Developing social skills at an early age is an important thing for your child, especially with the help from the parents, but also the content that is suited for your child’s age. Both of these aspects could help teach your child complex social skills effectively at a young age. Past studies support that social skills acquired between preschool years show positive correlation with later growth, hence a need to fill such developmental gaps (Denham et al. 2012).
With the correct age appropriate animation for your child, it can help teach them lessons such as compassion and communication, which are key when interacting and communicating with their peers. To quote, “delegate the co-viewing, even in narrative based, interaction is the best example of learning, simply cutting onions would really form their minds, it’s really their formative years.” Dr. Jaime Gabriel, a Board-Certified Psychologist, replied when asked on how he would advise parents to choose and moderate narrative-based children’s programs or media to support their child’s social skills. Dr. Gabriel also explained “… Narration itself will trigger creativity with the kids. That’s a positive effect. Then I would always recommend that the parent should supervise, 2-7 years of age, as it would hit their minds are like sponges–” when asked about the effects of narrative based children shows have on the kids.
According to a research conducted by Manoj Prithviraj (et al. 2024), the admiration of children toward cartoon characters enhances multiple aspects of their development which includes creativity, vocabulary, writing skills, language, and cognitive abilities. They have stated that imaginative play can help with the development of the child’s problem-solving skills. The cartoons introduce new words and expressions, expanding the vocabulary of young children by engaging with entertaining language content, which helps the children retain new words efficiently. Better vocabulary provides better communication, with the help from you, the parents, you children would understand with better context, which the children can use in order to communicate properly with their peers, helping them with their own social development.
To quote from a Media Studies interview, “… Aspects of a story, and interpersonal skills of the child, I would say the biggest one, is having empathy. Narrative-based shows have a big effect, it’s a huge deal to first share, interact, and have a little respect for others. At the same time, there are children shows that have morals. Listening, empathy, articulation, with different stories.” Is what the translated reply to us when asked on how narrative-based children’s shows affects the children’s interpersonal skills. He then continues on with, “As an educator/researcher, and not as a parent… If the focus is on digital narrative-based media, go with what’s applicable, there’s a general way of parenting a child, child, then individualize their own child’s needs and exposure”
It is important to understand that in order to help your child nurture their social development while they grow older, as a parent, you must be there to help them learn and understand the lessons and values that they experience as they continue to consume narrative-based digital media.
SOURCES:
- Susanne A. Denham, Hideko Bassett, Melissa Mincic, Sara Kalb, Erin Way, Todd Wyatt, Yana Segal, Social–emotional learning profiles of preschoolers’ early school success: A person-centered approach, Learning and Individual Differences, Volume 22, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 178-189, ISSN 1041-6080, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2011.05.001.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11195749