I have a question regarding children and cartoons. Do you allow your children to watch cartoons, or certain tv programs, are you selective in what they watch or is tv completely omitted from their lives?
As a new parent and one who is aware of the ill effects of tv I would personally prefer my child doesn’t watch anything except that which is beneficial I.e nature documentaries etc
I need advice on this issue as some say if you don’t let your child to watch cartoons your depriving him of his childhood I disagree. Alhamdu lillaah we don’t have a tv at home.
Answer
باسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن والاه
Assalamualaikum. May Allah bless you.
Your concern is praiseworthy. Diligence is always required, especially with our children. Cartoons of an educative, clean and beneficial nature definitely help children develop their language and other content related skills.
If you are able to gain access to these sorts of cartoons; I would not advise you against letting your child watch these on condition that your child’s time with these cartoons or any activity is done at the right time, right place and for the right amounts of time.
We as well as our children should never overdo anything as everything done in excess has counter-productive results.
At the same time we should never under-do anything and the challenge is always finding a balance and striking it. I know of many children having learnt Arabic through viewing beneficial children’s Arabic cartoons and many children having picked up a plethora of beneficial general information through these mediums.
To better your child’s experience with cartoons further; please avoid, as and when you can, using the cartoons as a baby sitter, but rather sit with your child and make the cartoon viewing session an interactive one by posing several questions suitable to their age during the viewing process, so that their minds continue to think and analyse, which is better for them, than just enter a trance.
And Allah knows best.