Spell out the word CARTOON, and often, a child’s face breaks out into a huge grin. Cartoons are close to the hearts of most children. Look back, and you will notice how specific cartoon characters may change, but cartoons as a genre have enthralled children for generations. Typically, parents, however, look at cartoons only as a means of entertainment. They are also often worried (rightly so) about the child’s screen time. The fact, however, is that cartoons also offer several advantages and play an essential part in the child’s development. While this area is often overlooked, let us delve into the several benefits that they offer.
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Advantages of Watching Cartoons
1. Educational aspects
Chosen correctly, cartoons can often teach children important concepts and aid their learning. From covering elements of history to marvels of science, cartoons offer knowledge points. Speak to your child, and you will be surprised to know how much they know about the solar system or about volcanoes and earthquakes. Probe more profoundly, and you will be even more surprised to learn that this knowledge source is the cartoon they have been watching. This does not, however, mean that all cartoons are educational. You certainly need to choose cartoons carefully. When done right, they can introduce the child to several concepts, including but not limited to the marvels of science.
2. Giving wings to their imagination
Kids’ cartoons, with their engaging stories, colourful animations, and more, transport the child to magical lands. What they effectively do is to give their imagination free rein. It also allows them to feel a sense of wonder and expose them to endless possibilities. Witnessing such magical stories also helps children develop their own imagination and helps them grow with the worldview that life has tremendous opportunities to offer.
3. Communication Skills
Have you ever heard your child talk and wondered how a particular word got added to their vocabulary? Yes, you guessed it right—from a certain cartoon show. Children learn new words, their usage, sentence structure, and more from cartoons as they hear several characters interact. While we rue their reading habits (rightly so), cartoons also introduce children to the rich world of language.
4. Emotional intelligence
Which parent does not want their child to develop emotional intelligence? These are bedrocks of character development and enable a child to have a positive relationship with themselves as well as others. Once again, the storyline presented in cartoons where characters are seen helping each other emphasizes empathy and emotional resilience. Children also empathize with the emotions of the characters that they see. In turn, it helps them connect with their feelings and those of others. Children can make sense of their own emotions while in a comfortable environment and also process their feelings.
5. Ethical Choices
When chosen correctly, cartoons often depict moral dilemmas, and the child witnesses the character making ethical decisions. These are valuable life lessons for children as they help them navigate dilemmas and choices and eventually make positive decisions. You never know which incident in a particular show helps them make an ethical decision in their own lives!
6. Problem-Solving
Critical thinking and problem-solving are among children’s most essential life skills to develop. We live in a VUCA world where everything is changing as we speak. In times such as these, it is important that children develop the faculty where they can think clearly, evaluate alternatives, and make the right decisions. Once again, the storylines of children’s cartoons often present age-appropriate challenges that the children can learn from. In fact, watching these cartoons with them could offer you some coachable moments where you can discuss several of these issues without sounding preachy.
7. Celebrating Diversity
We live in highly polarized times where people are divided on various lines. Teaching inclusion and diversity to children is, therefore, extremely important. While watching cartoons, children witness cultural diversity and inclusion. They are exposed to various cultures, customs, and worldviews that help their development. Children also learn how to respect differences instead of believing that their point of view is the only valid one. In this sense, it would not be an exaggeration to say that cartoons, in a sense, act as windows to the world for these young, developing minds. These are small stepping stones to build a robust worldview and become global citizens.
8. Role Models
With the best kids’ cartoons featuring characters with the strength of purpose and embody specific positive values, they often offer the children essential role models. These are characters who display bravery, kindness, empathy, intelligence, and more. Children also usually learn their first few lessons from these cartoons about teamwork, integrity, and more. Once they develop a sense of moral compass, they can navigate their way in the world far more quickly.
All the above does not mean that all cartoons offer these lessons or that children should be left to spend countless hours watching them. As in life, everything must be done in moderation. The above only reminds that cartoons should not necessarily be equated with mindless entertainment and can also help develop the child’s character and worldview. Next time, we should choose to watch a cartoon together and enjoy not just the enthralling world that opens but also a strong sense of bonding with the child.
For more such informative content, stay tuned to this space. At Pragyanam, one of the best CBSE schools in Gurgaon, we work towards the holistic development of our students. An essential aspect of our curriculum is also to teach our students essential life skills that go a long way in helping them navigate the ups and downs of life with ease. For more details on the school’s ethos and philosophy, and details related to school admission, please feel free to explore our website.
