SpongeBob SquarePants’ fantastical nature is not harming children, University of Otago academics say. Image: YouTubeHe may offer nothing but pure entertainment, but at least SpongeBob SquarePants is not harmful to children, University of Otago research has found. "Parents need not be concerned about letting their child watch SpongeBob or any other children’s programmes that appear to be fast-paced. "One recent finding suggested it was the fantastical nature of SpongeBob that may have the potential to temporarily tax children’s executive function, i.e. "Indeed, challenging children’s executive function may be an important pathway to improving it, a view consistent with the emerging literature demonstrating that challenging games (e.g., candle sticks) lead to increases in children’s executive function,’’ he says.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 21, 2018 21:22 UTC