More than 500 kids between three and five years old were surveyed.

Watching cartoons or shows with violent situations was discovered to cause more of the children to have restless sleep patterns, like waking up during a nightmare. When they watched programming like Sesame Street or Dora the Explorer, the children fell asleep quicker and stayed asleep longer.

“Things that, maybe to an older kid may seem funny. Shows like Spongebob or Scooby Doo. Maybe to a younger kid, it's hard for them to sort that through and to know how to put that in to perspective,” said Dr. Steve Mambauer, a general pediatrician at Valley Pediatrics.

Doctors say you should watch television with your kids and explain to them what is happening on the show if they have questions.

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