoon programming? The Proud Family and some of those shows are just awful.