My SD Moms Superman, Spider-Man. Wonder Woman, Batman! To kids these aren’t just fictitious comic book heroes –
they are options of who they want to be when they grow up. Kids are little works of art in progress and are searching for an identity. We as parents do everything we can to help our kids grow into strong, independent people with a moral compass, but we can only do so much. It’s pretty much their job to figure out who they are and who they want to be. Jeff Greenberg, Ph.D., a professor of social psychology at the University of Arizona says, “Kids are pretty powerless and vulnerable, so pretending they’re superheroes is one way for them to gain a sense of confidence and competence in a positive way.”
Running through the house with a towel on their back, jumping off of furniture may not sound like the ideal situation to you, but they are doing more than just playing. They are holding up a building, bending steel, and saving hundreds of people! That’s building character in your child in a very positive way, along with your parental guidance. A young child doesn’t necessarily understand how a doctor, scientist, or lawyer can have an important impact on the world. The concepts of their work don’t resonate very well yet. A superhero, however…now that’s a job!
Read more at parenting.com.
