With only 54 days for yet another Harry Potter movie to hit theatres, the popularity of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series of children’s books and movies is a phenomenon unlike any other. While the books are valued for their ability to entertain and engage readers, the series has the potential to greatly influence children’s perceptions.
The series has contributed to promote appropriate social behaviour in children with behavioural and emotional problems. It also influences children by allowing them to learn about people whose lives and experiences differ from their own.
It has been instrumental in the development of children’s conceptualisation of how they fit into and relate to society. “A series like Harry Potter gives children a scope to imagine and enhances creativity. One crucial subplot in the Harry Potter series is how Harry and friends are sent to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry which relates to children being sent to boarding schools to learn the art of adjustment and co-operation which is not bad at all,” says Kavitha Nambiar, a mother.
“The book and the characters have a great impact on the youth. It’s easier for the kids to imbibe positive traits from the movie or book series as they relate to the characters and form an opinion of their own about the values of life,” she adds.
Since the release of the Harry Potter movie series children have developed interest towards reading. “The visual representation of the book series has appealed to youngsters as they read more to know what happens next and before you know their imagination comes to life in the movie series,” she says.
“The Harry Potter books or movies open up children to adventure which is much better than playing games on play stations,” she adds.
Nikita Mishra, a 14-year-old die-hard fan of Harry who is eagerly awaiting the release of the next Potter movie, says that her world revolves around the fictional story. “I have not missed reading a single book of the Harry Potter series and neither have I missed any of the movies. I wish there were universities teaching witchcraft as it seems interesting and I would be the first one to apply,” says Nikita.
According to Anjana Ramanath a mother of an 11-year-old, children are highly influenced by series like these as it renders a different understanding and things like magic appeal to children.
“Movies have an impact on children and when they are a remake of a book the ideas segregate within young minds as they see the fictional characters coming to live and renders a better understanding,” says Anjana.
