The role of superheroes is one of the major ones while growing up. Every child has a favorite idol with supernatural abilities whose primary goal is to save the world from the evil that surrounds it.
Most parents consider this habit as a completely natural part of childhood, not knowing that this idolization actually holds much more relevance than simple admiration.
Certain studies have showed that superheroes have a significant role in children’s lives, especially when they are still quite young as it can greatly influence a child’s development process.
So, what are the valuable lessons that superheroes teach our children and in what ways can they contribute to their overall growth?
Role Models
While they are still growing up, children are always seeking someone who they will look up to, someone who they can admire and observe as a role model.
Superheroes create a great foundation for kids as children tend to identify with them, to reflect the best traits of their idols and trace their steps. This could greatly help them build up their personality traits, develop certain skills and talents and aid them in their overall development.
The superheroes they watch on TV or read about in comic books are much more than cartoon characters; they represents important figures in the life of your children and they lead them by example, promoting healthy values and good qualities, which are crucial for a development of a child.
What Can Children Learn from Superheroes?
One of the most important things about admiring their favorite characters is the influence it has on them and the virtues they can acquire simply by trying to impersonate their heroes and become more like their idols.
The key concept behind the superhero franchise is the constant battle between good and evil, where good usually prevails.
By identifying with their heroes, children are becoming empowered, leaning things like compassion and helping others in need, but also they are grasping the difference between right and wrong. They are making healthier lifestyle choices, eating healthier foods, indulging in sports and exercise, wishing to be as strong as their favorite heroes.
Another thing that is quite important is the fact that superheroes are presented as people who lead parallel lives – a regular everyday life and the one revolving around their supernatural abilities. This shows children that their heroes are people just like them and that they too can make a change in the world.
How Can Parents Help?
Of course, it is every parent’s desire to set their child on the right path. Parents have the ability but also an obligation towards their children to influence their life choices, help them develop properly and become better people.
- For instance, if you notice your child developing an interest towards a specific superhero character, that you personally think could be a good role model, there are plenty of things you could do in order to encourage this sympathy.
Besides purchasing comic books depicting the favorite characters and inspiring them to read more, you can always throw a birthday party and book animators like Superheroes who will be dressed as the specific character and whose job is to play the part of said hero the best way he can.
These kinds of ideas can help children get acquainted more with their idols. It is also a great way to show that dreams do come true and that their favorite characters do not live only in their fantasy world, but that they are ever-present.
When children are born they are considered a tabula rasa – a blank state simply waiting to be filled out with various personality traits. By giving a child a decent role model, you are helping them develop in a proper manner.
Superheroes are known to hold great power and abilities and like that they can teach children to grow, learn and become better version of themselves. Children are taught to overcome their demons and their past hurdles and to move forward, stronger than ever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracey Clayton is a full-time mom of three girls. She feels she knows a thing or two about raising happy, healthy and confident kids, and offers helpful advice in hers parenting articles. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live.”
I’ve shared this onto a friend who has been conducting a little research on this the role of heroes of kids. And he actually bought me lunch due to the fact that I stumbled upon it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending time to talk about this subject here on your site.
k
Thank you for this article! My nonprofit organization, the EASTCOASTALLIACEOFCOSPLAYERSINC is built along this very premise! We believe it’s the key to changing the world for the better by instilling the values our favorite heroes embody everyday!