These days, Peppa Pig has been under the spotlight on social media. However, it’s not due to popularity, but more a ‘boycott’ by some parents because of its negative influence on behavior.
Peppa Pig, which premiered May 13, 2004, is a British animated television series revolving around Peppa, a female pig with human like characteristics. Each episode features her everyday activities with family and friends.
It immediately became a hit show around the world due to funny plots and educational meanings. However, a couple of days ago, a parent complained about the cartoon on WeChat moments and it instantly went viral.
A lot of parents agreed with this sentiment, advising that their children also enjoy imitating the silly behaviors from the cartoon and they can’t stand it.
While many parents are ‘boycotting’ the show, there are also parents standing up for Peppa Pig and think the show is beneficial to children. “I think imitating is no big deal,” says Wang Jing, mother of a 2 year old son. “It’s their nature. Of course they will imitate everything they think is fun.”
Moreover, Wang thinks parents should shift their focus to the positive influences from the show. “My son has become very polite. He says ‘Thank you’ and ‘Please’ more often. Not only kids, sometimes even we parents can learn something from the show.”
That being said, many parents are still not convinced. “I used to let my daughter watch the cartoon,” says Zhao Xiaoyan, whose daughter is now in Kindergarten. “After watching a few episodes, I no longer let her because I don’t want my little girl to lay on the ground or grunt like a pig all day. It’s hard to control what they mimic.”
When asked which cartoon she would prefer for her daughter, “The Octonauts is great,” says Zhao. “My daughter can acquire some practical knowledge as well as realize the significance of teamwork. The characters look better, too. That Peppa Pig looks exactly like a pink hairdryer.”
According to Xiong Bingqi, Vice Principal of 21th Century Institute of Education, “It’s acceptable for children to mimic the plots from the cartoon as long as the behaviors are not harmful. The key is to pick the appropriate cartoon for the kids and help them understand the plots.”
What’s your view on Peppa Pig? What cartoons do you recommend for children to watch? Let us know your thoughts.
