Is it wrong to let children watch SpongeBob?

[Fatally.Yours]

Well, actually Spongebob was originally an adult's show broadcast on Comedy Central.
Me and my little brother both watched it and we turned out ok, Spongebob didn't prevent me from getting into college.

 

[tracey697]

Don't like the cartoon.

 

[Crujir]

Yay! Slappy~!
Serious...so much ADD inducing goodness in those shows.

Aaah... Classic childhood memories.

 

[keith99]

I read the article; it said spongebob is just too face-paced for kids. And they did the testing on 4 y/os, when the show is meant for 6-11 y/os.

But, why are things that are fast-paced "bad"? Is it bc kids' brains can't process all of it effectively?

My inclination is to believe that perhaps shows that are slow-paced don't challenge kids' processing abilities enough.

Exactly.

I said it before I'll say it again more clearly.

Perhaps the show is stuimulating or (God forbid) actually interesting. A kid who has just finished watching the show might just be stimulated and thinking about the great show they just watched, as opposed to the boring test they are now taking.

This is excellent evidence that watching Spongebob just before or during a test is a bad idea.

It does not show that watching it after school is bad, it could even be good.

The issue is surely raised that this study might bave been intentionally designed to find a reason to claim PBS shows are better for kids. The exact opposite may well be true.

 

[Crujir]

Exactly.

I said it before I'll say it again more clearly.

Perhaps the show is stuimulating or (God forbid) actually interesting. A kid who has just finished watching the show might just be stimulated and thinking about the great show they just watched, as opposed to the boring test they are now taking.

This is excellent evidence that watching Spongebob just before or during a test is a bad idea.

It does not show that watching it after school is bad, it could even be good.

The issue is surely raised that this study might bave been intentionally designed to find a reason to claim PBS shows are better for kids. The exact opposite may well be true.

I see where you're coming from there; a show like that has a lot of energy, gets a child energized, and can easily create mental distractions when there is something important to focus on. I don't think that the cartoon is bad in and of itself, though. My wife hates it though because she thinks it's annoying lol

 

[m9lc]

Pretty much what other people in the thread have already said. This study only demonstrates that you don't want your kid taking a test directly after watching Spongebob. It has absolutely no implications as to the long-term learning consequences of watching such a show.

Also, seasons 1-3 of Spongebob are hilarious. I love that show. I haven't watched the newer stuff, but I've heard it's much worse now...

 

[keith99]

I see where you're coming from there; a show like that has a lot of energy, gets a child energized, and can easily create mental distractions when there is something important to focus on. I don't think that the cartoon is bad in and of itself, though. My wife hates it though because she thinks it's annoying lol

I actually have seen so little of it that I really cannot say I have an opinion of the show. As in I'd be lucky to pick the name of any other character out of a list.

But I do know enough to see poor research (or possibly poor application of research).

 

[Crujir]

I actually have seen so little of it that I really cannot say I have an opinion of the show. As in I'd be lucky to pick the name of any other character out of a list.

But I do know enough to see poor research (or possibly poor application of research).

The show is definitely obnoxious, but not any more obnoxious than some other kids' shows that are out there. I kinda like watching it though.

All things in moderation