It was an English class. The children appeared disinterested and bored.
To get them involved, I suggested they read aloud a story; better still play act it.
It was like lightning had struck the class. They were instantly energised and excited, and I was ecstatic.
But the euphoria faded off as the reading progressed; it turned into alarm.
Each child wanted to read in a tone and manner like their favourite on-screen characters!
Some girls wanted to be a character from the Disney collection while the boys wanted to act like the superheroes. No surprises there!
That was utter chaos. I couldn’t have Papa Bear speak like Iron Man or Mama Bear like Cinderella.
That’s when the reality hit me like a ton of bricks. These children were spending so much time watching their preferred characters on-screen that they were getting restricted in their creativity and imagination. They were unconsciously mirroring what they consumed.
Imitation maybe be a good form of flattery, but not in this case.
This kind of behaviour, of imitating their favourite TV characters, was detrimental to the child’s development and identity.
There was a desperate need to draw a line and try to create a balance between the screen time and reading.
Reasons Why Kids Mimic
The primary reason why kids like to imitate their favourite characters is because they learn by watching and observing.
Forget the on-screen characters, haven’t you noticed how they try to emulate you or the other grown-ups around them?
They say things in a particular style or want to dress like you or drive like their cool uncle or aunt.
Spending a large chunk of their time with these on-screen characters ensures that they absorb their personalities like sponge.
The dialogues and actions of these characters are dramatic, exaggerated and captivating. Most don’t fit into the real life situations (but who cares).
Kids end up forming a kind of emotional connect with these characters, leaning on them for support and comfort.
This kind of overidentification with a character can impact, and even alter, their personalities.
Ask me, I had a near miss. I’ve seen the transformation of my kiddo from a happy, full-of-life cherub into a whiny, clingy preschooler – all thanks to some character they all watched.
Alarm bells set off in a frenzy when I noticed the subtle changes. Timely intervention and constant effort got the kid back on track.
Sometimes it gets too late to notice their changes. Sometimes parents ignore it because they find it cute and treat it as part of growing up.
Studies show that excessive screen time can reduce original thought, making children more dependent on external sources for creativity rather than coming up with their own ideas.
If what you wanted was a walking talking cartoon character around you, then visit Disney World or some other place like that.
Why mess up the child’s personality?
Here’s what you can do about it.
Be The Guide They Need
All it needs is a little creativity, persistence and long-term thinking to stop this transformation.
Over-identification with the on-screen characters is simply because of them spending too much time with them, watching them unchecked. Restrict that.
- Don’t stop the TV time, just set defined limits. Get them to watch other programs. Watch it together to make it more fun.
Ask them to explain what they like about that character so you can introduce other equally interesting characters to them.
Screen time should spark imagination, not suppress it.
- Try role playing with a twist. Let them be the character they want and give them a make belief situation. “What would they do to solve this?”
- Help them see the difference between the on-screen world and the real world. Ask them questions like, “Can it happen in real world?”
- Introduce them to books. Start off with books based on those characters and then gradually move them to other kinds of books.
Reading will help them to mentally visualise and get creative instead of depending on the visual stimulation.
It will also give them an opportunity to think and process what they are reading. Encouraging their independent thought.
Need a break? Then get creative.
- Instead using the TV as a babysitter, introduce them to other hands-on activities. Like solving jigsaw puzzles or playing with Lego blocks. Get them sets based on these characters to initially build interest.
Believe me, they’ll love it. This way they get to create their own stories; not just watching but directing their heroes.
Conclusion
Been there, done that.
You’ve all had such imaginary characters as your heroes as kids. It’s really a part of growing up.
But you didn’t get flooded by their presence. Simply because this kind of crazy marketing didn’t exist. Nor did they have 24 hour access to you and your time.
As a parent, it’s your responsibility to ensure your child retains the unique personality they are blessed with.
Let their imagination be unrestricted and limitless. Something that goes beyond the restrictions of the screens. Be intentional in shaping their influences.
Help them explore other activities. Build an ecosystem where there’s a balance between screen time, books and real world experiences.
It’s not about doing away with the screens altogether. It’s about setting boundaries, introducing creative activities, and most importantly, being involved.
You child doesn’t need more superheroes. They need more of you.
