Negative Effects Of Watching Violent Cartoons On Kids

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Written by Editorial Team

Editorial Team

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting..

Today’s children are exposed to violence every single day, be it in the home, on the streets, on the TV, in the newspaper, or in the movies. This is a kind of a malady of the modern world, unfortunately. Kids are generally engrossed by television cartoons, some of which do carry disturbing humor and violent actions and messages. Many of us parents end up making the kids sit glued to television sets so we can attend to some other things.But, we later worry about the negative effects of watching violent cartoons on kids.

Many children are very attached to violent cartoons. In fact, if you’d ask any kid, they will surely be able to tell you something about their favorite cartoon character- ranging from action heroes and supervillains to simple and innocent cartoon characters. However, children who watch too much of violence on TV are very likely to have emotional and behavioral problems, says a research.
violent cartoon

Children and Violent Cartoons

Many of us grew up watching “Tom and Jerry” and “The Road Runner” shows. These cartoons too had violent scenes, but not blood spluttering or chopping or destruction. Their violence was comedic. Compare the scenes of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, or “X-Men” – which are platforms for non-comedic violence and thus impacts children in a negative way. Any exposure towards violence, even in the so-presumed comical way, can have many negative psychological effects on a child. Ideally, a child’s world should be devoid of any trace of unrest. The modern world is uncivilized in many ways, and your child’s impressionable mind can easily take on the cues of aggressiveness and anxiety, perhaps smaller in measurement, but pretty significant. The impacts are more severe on boys, since they love to watch action and are hardwired to imbibe the same.

What are the Effects of Violent Cartoons on Children?

Many researches and studies have been conducted on the subject, and the negative effects of violent cartoons on children have been summarized as below-

1. Increased Aggression and Destructive Behavior

A child may become hyperactive and show aggression and may even start breaking toys or other things to express displeasure. Read here to know how to deal a hyperactive child.

2. They May Want to do it by Themself

By law, all such programs carry the statutory “Do not try this at home” warning, but many children, especially boys, seem to break into fights and play rough if they watch violent cartoons.

3. The Child May Feel it’s a Mean World Outside

Of course, when everyone wants to kill, lie, and steal, it is a mean world outside. Such an attitude can prove disastrous for your little one’s future.

4. Desensitization

Research proves that children who are exposed to violence become unsympathetic towards victims of violence and feel very little to no psychological need to respond when caught between violent acts of someone else. They become unsympathetic, silent spectators to violence.

5. Increase in Stubbornness

Many children exhibit painful stubbornness as a result of watching violence. They even begin to identify themselves with characters and start behaving like them. Read here to know how to deal a stubborn child.

violent cartoon for kids

What Should You Do as a Parent?

Parents have to be very cautious in helping the child adjust with the stress of survival from such an early age. Indeed, when a teenager shoots his enemies in a video game, or watches violent cartoons dealing with the theme of death, ‘survival’ is not an irrelevant term here! You may not be aware of it, but your young son or daughter may be dealing with a very dark depression phase all alone.

When Violent Cartoons Affect Children?

Here are a few instances when violent cartoon affects children:

Do not try to detach the child forcibly from the violent cartoons without addressing the inherent concern. The suppressed emotion will try to find another vent until you heal it lovingly. Talk to your child like a friend. The best way is to watch cartoons with your child. Ask about his or her favorite character. Study this character and you can have very deep insights into your child’s mind.
Do not assume that you know everything about the life of your young one. Earn the trust of your little one through love and care.
Do not panic that your child has a disorder if he/she shows signs of anger or stubbornness. It is definitely unadvisable to riddle young children with psychotropic mental drugs. If you are consulting a counselor, make sure the sessions are drug-free.
Completely avoid domestic violence. Mothers may have to take tough decisions because in most cases the quick temper of the father causes the problem. However, the mother also has to be careful in not channelizing her personal stress on the child.
Help your child to relax and be happy. Spend quality time with children. Take your child to vacations, watch good children’s movies together, create new things, and help with homework among other activities.
Wean your child effectively and gradually by introducing them to better forms of entertainment like crafts (MAD) or other educational programs.
Cut down on their TV hours. Remember, TV is not your babysitter.

violent kids cartoon

Violent Cartoons and Toddlers

Toddlers are very much impressionable and associate cartoon characters with idealism. They tend to retain the lessons the cartoon is implying. If the lesson is moral, education of a toddler becomes easier, but if the cartoon displays emotions of violence, the same will be reflected in the toddler’s behavior as well. There is a good chance that a tot who watches anger and violence on TV can take aggressive behavior as normal and will certainly impact tehir personal behavior.

Child Abuse

Another very grim fact must be taken into attention. Very sadly, child abuse is common nowadays. Many children have to bear the burdens of an intense nightmare at very young ages. Trying to find a vent to all these unknown emotions, the helpless young ones attach to the world of violent video games and cartoons. None of these is desirable for the flag bearers of the future!

But I Spend So Much On My Child!

The amount of money you spend on your child does not matter at all. You can hire the best tutors with a lot of money and admit them to a good school. However, as long as you spend personal quality time, none of these expenditures matter. Your child is never an investment issue! Get money out of your head when you interact with a child.

As parents it becomes our duty to set a good example for our kids. They learn from what they see, so lets also avoid watching TV and help our kids develop healthy habits.

Editorial Team,

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.

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