These days, there are a lot of superhero movies to choose from. There are so many of them that some people are getting upset, but superhero movies are great for parents. Why? For one easy reason: superheroes are fun for kids in many ways.
The Need for Heroes in People
People have been making superheroes since the beginning of time. The oldest book that has been kept alive, Gilgamesh, is about a king hero named Gilgamesh who goes on adventures and always makes things right. Literary works from Ancient Greece and Rome were both full of heroes. Indian and Chinese cultures also had heroes in the past. These heroes often had magical abilities that let them help regular people.
For this reason, the modern superhero seems so normal to everyone, even kids. People have begun to rely on this person when things are tough and we need a little help going in the right way.
Knowing what is good and bad
Not to get too abstract, but the difference between good and bad is something that only humans can understand. There is no right or wrong way for animals to act. Only people do it. Young children learn the difference between good and bad pretty quickly. It’s not hard to explain it to them, but it’s always a good idea to tell them.
This is what superheroes do best. They do this without being preachy, and most of the time, they do it in a very subtle way.
Children will eventually grow up and need to learn about the real world, but for now, at least some stars will still be around. As the world is, many modern (and not just modern) superhero stories show it to be a dark place where the lines between good and bad are often not clear.
Helping Other People
Once you get past all the questions about what is good and bad, you will almost always find that superheroes are about helping other people. Even though they might not be as empathetic as a perfect world would need, you can’t deny that they want to help.
For kids, learning the good thing to do is to help others can only lead to good things. Your child will not look the other way when they see wrongdoing; they will do something about it. They may get in trouble for this, but you will know they did the right thing. Being there for someone who can’t protect themselves is the most honorable thing you can do.
This is what superheroes are all about. They tell people not to be quiet if they see someone who needs help. To do something to improve the world is what it’s about.
Why the average person is important
The fact that most superheroes are normal people with supernatural skills is an important fact about most of the ones our kids love that we don’t always think about. Like everyone else in your town, they have the same problems and doubts.
That regular people can do amazing things that can change the world for the better is a great lesson for students to learn. People who find cures for diseases and study the world are just regular people who do strange things sometimes.
This is a great lesson to learn.
How to Become a Hero
The things our kids do that let them “become” superheroes for a while are a big part of celebrity culture. To give you an example, a kid will often play superhero and try to do all the cool things they can think of.
Another thing that people do is dress up as superheroes, which is totally normal. It can be good for your child to wear clothes with superheroes on them. Of course, you’ll want to look for deals on boys’ clothes (and girls’ clothes too) if your kid is really into it. You should not get in their way.
Let your kid be a superhero every once in a while.
In fact, you should let them.
