Cartoons on their own aren’t bad for kids. In fact, enjoying them in moderation can have myriad benefits for a child’s development. They can bring laughter and relieve stress, engage a child’s imagination, help them develop their language skills, and teach them about topics ranging from mathematics to social skills. The best cartoons can be bright, colorful, funny stories that help children learn and grow. That said, though, not all cartoons are for kids, nor do they teach good lessons. Many cartoon characters encourage violence and speaking rudely to teachers and other authority figures. Additionally, with adult animation becoming more popular in recent years, many of the cartoons available on TV, streaming services, and YouTube are explicitly not for children.
Are the Cartoons Your Kids Watch Actually Made for Kids?
So, how can parents make sure the cartoons their kids are watching are safe, wholesome, and educational?
In recent years, as YouTube has continued to amass countless hours of video content — much of it geared toward children — they’ve developed YouTube Kids, their streaming site for children under the age of 13. This site isn’t airtight, however, and disturbing content can sometimes slip through the cracks. Parents might also find value in sticking to certain channels or streaming services, such as PBS Kids, Nick Jr., or Disney+. There are also organizations like the Parents and Television Media Council, whose website, ParentsTV.org, can help parents determine which cartoons are okay for their kids to watch. Ultimately, the best way to ensure cartoons are safe is to watch with your kids. After all, this turns a solitary activity into one where parents can learn, laugh, and bond with their children.
With the many streaming platforms out there, kids have access to a more diverse array of content than ever before. That being said, parents need to be extra vigilant about which shows and videos are captivating their children’s attention, particularly when it comes to cartoons.
APPS TO EASE CO-PARENTING CONFLICT Co-parenting is not just about logistics. It can also be very emotional, and that’s especially true when you are co-parenting with a narcissist who thrives on pushing your buttons or breaking the rules of your
• Smart profiles that store repeating events, medication, important contact information, and more
co-parenting agreement. For clients who find themselves in this situation, we recommend using a co-parenting app. These apps are specifically designed to exchange messages, track expenses, keep a calendar, and more with the least amount of direct interaction with your ex. While many co-parenting apps are available, here are a few we recommend for individuals experiencing conf lict while co-parenting and why we like them:
• Talking Parents — TalkingParents.com
• Features help increase accountability to agreed-upon scheduling or track deviations • Includes shared calendar, documents, and messaging, which is all stored in the cloud so it cannot be altered or lost if needed to use in court • 2houses — 2houses.com • Shared calendar, simple financial management feature, secure messaging that cannot be deleted • Share albums and a family journal with other family members you invite to the platform • coParenter — coParenter.com/courtcall • Developed by a judge to integrate remote court services for co-parents • Tools to track and manage communication and co-parent activity
• Our Family Wizard — OurFamilyWizard.com
• Saves messages exchanged, which can be used in court • Includes calendar, expense tracker, message board, and personal notes section • App features a “tone meter” that f lags emotionally charged language • Custody X Change — CustodyXChange.com • Developed by legal professionals to help parents stick to court- ordered custody plans (and to track any deviations) • Includes calendar, time-stamped journal entries, printable reports (which can be used in court), and expense tracker • Parentship — Parentship.co • Digital document folder with photo capture technology to store health insurance information, medical information, etc.
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2 Florida Women’s Law Group | 904-549-6553
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