In case of Tom & Jerry,addiction starts early

* The first thing that four-year-old Shreya does in the morning is switch on the television. Her mother complains that she remains grumpy till she watches her favourite cartoon show — Noddy — for an hour.

These are not isolated cases. Once a harmless activity,viewing cartoons is turning out to be an “addiction” for three- to five-year olds.

Experts say parents are seeking help to wean their children away from the “addiction”.

Counsellors at PGI say daily five parents on average come to them with the complaint that their child is addicted to cartoon shows.

With these shows,parents coax children to eat meals,get ready for school and do homework.

“I do not have any option but to distract my daughter with these shows. She refuses to eat unless the television is showing cartoons. I know it’s not right but then I have to feed her as well,” Ankita,mother of a three-year-old,told Newsline.

Another parent said: “The moment my son comes from school,he switches on the television and watches cartoons. From eating to changing clothes,everything is done in front of the TV.”

According to experts,the average time a toddler views cartoon shows is 2-3 hours. This should “ring the warning bell”.

But what makes these children turn towards cartoon shows in the first place? Experts say its parents devoting less time to them.

With the increasing trend of nuclear families and working parents,children seek “emotional catharsis” in cartoon shows.

“Television has become like a nanny to children. There are no grandparents to turn to and social interaction is limited. This leaves children with only television,” Punita Singh,counsellor at Carmel Convent School,said. “Even in classrooms,the only thing they discuss is what the Powerpuff girls are up to.”

Addiction at this stage,besides instilling violence and aggression in children,can hamper their social development and future relationships.

“Television offers a multi-sensory exposure to children,which gradually becomes a habit. Parents complain that their child watches cartoons for hours. This eventually leads to ‘bigger addictions’ of internet,” Dr Adarsh Kohli,additional professor,Department of Psychiatry,PGI,said.

“It is essential for parents to ensure discipline by helping children manage their time,” he added.