My stepson was watching Saturday morning cartoons one morning and I was appalled to overhear the cartoon family discussing how babies are brought into the world. As a behavioral health specialist, my ears immediately perked up. As I listened, I was relieved to realize that most of what was said was over my stepson's head and level of understanding. Still, who gave the media the right to discuss adult topics of conversation with children? (By the way, the TV was turned off!).

The more I monitored my stepson's viewing habits, the more concerned I became. Not only are children on sitcoms, commercials, and cartoons, given adult conversations, responsibilities, dialect, and roles, but they are portrayed as being rude and lacking respect for elders, irresponsible for their actions, and a bit too precocious for my tastes.                                                            

The entertainment industry has maintained a stance that there is no link between media and children's behavior. The entertainment industry also, by the way, donates heavily to many political parties; I am not convinced that their studies are entirely non-biased and that they are the most qualified personnel to make such a decision.  

Instead, let us use some common sense and review what leading child development experts have proven through clinical research for nearly a century. Children learn through modeling others in their world and through social interactions with others. To illustrate this point, consider a two-year-old who clumsily puts on daddy's shoes and hat and announces he is going off to work. In addition, how about the three-year-old cooking up a make-believe meal with toy pots and pans? Children learn by watching and interacting with others.

Common sense then tells me that if a child watches 25 acts of violence in an hour s/he will learn acts of violence. If a child spends 20-25 hours a week TV sitcom role models with less than admirable behavior, they will learn these behaviors. In case you have not noticed, many of the leading advertisement campaigns portray the young child as "in charge" of "incompetent" parents. In one commercial, a mother does not take the time to eat properly so the young child must monitor, and provide, nourishing meals for her. In another, the father is incompetent and his two sons must make important life decisions for him while he meekly and humbly abides. Think of the message these commercials are giving our kids!

Furthermore, current brain research studies show that while a child's brain is very active when riding bikes or playing outside, the brain is quite inactive while watching television. Over time, the brain actually becomes "trained" to take a passive role in learning. Author's online class on behavior.

Cartoons and many of what are considered "wholesome" children programming are actually detrimental to brain development. One of the most popular children's programs changes images or scenes on an average of every 7 seconds, training the child's brain to not only be a passive learner, but to expect constant stimulus. It is no wonder these children have difficulty sitting still and paying attention to a "boring" teacher once they enter school.