Abstract:
One activity that children enjoy doing is watching
television, especially cartoon shows that are made
especially for them. These shows contain moral values and
educational insights that can be beneficial for the
children. However, we cannot deny that there are some
cartoon programs that contain aggressive acts that can
somehow affect the child negatively. In short, what
these programs exhibit can and will influence the child's
behavioral and cognitive development.
This study, tackled not only the positive and
negative effects of cartoon programs on children but
focused more on how socio-demographic factors, level of
intelligence, personality type, presence of siblings and
parental supervision can influence pre-school children in
watching violent and/or non-violent type of cartoon shows.
Survey questionnaires and interviews were conducted with
one hundred eighty male and female pre-school children of
Twinkle Toes Pre-school in Project 2, Quezon City using
non-purposive type of sampling.
Some parents were also asked about the positive and
negative effects of cartoons to the young televiewers and
their awareness on the presence of violence on television
cartoons.
The findings show that the respondents watch violent
type of cartoon show for two hours everyday. They like to
watch cartoons because it possess beautiful pictures,
colors and cartoon characters. It was also reported that
many of them watch alone and others with the company of
their siblings. Most often, those with company watch
cartoons selected by an older sibling.
On the part of the parents, they think that cartoons
are a source of entertainment but it is also a venue
for violence which in turn will not be beneficial with
their children. With the presence of violent acts on
television shows, they think that proper discipline
should be imposed when watching.
Age and personality turned out to be the significant
factors that could be associated with the type of cartoons
watched.
