The Effects of Fast-Paced Cartoons
A few minutes of watching "SpongeBob SquarePants" appeared to have negative effects on executive function in 4-year-olds, researchers reported.
In a randomized controlled study, kids who watched the fast-paced cartoon about sea creatures for nine minutes did less well on tests of attention and cognition than those who spent the same amount of time drawing, according to Angeline Lillard, PhD, and Jennifer Peterson of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
They also did less well than children who watched a more realistic, slower-paced educational cartoon about a pre-school boy, Lillard and Peterson reported online in Pediatrics.
Dr. Petryk’s Thoughts: As a father of 5 children I can attest to the behavioral changes seen in my children when they are exposed to certain programming and I am sure that the vast majority of parents have too.
I believe that there is a simple answer. If you actually watch the program beforehand or with your child, you can make a decision as to whether the programming is “acceptable” or not. Don’t simply let the television (or video games) be a baby sitter. Even the baby sitter has influence on your children so why wouldn’t the programming they’re watching?
