A STUDY conducted by Dr Maria Montessori shows that the human brain is at its most absorbent stage from 0-3 years old. Whatever a child sees in this period, it grasps and automatically learns to imitate thus starting on the track called life.

The idea of cartoons for children followed from this concept because cartoons were supposed to sublimise a lesson in a light-hearted and humorous manner. When colour was introduced in cartoons, they became more vibrant and hence a good source of entertainment and very educational as well.

Unfortunately, nowadays all cartoons show a lot of violence. Most characters are usually super heroes fighting some mysterious creature with laser guns and using futuristic devices.

I teach in a Montessori environment and discourage my little charges from watching such cartoons, telling them it teaches them bad things and they have to grow up to become good people.

When we were children, we made up our own games as our minds were creative and open. Today children have nothing but TV. If they are to watch cartoons all days, what they see should be creative and instructive.

Quratulain Qaseem

Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2017