Why SpongeBob is Great for Kids!

There was a news story this week that's been nagging at me regarding SpongeBob Square Pants and how it is bad for children's development.  The story was so "big" apparently that it even made its way to New Zealand newspapers, SpongeBob SquarePants causes learning problems - study.    The part that's been nagging at me is this, I strongly beg to differ.

If you had asked me six years ago if SpongeBob had any merit I would have vehemently proclaimed that was the most ridiculous thing I'd heard.  I would have told you that it was nothing, but mind numbing brain candy and I couldn't possibly see what anyone saw in the show.  I was a SpongeBob snob.  I would have also been behind the findings of this study one hundred percent, using it as evidence that I was right all along.

Needless to say, that opinion has gone by the wayside. I have a five and a half year old now.  I reluctantly allowed him to start watching the program a few years ago and I surprisingly found it quite smart.  Yes, it is fast paced, but when compared to Caillou, as the study did, I would rather my son learn in fun and exciting ways than learn how to whine incessantly like the kid in that program.  There is zero merit in teaching children to whine about everything.  SpongeBob, on the other hand, has some very wonderful lessons to teach our children.  I wonder if it occurred to this researcher that the attention and productivity levels of the child decrease right after watching the show for the reason that it's riviting and they can't stop thinking about it's genius?!  I mean, really?  When you get involved in an exciting program or even an all consuming book, it takes you awhile before you can stop thinking about how awesome it is, too and you're an adult.  Now, does that side effect make you less productive?  Maybe, but that's due to the desire to learn more about what's interesting you, not because it's detrimental to your development.  Why place so much pressure on parents to make their children perfect, when there's nothing actually wrong with them in the first place?

I don't have the answers; however, I do think it's extremely dangerous to jump on the band wagon of what may or may not hurt our children, while robbing them of the carefree nature of just being children!  Seriously, back off and let them love what they love.  As long as it's not actually hurting them, by teaching them bad habits and poor manners, then what's the problem?

I seem to be digressing.  To back up a little, let's examine the merits of SpongeBob SquarePants. 

As a Character:

1.) SpongeBob has a work ethic like no other.  He can't bare to be even one minute late for work.  He loves his job and is loyal to his employer.  He's even kind and chipper to the bah humbug Squidward, his neighbour and fellow employee.  You see, SpongeBob had a dream and is now living his dream as a Krabby Patty fry cook.  He truely loves what he does and who he is. 

2.) He has a pet snail, who meows like a cat and he loves him anyway.  He also has friends that are very different, like Sandy Squirrel from Texas.  Sandy lives in an underwater biodome, because she needs to live with the oxygen of the world above the ocean.  When she leaves her biodome, she wears a diving suit to breath.  So, SpongeBob doesn't discriminate, because someone is different.  He accepts everyone, just the way they are.

3.) SpongeBob never gives up.  No matter how many times he fails to get his boat license, he keeps trying and believes that he will be a boat driver one day!

4.) He conquers his fears.  No matter how scared Patrick, SpongeBob's best friend, and SpongeBob were about the new rollercoaster, they road it anyway.  They helped each other overcome their fears!

5.) SpongeBob is funny and not weird, unintelligent funny.  He's smart, pun wielding, hilarious!

Now these are just a taste of the many qualities that SpongeBob SquarePants brings to the table for children.  There is no questionable language or teaching my child bad behaviour just so they can then teach them not to act that way (ahem...Franklin).  It's actually, to my surprise, pretty good programming.  These are all reasons why I love SpongeBob and don't even get me started on the post-modern subversiveness of it all.  Just think about it for a second, they go to the beach and slather on sunscreen, but they already live on the sea floor.  It's breaks down all the barriers of life, while still maintain a social structure that works well.  That's all kinds of fantastic, not just for it's entertainment value, but also for it's literary genius!

It took me more than a decade to see it, but I understand SpongeBob now.  I can only sing it's praises now and I am one very happy parent for the joy it brings my child.  I will never ban it from his repertoire of television watching, because I fundamentally beg to differ the point that it's damaging to children's development.  That's like the same argument that fruit is now supposedly bad for them, because of the naturally occuring sugars.  It's simply a flawed way of thinking. 

Let's allow our kids to be kids.  If a show stimulates them to the point where they can't settle after, then give them more time to settle.  It's not the end of the world for our children to be happy and excited by something captivating!