I found a really interesting research study called the "Spongebob Study". This study evaluated preschoolers' attention spans after watching "Spongebob Square Pants" for several minutes. The study did showed that after watching even just a portion of the show the children had "that the immediate effects of viewing very fast-paced programming could
potentially affect how children learn, a conclusion consistent with
other research showing a long-term effect of television viewing during
early childhood and later attention problems and academic outcomes" (
Kyle Snow, Ph.D., n.d.). The study consisted of 60 children, all Caucasian from middle class families. The kids were randomly assigned to three different groups, one group watched "Spongebob", another "Caillou", or draw with crayons and markers (
Kyle Snow, Ph.D., n.d.).
I really liked this study because of the reflection parents and educational professionals engage in. Children's cartoons and t.v. shows today always make me feel uneasy in the sense that it just goes too fast, nothing is developed (in regards to a child's idea of "plot"), and most of the shows are plain ridiculous. It also reminds us adults to monitor what children watch and take the time to watch the shows with them and to talk about the content afterwards.
Resource
Snow, Ph. D, Kyle. (n.d.). Research news you can use: Dissecting the "Spongebob Study".
Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/content/research-review-dissecting-%E2%80
%9Cspongebob-study%E2%80%9D.
1 comment:
Amber:
I completely agree with your ending statements. I refuse to allow my son to watch any tv shows that have no educational value, most definitely not Spongebob... But I also found myself limiting is access to shows like Calliou also, because he seems to not reflect the same values I want my son to have towards me as his parent. Like you stated it is our job as parents to monitor what our children are viewing or have access to and to ensure we provide the best environment(s) for them. I also wanted to mention the Elmo Effect research project: where children are so use to seeing characters on tv, but when viewed in person children have no clue who this life size creature is. It seemed funny at first, but after experiencing it first hand I realized it's terrorifing effects.
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