Primary Children’s understanding and relationship with cartoon characters : a critical investigation and multimodal suggestions

Abstract

This study aims at understanding how primary children understand and relate to cartoon characters. In order to reach these aims, a mixed methods approach was adopted, in which nine/ ten-year-old primary children were provided with an opportunity to participate in activities related with cartoon characters. In these activities the children expressed their understanding and relationships with cartoon characters through questionnaires, drawings, writings, and verbally during informal interviews and cartoon watching. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the children's expressions. This analysis demonstrated the different ways in which the children understand and relate to animated cartoon characters. Moreover, it indicates how the students represent their understanding and relationships with these characters. From this analysis, suggestions were then derived for primary educators as ideas of how they can include cartoon characters in their teaching. These pedagogical suggestions based on the children's expressions, can be adapted and used by educators to provide their students with educational experiences based on the students' interests for more effective learning.