In a recent study highlighted in USA Today, the popular children’s cartoon SpongeBob was blamed for causing attention and learning problems in a test group of four year olds.
The study revealed that after watching just 9 minutes of the program, children had difficulty focusing as compared to a slower paced, more age-appropriate program.
While this study is a helpful reminder that parents should be vigilant about the shows their children watch, and how long they are exposed, I cannot help but question why this is news-worthy.
Is this really a surprise?
For me, the revelation was somewhat ironic, as it was perfectly timed with a devious move on my 7-year-old son’s part.
Personally, I have never been a fan of SpongeBob. Like many cartoons on now, it always seemed a bit irreverent and downright pointless. I was more of a fan of those programs that were reminiscent of my own childhood such as the Berenstain Bears and Little Bear. Nonetheless, I am not guiltless in allowing the occasional viewing.
On this particular occasion, my son could be accused of a double infraction. Just that week, in honor of the start of school, I had instituted a "no television during the week" rule. This was in direct response to the very revelations cited in the study.
My son, in particular, transforms into a zombie when plopped in front of the television, unable to extract himself and often unresponsive to my calls. This is especially a problem in the morning, when the race to get to school in time is most poignant, and later, in the evening, when his sister has to do her homework and he is supposed to be helping with dinner.
For a month this summer, we had no cable and very little opportunity to watch television. Within days, the change in both my kids was miraculous. They both seemed less agitated, more industrious and less “bored”—a real pet peeve of mine. This further motivated my new school year edict.
However, the first weekend after school started, my son had a sleepover with his grandmother. While allowed weekend television viewing, he knew that I favored certain programs over others. When I arrived to pick him up Saturday morning, I found him cuddled in his grandmother’s bed, a tray of breakfast in front of him, and a second segment of SpongeBob flickering on the television. At first glance, this was certainly the height of decadence for a 7-year-old boy. However, it also represented the antithesis of my anti-television campaign.
Once again, it took much cajoling to pry him away from this lair, proving the addictive power of television and the enticing, fast-paced action of SpongeBob. If I were to re-do such a study, I would encourage the “experts” to instead focus their energies on promoting non-television alternatives because, really, SpongeBob is just one program in a litany of harmful shows.
As the article suggests, it also matters what the kids watch, not just how much. Be it sass-promoting Disney shows like Hannah Montana, the boy-crazy segments of I-Carly or senseless cartoons like Phineas and Ferb —doesn’t it all reveal a need to discourage so much television and offer something else to entertain our children?
