How Cartoons Shape Children: The Good, The Bad, and What I Watch For

Some studies explore how cartoons can influence children—both the benefits and the drawbacks. Here’s my take on the good and the bad, plus what I actually look for when I’m picking “kid-friendly” cartoons.

Cartoons have been part of childhood for generations. I grew up on them, I still love them, and I’ll be the first to admit: animation can teach kids a lot without feeling like “teaching.”

But cartoons are still media—fast, emotional, persuasive, and sometimes intense. So when someone asks me, “How do cartoons affect children?” I don’t think the answer is “cartoons are good” or “cartoons are bad.” I think the real answer is: it depends on the cartoon, the child, the context, and how it’s watched.

If you’re building a kid-friendly watchlist, you might also like kids cartoon characters and cartoon movies for the family. And if you’re interested in how shows differ by era, best kids shows of the 2000s is a fun rabbit hole.

How Do Cartoons Affect Children?

When I look at how cartoons shape kids, I think about how the brain uses stories. Kids learn through imitation, repetition, and emotional cues. Cartoons are basically a perfect delivery system for all of that—because they’re designed to hold attention and make feelings feel big.

That’s why cartoons can be genuinely helpful—and why the wrong kind of content can also cause issues.

The Positive Effects of Watching Cartoons on Children

When cartoons are built around learning, empathy, and problem-solving, I think they can be a net positive. The best kids shows don’t just “teach facts”—they teach how to handle feelings, how to treat people, and how to think through problems.

1. Improving cognitive skills

Some cartoons naturally build problem-solving and critical thinking because the characters are constantly figuring something out—mysteries, puzzles, teamwork missions, “how do we fix this?” moments.

2. Enhancing creativity

This is the one I notice immediately: a kid watches an imaginative show, and suddenly they’re creating stories, drawing characters, inventing games, and building worlds. Fantastical cartoons can trigger creative play—especially when the show encourages curiosity.

3. Teaching values and social skills

Cartoons are basically “social rehearsal.” Kids learn how friends treat each other, what apologies look like, how to share, how to handle jealousy, and how to bounce back from mistakes. I’ve always liked shows that actually show repair after conflict, instead of ending every episode with “and then nothing mattered.”

4. Supporting language development

High-quality educational programming can expose kids to vocabulary, storytelling patterns, and conversation skills. Programs like Sesame Street are famous for this kind of intentional learning design.

5. Helping kids name emotions

Some cartoons do a great job of labeling feelings without being preachy. When a character says “I’m nervous,” “I’m embarrassed,” or “I feel left out,” it gives kids language for their own emotional experience. That’s not small—it can make real conversations easier later.

The Negative Impact of Watching Cartoons on Kids

Now for the other side. Cartoons can absolutely have downsides—especially when the content is violent, overly chaotic, overly commercial, or when watching replaces sleep, movement, or real-world play.

1. Encouraging aggression (depending on content)

I try to be careful with how I say this: violent cartoons don’t automatically “turn kids violent.” But some research suggests that frequent exposure to aggressive content—especially when it’s portrayed as funny, consequence-free, or heroic—can increase aggressive behavior for some children, especially younger ones.

2. Disrupting sleep patterns

This one is common and very practical. If kids are watching cartoons right before bed (especially exciting or scary ones), it can make it harder to settle down. And sleep problems don’t just stay in the bedroom—they show up as irritability, meltdowns, and attention issues the next day.

3. Encouraging a sedentary routine

If cartoons become the default activity, kids lose time that could be used for physical play. I’m not anti-screen—I just think screens shouldn’t replace movement, outdoor time, and boredom (because boredom is often where creativity starts).

4. Reducing time for other important activities

Even “good” cartoons become a problem if they crowd out reading, imaginative play, social time, or homework. Balance is the real issue, not cartoons existing.

5. Over-commercial influence

Some cartoons are basically toy ads in disguise. Even without traditional commercials, kids content often pushes products, brands, and “collect them all” thinking. If you’ve ever watched a kid suddenly want a toy they didn’t care about yesterday, you know exactly what I mean.

Violent Cartoons and Their Effects

When people ask “Do violent cartoons affect behavior?” I always come back to context. Age matters. The child’s personality matters. And the type of violence matters.

There’s a difference between classic slapstick (where no one is truly harmed and it’s clearly exaggerated) and cartoons that normalize cruelty, bullying, or weapon use as “cool.”

Also—content standards change. A lot of older cartoons have been edited over the years for violence, dangerous imitation, or outdated stereotypes. If you’re curious about older shows, I talk more broadly about classic characters here: animated cartoon characters.

Fast-Paced Cartoons and Attention

This is one of the most modern concerns: not just “Is it violent?” but “Is it chaotic?” Some kids shows are edited like music videos—constant movement, constant scene changes, constant stimulation.

My personal rule is simple: if a show feels like it never takes a breath, I’m more cautious about it for younger kids. That doesn’t mean it’s evil. It just means it can be harder for a young brain to regulate after watching.

If you want an example of classic chaos (and why it’s debated), Tom & Jerry is the perfect case study—here’s my post: Are Tom and Jerry best friends?

Screen Time: It’s Not Only “How Much,” It’s “What” and “When”

When I see screen time debates online, people argue like there’s one magic number. In real life, it’s more about patterns:

• Is screen time replacing sleep?
• Is it replacing movement and play?
• Is it causing meltdowns when the screen turns off?
• Is the content age-appropriate and prosocial?

If you want official guidance, these are two helpful starting points:

• WHO: Screen time guidance for young children
• AAP: Media and Children (Family Media Plan)

Positive Effects of Watching Cartoons on Children

Watching cartoons can have several positive effects on children. Some of these benefits include:

1. Improving cognitive skills

Cartoons can support thinking skills when they involve puzzles, planning, cause-and-effect, or cooperative problem solving.

2. Enhancing creativity

Cartoons often inspire imaginative play, drawing, and storytelling because kids want to recreate worlds and characters.

3. Teaching valuable lessons

Many cartoons include moral themes like honesty, kindness, and perseverance—especially when the episode shows consequences and repair after mistakes.

4. Providing entertainment

Entertainment matters too. Laughter and comfort can be part of emotional regulation, especially during stressful periods.

5. Promoting social skills

Educational shows and prosocial cartoons can reinforce sharing, turn-taking, and empathy.

6. Improving language skills

High-quality educational cartoons can support vocabulary and early learning—especially when adults co-watch and talk about what’s happening.

Negative Impact of Watching Cartoons on Kids

Some potential negative effects of watching cartoons include:

1. Encouraging aggression

Some children imitate what they see—especially if the cartoon rewards aggression with laughs or victories.

2. Disrupting sleep patterns

Exciting content late at night can make it harder to settle. Sleep problems can show up as mood issues and focus issues the next day.

3. Encouraging a sedentary lifestyle

Too much sitting can crowd out physical play. Balance matters.

4. Reducing time for other activities

Even good content can become a problem if it replaces reading, outdoor play, or social time.

5. Encouraging dependence on screens

When the screen becomes the default comfort tool, kids can struggle with boredom and self-regulation without it.

What Are the Best Educational Cartoons for Kids?

Educational cartoons work best when they’re entertaining enough to hold attention but structured enough to teach something real. These are some reliable options people return to again and again:

1. Sesame Street

Known for language development, social skills, and early learning fundamentals.

2. Paw Patrol

Teamwork and problem-solving with a simple, clear structure (helping others is the core message).

3. Dora the Explorer

Problem-solving, persistence, and interactive storytelling.

4. Wild Kratts

Science and animals—great for kids who love nature and facts.

5. The Magic School Bus

Classic science adventures that make learning feel like a story.

If you want more kid-friendly picks from different eras, best kids shows of the 2000s is a great starting point.

What Cartoons Get Edited or Restricted for Violence?

Instead of saying “banned” across the board, I think it’s more accurate to say this: some cartoons are edited, censored, or restricted depending on region, broadcaster standards, and the era they were produced in.

Older cartoons especially can get edited for:

• violence that’s considered too imitable
• dangerous behavior (stunts kids might copy)
• racial stereotypes and outdated depictions
• tobacco/alcohol use

Examples people commonly discuss include older Tom and Jerry airings and some classic Looney Tunes shorts being edited for modern broadcast standards. If you want to see the broader conversation around controversial cartoon content, here’s a relevant internal read: controversial characters in cartoons. And for darker “not really for kids” territory, dark cartoon characters (Nickelodeon) is a useful guide.

My Personal “Cartoon Rule” for Kids

If I had to boil it down into one rule, it’s this: I care more about the pattern than the episode.

A rough slapstick episode now and then isn’t the end of the world. But if the daily diet is violent, chaotic, fear-based, or purely commercial, you start seeing the downside.

FAQ: How Cartoons Shape Children

Are cartoons bad for kids?

Not automatically. Some cartoons are genuinely helpful. Problems tend to show up when the content is violent, overly chaotic, or when screen time replaces sleep, movement, and real-world play.

Do violent cartoons cause aggression?

It depends on the child and the content. Some research suggests links between violent media exposure and aggressive behavior for some children, especially when violence is glamorized or consequence-free. Co-watching and talking about the content can help.

What age should kids start watching cartoons?

Different families do this differently. Many pediatric organizations suggest extra caution for very young children and recommend focusing on high-quality content and co-viewing when screens are introduced.

What’s better: limiting screen time or improving what kids watch?

I think it’s both, but quality is the first lever. A short amount of high-quality educational content is very different from hours of chaotic, aggressive, or commercial-heavy content.

References:

• Bandura A., Ross D., Ross S. A. (1963). Vicarious reinforcement and imitative learning. J. Abnorm. Soc. Psychol. 6, 601–607. PubMed • CrossRef
• Chandler M. J., Lalonde C. E. (1994). Surprising, magical, and miraculous turns of events: children’s reactions to violations of their early theories of mind and matter. Br. J. Dev. Psychol. 12, 83–95. CrossRef
• Bjorkqvist K., Lagerspetz K. (1985). Children’s experience of three types of cartoon at two age levels. Int. J. Psychol. 20, 77–93. PubMed • CrossRef
• Lillard A. S., Peterson J. (2011). The immediate impact of different types of television on young children’s executive function. Pediatrics. PubMed
• Bushman B. J., Huesmann L. R. (2006). Short-term and long-term effects of violent media on aggression in children and adults. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. JAMA Network
• American Academy of Pediatrics. Media and Children (Family Media Plan). AAP resource
• World Health Organization (2019). To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more. WHO guidance