Activity aside, Mythology rules!

CHENNAI: If Chota Bheem was pitted against any bad guy, he would undoubtedly win because of his ‘muscle power’, says six-year-old Harshith. On  the other hand, his classmate, Shreya, gives her approval for  the ‘wise’   Dora who conquers all odds. Not only pre-schoolers, but educators also feel  that the ladoo- gobbling Bheem, spinach–loving Popeye, and the moral espousing Dora are healthy role models for kids.“I feel the girls have a good role model in Dora because she gives good advice, unlike the boys who don’t have a positive cartoon that they can look up to,” says Sujatha Kumar, Science teacher of P S Senior Secondary school. Classics like Tom and Jerry and Indian values imbibing characters such as Chota Bheem are harmless and also a big draw among youngsters, feels Principal of Gill Adarsh, Jayashree Padmanabhan. But she adds that addiction to these shows also make them physically inactive.P Sundari, Headmistress, Pon Vidyashram, Valasaravakkam agrees.”While the classics always appeal to children, some of the recent cartoons only glorify violence and keep the kid glued to the TV. So it’s important to restrict such cartoons,” she says. On whether these ‘role models’  encourage children to be more physically active, Veda, physical education instructor at St.Patricks Anglo Indian school, says, “They just watch it for  fun, it really does not have any impact on their interest in sports or other extracurricular activities.”Taking a different stance, Amudha Lakshmi, principal of Chettinad Vidyashram says, mythological cartoon characters rooted in Indian culture help in instilling traditional values and healthy eating habits among children. Citing Popeye, she says, the character  inspires children to take their greens seriously. But with regards to heightened physical activity, she feels it lasts only in the initial stages.“Yes they do tend to watch their favourite characters and imitate them, but the phase only lasts in the early ages till they outgrow it,” she adds.