The benefits of Superhero play in children's lives

Play offers many benefits to children, including helping develop social skills, language skills and thinking skills. Play is how children process what they see in the world around them and how they express their feelings.

The value of play for children is undeniable. However, when the entertainment features conflict with values like community cohesiveness, its value may be jeopardized. Children are drawn to superheroes in the media and will engage in playtime. This is due to the popularity of "superhero" TV shows, as well as meeting their emotional and physical needs. It can be easy to think that if children are allowed to play with superhero toys, they'll grow up to be more violent. But research has shown that's not true.

Batman playing games with flash and superman


What are some of the benefits of superheroes in children's lives?

Pretend play brings a child’s imagination to the frontline, whether it’s pretending playdoh is a strawberry or climbing walls like Spiderman. Pretend play encourages children to use their imagination instead of screens and is interactive, allowing children with flexible minds to improvise. Superhero play provides children with the chance to escape their limitations. When a child dons their superhero’s outfit, they feel like that hero. They forget about what circumstances and abilities restrict them and just play. . 

Why the strength of superheroes is beneficial for solving problems?

Pretending to be superheroes helps children think creatively and find the best solution to a problem. Now kids can learn how to problem solve by playing. If the game contains violent content, educators can create alternatives and talk about heroes who are helpers.

How empowerment leads to children's success.

Children who like to dress up as superheroes or to be that hero, often have a motivation for wanting to be in control of their world. They might not have control over other parts of their life, so being able to do something that makes them feel powerful and in control can lead to new self-esteem and opportunities. Pretending to be someone they admire, also helps children imagine themselves overcoming fearful experiences and empowers them by showing how much control they can actually have over their lives.

The connection between children and the benefits of superheroes.

When children pretend to be another person, they learn to imagine how others feel. They become aware of the needs of others and think about their perspectives. These are important skills to teach your child  empathy for others. Superhero play can help children understand the qualities that make people "good". They may be kind, helpful, courageous, or determined. Pretend play can teach children moral values. Through acting out these themes, such as good versus bad, children may also learn the perspectives of others in order to negotiate how these situations should be handled.

How Superhero play can Improve Emotional Health

Playing with Superhero toys helps them learn new skills but practicing these skills through play, like in drama, can improve another area they are trying to work on, such as vocabulary or language development. Kids need to develop both healthy emotions and skills for when they are faced with challenging situations. They can do so by pretending to be their favourite superhero. Using this type of play can help children learn about and regulate their emotions. Pretend play gives children a space to experience different emotions, both good and bad. Educators can also use this program to teach students how to identify their own emotions as they grow up.

Superheroes aid in cooperation

One of the benefits of being a part of a group and developing friendships is the ability to have shared interests like pretend play. Pretend play helps kids to negotiate and cooperate with one another. Children use play to create storylines, obstacles and solutions. As they play, children are learning about teamwork and conflict resolution. Superhero play has the potential to teach children how to get along in the real world.

Previous
Previous

Reasons to have a Superhero at your party this year

Next
Next

10 Easy and Cheap Party Games for Children