Why is superhero play important

Children may be reenacting situations they saw on the media or experienced, so it is important we observe and allow children to process what they have seen in a supportive and safe environment.

When super hero, violent or war play is happening, there are legitimate concerns from adults that do need to be addressed. What are some of these concerns and do they outweigh the benefits of this type of play to children? Do these concerns outweigh the benefits that this type of play gives to children? There is no right or wrong answer on if this type of play should be allowed in child care or school settings, but it is a decision that needs consideration of both concerns and benefits to children.

For more articles on child development, academic success, parenting and life skill development, please visit the Michigan State University Extension website. To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our Impact Report. Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension positively impacted individuals and communities in , can be downloaded from the Michigan 4-H website. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension.

Supporting super hero play in child care: Concerns and benefits. There are a few important things to note before we look deeper: There is limited recent research on super hero, violent or war play to draw empirical data to support or negate a zero-tolerance policy on these issues. However, the research that has been done previously is still valid and relevant for today. Adults look at super hero, violent or war play with an adult understanding, knowing all the bad things that can happen in the world children are living in.

Emphasize that this real-world superhero is also a neighbor and parent — in your community. When there is an issue, resist resolving it for the children.

Ask for their ideas. Help them feel powerful. Kids have been imitating larger-than-life characters since the days before television. With careful observation and feedback from preschool teachers and parents, superhero play can be a fun way for children to develop their own capabilities while learning about helping others. Choosing the wrong college can be bad for mental health.

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Parenting » Emotional smarts » Positive superhero play. Positive superhero play Preschoolers love tapping into their inner superhero. Here's how to keep it from promoting aggressive behavior. Why the interest in super-abilities? Girls and superhero play Preschool-age girls also engage in superhero play, though typically with less rough-and-tumble behavior than their male classmates. How superhero play supports learning The line between fantasy and reality is momentarily blurred when a preschooler pretends to escape a villain by climbing a spider web, but he is still learning an important lesson.

Share on Pinterest. Get the GreatSchools newsletter — our best articles, worksheets and more delivered weekly. Sign up. Skip breadcrumb navigation. What is included in Superhero Play? The resulting role assigning gives children opportunities to show these qualities. Conscientiousness Reliable Productive Achievement-oriented With great power comes great responsibility. As Superheroes, it is easy for the adult to help the child understand that a critical role of the superhero is to get the work done.

This can prove to be a valuable lesson for life. Absence of Neuroticism Absence of: Anxiousness Self-consciousness Impulsiveness Superhero Play gives many opportunities for building self-confidence, which is the opposite of all the qualities of neuroticism. Openness Curious Imaginative Insightful Children often construct their own story lines with the characteristics of the superhero still in mind.

Their fantasy play has limitless opportunities for creativity and imagination. More Expert Advice. Debora B. Heather Welch. International Brand Manager, Edx Education. Playing and Learning is a Family Adventure. Keri Wilmot. Occupational therapist and toy expert. Yesim Kunter.

Talia Filippelli. Avital Schreiber Levy. Play IS the Point.