“Disney films can also teach children about unfair situations in society and acceptance of racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and other differences.” Lewis Endowed Professor in Children and Youth and the study’s lead author. “Based on examples generated from these movies, parents could hear potential questions kids may ask if they are distressed about a situation faced by child characters,” said Monit Cheung, Mary R. Parents have become notably more visible in Disney films over the last decade, according to the study.Īlmost three-quarters (73%) of the films shared the message about loving yourself and others, and 27% focused on morality and social values. Researchers analyzed 155 feature-length animated Disney films released between 19 and found the majority do not focus on the entire family unit – 63% did not mention the main character’s biological parents in the story, perhaps leaving some children to wonder why their parents are not there to help.

Talking about these important issues together can strengthen a child’s cognitive and behavioral development, according to a study by the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work published in the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.

Worried your children are getting too much screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic? How many times can a person watch “Frozen,” right? Turns out, animated movies can serve as valuable tools for parents and counselors alike to improve communication with children about tough issues.ĭisney films, for example, combine entertainment with life lessons about love, friendship, good versus evil, death and loss, and the importance of family.

Leung, assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at Azusa Pacific University and Yu-Ju Huang, doctoral student in the UH Graduate College of Social Work, are co-authors on the study.

Effect of films on youth