Sponge Bob is harmful to young children, experts say

 

United States, September 13, 2011

 

Experts from Children’s Research Institute in Seattle found that “fast paced” cartoons are harmful to the brains of young children.

Pediatricians of the agency experimented with 60 4-year-old children, making them watch TV and then making exercise.

A group of 20 children, was sent to paint with colored pencils. Another watched an educational program, and a third watched the cartoon Sponge Bob Square Pants, which is considered fast-paced.

After 9 minutes, the kids performed various exercises that require concentration and solved simple problems.

It was then found that young ones who had seen the Nickelodeon show had lower performance on all tasks.

Dr. Dimitri Christakis said that “the brains of these kids were really tired of all the stimulation and were not able to focus in the same way they normally do.”

Meanwhile, the report generated adverse comments on Nickelodeon. ”To put 60 kids, with no differences, who are not part of the proposed age for the program, to see 9 minutes of programming is a questionable methodology,” said a company spokesman.