Healthy Watching Habits

Healthy Watching Habits

By 

Sadia Wali

Saturday morning breakfast is always fascinating for me. Spending quality time with my nephews is the most precious moment I relish. We have fun together; they talk about their school activities and develop creative stories based on their favorite cartoon characters. This weekend they insisted that I should watch Curious George with them. Out of sheer curiosity, I asked them if it resembles spider man or batman. They were amazed at my ignorance and said it is the story of a curious monkey who likes adventures. Curious George is an animated series based on the popular children's books by H. A. Rey and Margret. The books have been adapted into several television series and films.  

I learnt that George the curious monkey was brought from his home in Africa by "The Man with The Yellow Hat" as his best friend to live with him in a giant city. Different episodes of their expeditions are fascinating and captivating for young kids.  According to my nephews, the interesting episodes of George are: George and Steve Stumble Across a Mysterious Egg at the Lake. George tried to retrieve Mr. Quint boat keys and ‘Curious George Sees the Light’

Enjoying the delicious breakfast of Anda Paratha with tea, we began to watch George’s mission with the light’.

Watching cartoons is one of the daily habits for our children; studies have proven that an average child with a facility of a TV and a satellite connection at his home watches approximately 18,000 hours of television from kindergarten to high school graduation. How does this experience affect our children minds? Does it have positive or negative effects? Mostly, parents think excessive watching TV or internet adversely affects mind and mood of growing kids. Consequently, they restrict their children towards watching TV or computer.

According to experts,

“Whatever children learn while watching cartoons, they tend to act out thereby influencing their mode of socializing with other children and with the world in general”. Baran and Davis (2009, p. 217).

“Children who watch educational programming are more likely have higher grades, read more books, place greater value on achievement, and show more creativity”. (Diehl and Toelle, 2011, p. 3) [5] .

I, being a writer, feel that children should have exposure of watching cartoons, films and documentaries that boost up their knowledge and skills. In my childhood there were not many programmes for children on TV, so I grew up listening to popular cassette kahani such as Alif Laila, Podna Podni, Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladin and the Forty Thieves, Tarzan. I was so fascinated by these characters that I began to write my own short stories at the age of 12. Later my writing became matured as I got more opportunity to watch different educational and recreational programs on electronic media and internet.

To make cartoons a healthy entertainment and effective source of learning for children, I personally feel that parents should pay more attention to the selected cartoons their children are watching. They should watch the cartoon or film with them, look over the content and language used in cartoons or films and discuss the characters of cartoons with children. This way they will not only keep their kids away from violence but also direct them to different activities.

Parents should not prohibit children from totally watching TV or cartoons on computer, rather they should encourage them to watch TV or computer for around one to two hours daily. Documentaries on National Geographic Channel, educational programs or animated cartoons enhance learning process and creativity. Preschoolers can get help learning the alphabet on programmes like Sesame Street.

As I mentioned above that my nephews watch popular cartoons and animated films. They also watch Pakistani 3D computer-animated family films such as 3 Bahadur: The Revenge of Baba Balaam, Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor  and New Dettol Warrior that have enhanced their knowledge and have helped boost up their creativity and imaginative skills. 

Parents should take care that children do not watch anything that is not recommended for their age. They should check the PG rating before allowing them to watch programmes on TV and internet.

 Let's protect our children from the negative impact of the media! Because healthy children mean a healthy future!