Today, kids live in a digital world. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly two-thirds of children ages 8–18 own cell phones, and approximately half own smartphones. With so much technology at their fingertips, kids today spend more time than ever with digital content — including comics, manga, cartoons, and video games. And for this reason, parents need to understand how these forms of digital content can positively impact the development of their children. Now, let us explore the benefits of reading manga for children and five kid-friendly manga series that are perfect for developing your child’s cognitive skills and overall mental health. We will also explain some essential tips you need to know before introducing your child to manga, as well as, some vital information you should keep in mind when reading kid-friendly manga on Mangago. Let’s start, shall we?
What Is Manga?
Manga (also called comics in the West) are Japanese hand-drawn sequential stories in comics or other graphic novels. Manga stories are usually episodic, which makes them substantial reading material for kids as they don’t require a lot of focus — but that also means that kids can pick up manga at their own pace. Manga usually features themes of adventure, romance, fantasy, mystery, comedy, and, of course, lots of action. Manga is known to be a form of comic art, but unlike a cartoon which is typically drawn in a simple line art style, manga is illustrated in a highly detailed — and often realistic — style. This level of detail in manga artwork was essential to Japanese culture because it was created using Japanese calligraphy and ink brush skills.
Benefits of Reading Manga for Children
Here are some of the benefits your children may get when they start reading manga.
- Kids who read comics have a better attention span.
- Kids who read comics have better problem-solving skills.
- Kids who read comics are more creative — they have the ability to think outside the box.
- Kids who read comics are better at staying positive — they’re less likely to get depressed.
- Kids who read comics are more emotionally intelligent — children are more comfortable with their emotions.
- Kids who read comics are more socially competent — children are more comfortable with social settings.
- Kids who read comics are more likely to be lifelong readers.
How to Choose the Right Manga for Your Child?
Manga is not typically written in English, so don’t assume you can look at the cover and know the story. But, there are particular themes and symbols commonly found in manga. The stories themselves are written in Japanese and usually read in Japanese. Fortunately, with the rise of the digital world of today, you can now find tons of manga series that have already been translated into English. For example, you can now read free manga on Mangago and Mangaowl. And if you are up to a shorter graphic story, you may opt for light novels, which you can read for free on Novelfull. Before you open your laptop or tablet, figure out what kind of manga your child enjoys reading the most. It can help you decide which manga you should try first and make sure you find something your child will like. Also, your kids’ tastes in manga can change over time, especially as your child gets older. If you ever find that your child seems to be gravitating more towards action-packed comics or darker themes, don’t get discouraged — this means that your child is more mature than other kids her age and is ready for a mature genre of manga.
Five Kid-Friendly Manga Series For Your Children
Here are the best five kid-friendly manga series you can read at night for your kids. Take note that you can easily find these manga titles on Mangago. Plus, you can read it for free.
Yotsuba&!, Volume 1
Written and illustrated by: Kiyohiko Azuma
Five-year-old Yotsuba Kowai has green hair, resides with her adoptive father, and is insatiably interested in everything. Yotsuba, like several other five-year-olds, is always on full blast. She is excited about anything and everything, including bugging the girls across their house to play a game with her, hunting cicadas, and pedaling her bike as far as they can. Although the manga series is created for an older demographic, it works effectively for all ages. It is a public slice-of-life comedy series conveyed in brief chapters with Azuma’s simple, straightforward approach.
Written and illustrated by: Akira Toriyama
It’s a one-volume manga about the three most unnerving beasts ever. Paifu transforms into an angry koala anytime he encounters a cross sign because he is part vampire and 1/2 were-koala. Jose is a spirit that can change forms and farts when he gets anxious. Arpon is a monstrous boy who loses in all the battles he picks. The trio embarks on a risky expedition to Horned-Owl Mountain to obtain a remedy from the witch who resides there when the terrible sickness sweeps across the village. Along the way, they come across numerous creatures and dangers after tricking a renowned sumo wrestler with a murky background into assisting them. The images created by great mangaka Toriyama are vibrant and vivacious.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Vol. 1: Deserted Island Diary
Written and illustrated by: Kokonasu Rumba
Nintendo lovers will adore this well-known videogame which is now available in the manga version! Despite the fact that Animal Crossing has been here for two decades, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is presently one of the Nintendo Switch’s most well-liked games. In 2020, this comic was published in Japan. And it is currently being translated into English. The plot will center on the activities of the residents of the remote island village.
The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home 1
Written and illustrated by: Konami Kanata
Chi is a homeless kitten that is adopted by a loving family. But their neighborhood prohibits animals. The family’s goal is to keep her hidden from the residents and provide some of the subtle comedy in this comic series, but some of it is just Chi acting like a typical kitten—getting intrigued by new objects, running pursuit, and passing out in somebody’s shoes. Since “chi” meant “pee,” there is some toilet hilarity at the start, and both the family’s cat and young son learn how to use the loo. It’s for children; the narrative is brief, the figures are endearing, the artwork is colorful, and you must read from left to right.
Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll, Vol. 1
Written and illustrated by: Yumi Tsukirino
Cinnamoroll is a winged pup made by the Sanrio corporation, making him somewhat of a relative of Hello Kitty. His tail swirls like a cinnamon roll, thus his moniker. He resides in a coffee shop and enjoys spending time with his pals Chiffon, Espresso, Cappuccino, and infant Milk, albeit they are occasionally in danger from a menacing black cloud named Cavity. This manga series is divided into incredibly brief parts, similar to Chi’s Sweet Home, and the escapades are straightforward.
This unworldly realm is full of stories that can inspire and educate readers of all ages. These Japanese comics can help your child develop skills including better focus, problem-solving abilities, creative thinking, emotional intelligence, and social competence. And even if your child doesn’t end up reading even one volume of a manga series on a regular basis, these comics make for a great and inexpensive, read-aloud option any time you want to share a book with your child. Manga is one of the best forms of fiction that can help your child develop different skills and grow as a person. However, not all manga series out there are meant for children, so parents should be careful when reading them with their children.