From Edition 3 – October 2007
Can we really save the world before naptime?, asks Jayne Kearney. I swear my son, Levi, came out of the womb wearing a Spiderman costume – much to my dismay at the time. I was never going to be a Mum who encouraged superhero play. His Dad, however, is a superhero fan from way back, so I had to tentatively wait in the wings with a Wiggles DVD, hoping our boy would see it my way. Levi now owns a massive box full of superhero costumes. He has seen all the movies and can even tell me the names of obscure bad guys from the original TV series of Spiderman. He’s an intelligent, lively and coordinated kid whose pre-school report this year happily stated that he has “a gentle personality [and] is rarely involved in conflict with another child”. I am now what my husband calls a ‘born-again’ supporter of superhero play and I wouldn’t change a thing about the little caped crusader who runs full pelt around our house all day fighting bad guys.

Superhero play is one of the more controversial forms of childhood play. Some people claim it encourages violence and aggression and creates disruptive behaviour.  Modern research, however, points to the importance and benefits of dramatic play involving superheroes.

In Exploring Early Childhood, Louise Weihen and Kerry Tolley discuss superhero play as an important stage in the development of pre-school children.

Weihen says that some of the benefits of this type of play include an understanding of friends and enemies as well as power and vulnerability. By exploring such concepts in play, kids may better face potentially frightening situations such as bedwetting, monsters or being separated from their parents.

Weihen also says that superhero play helps kids understand the difference between good and evil. Most kids will identify with the good guy as they struggle to stop themselves doing ‘naughty’ things in their everyday lives.

Superhero play can also assist with the development of empathy in children as they put themselves in the position of another and assess the needs of other characters in their dramatic play. One of the current hot topics in child development is the need to encourage our kids to be physically active. Superhero play encourages children to jump, run and move as they imitate their heroes.

Of course, such physical activity creates concerns about the nature of such play and the possibility of encouraging violent behaviour. But these concerns can be addressed by applying a measure of common sense.

Just as any form of play requires adult supervision in varying degrees, so too does superhero play. A parent or carer should feel free to use their usual discipline for superhero play. For example, if hitting is not acceptable in other forms of play then the same rule applies during superhero play.

But what about the girls – where are their heroes? Studies indicate that girls also have an interest in the benefits derived from this form of play. Wonder Woman has long been the standard for female superheroes. In 1998 The Powerpuff Girls made their first appearance, appropriating ‘girl power’ philosophies popular in the late 1990s.

So if you find, like me, that you have spawned a teeny superhero, I say embrace him or her in their quest for power. After all, as Yvette Blue, early childhood carer at Six Hats Early Childhood Service, says, “It’s only for a very short time that you get to be a caped crusader in your life.”

And if all else fails, just do as we do and remind your littlest hero that, in the words of Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

5 Ways to engage with Superhero Play

When your child plays superhero or other good vs. evil games, they are exploring different power roles - an important part of social and moral growth. Still, this activity can easily escalate into chaos!
Keep it from getting out of hand by following these guidelines:

1. Play it safe. Set clear boundaries (for example, no hitting or leaping off the couch) to remind your child that safety comes first. 
2. Monitor your child’s television watching. Keep violent TV shows and films to a minimum and always talk with your child about what she has seen and how they feel about it. 
3. Encourage open communication. Remind your child that talking things out is always the best way to solve a problem. Encourage them to ask you for help if feeling troubled. 
4. Use art as therapy. If your child is using violent games to express anger or other negative feelings, show he/she how to substitute with creative projects or exercise. Pounding on clay or taking a run helps alleviate frustration. 
5. Be a part of the play. If they’ll allow it, become involved in your child’s game to gain a better perspective on what they are  feeling.

For more information:
Boyd, Brenda J., Teacher response to superhero play: To ban or not to ban? Childhood Education; Fall 1997 

Media Awareness Network ‘Managing Superhero Play’, Tip Sheet at

Quick Click: 5 Ways to Respond to Superhero Play

Weihen, Louise and Tolley, Kerry, Exploring Early Childhood, Heinemann Education; 2004