Exploring Parental Strategies in Mediating Children’s Cartoon Consumption for Cognitive and Social Growth

Abstract

This research focus on the perception of parents regarding the effects of cartoons and technology on the development of their children. We employed a quantitative survey design with a convenience sample of 100 married teaching and administrative staff members of International Islamic University Islamabad. By applying descriptive statistics analysis, we concluded that parents hold mixed views about the effects of cartoons and technology on the social behavior and social skills of their children. Although some view educational gain, others raise concerns. Despite sampling constraints, this research enlightens parental attitudes toward children's cartoon watching, paving the way for future work with a representative sample. Results indicate issues regarding children's viewing habits of cartoons, with complaints over changes in behavior, access to violence, and possible adverse effects on aggression, academic performance, and physical health. Parents are concerned over screen use substituting outdoor activities despite an awareness of educational value.