How Animation Impacts on Children
In the modern world of entertainment, animation has a special stake in the hearts and minds of many lovers of this genre of entertainment. Through animation, life can be breathed into objects while animals and birds can be made to communicate effectively just like humans. Simply everything appears magical as things which can be imagined are given life.
I love animation and many times I usually watch animated films together with my 6 year old son. There is that aspect of creativity in animation that simply appalls me and attracts me to have a positive attitude towards animated shows or comedies. I think my son too shares the same perspective.
One day while watching the animated film of Captain America with my son, he questioned me if the hero of the film was indeed there during WWII. After much thought, I tried to relate the impact of the characters of the film in reflection with what happens in our lives. Indeed we need heroes in our lives: people whom we can look up to during times of tribulations. Someone who can inspire and mentor us in our lives. This is especially so for young children as they grow up. They need that person with whom they can relate with positively and who can tell them that any average person can aspire to be and eventually be great.
Watching Animation can Enhance Creativity
When such a young person like my son gets such an inspiration there are more chances that he will lead a positive life both academically and in other aspects of life. Children need to have good interactions with the world and understand what goes on in this immense planet and how to solve the issues that we face each day.
Getting back to the question that my son asked me, there is the issue of violence that I would object to have my son involved in. As I tried to find the best response for his query, I found that as much as we needed heroes in our lives for inspiration, they can negatively impact on a child whose is still developing by instilling the concept of violence in their lives.
Depending on the amount of time spent and the plot of the film that a child is being exposed to as well as the nature of the information being received, the social effects may vary from a child to another. I found that as much as I loved animation, there were some content that I needed to filter from my son: any content that promoted violence.
Too Much Exposure to Inappropriate Content Can Affect Young Kids
Also there is the concept of social interaction which I may presume that my son would cultivate, but what would happens if he spends more time glued to the screen as opposed to being with other kids of doing something else at other times. He will result to a life of loneliness and his social interaction skills will be low. This can affect him psychologically. There is need to regulate the time spent watching animation and replace that time with something else more creative.
In essence, as much as animation is valuable and a good way to spend some idle time, it is paramount that the exposure to some content on kids need be regulated. The orientation of a kid while he/she is developing usually determines his/her actions and behavioral pattern in future and it is the basis through which the actions and character display in the society thrives. We don’t want a society of violence or one in which people don’t care for each other.
