PD Registry Login

Super Hero Play

April 19, 2026

Five-year-old Rafe loves to watch super hero shows on TV. He dresses up as super heroes and wants superhero-themed birthday parties. Sometimes he thinks he really is Superman, as he pretends to fly down the stairs in his home. When he plays with his friends, they pretend to be The Flash or Avengers, and they can get very physical. His parents worry that this kind of play encourages violence.

Why children (especially boys) like super hero play

  • They can be powerful, when in real life they often feel powerless.
  • They can pretend to be people who can solve big problems and be successful.
  • Super hero play provides the physical activity young children really need.

Benefits of super hero play

  • Assists with social/emotional development—learning about right and wrong, fairness, and cooperation.
  • Assists with cognitive development, such as learning about a character and role-playing.
  • Uses imagination and encourages cooperative and group play; builds problem-solving skills.
  • Helps children learn to distinguish between good and evil.
  • Allows children to act out some of their aggressive tendencies in a socially acceptable way.

Concerns about super hero play

  • May help to promote excessively aggressive behavior and glorify violence and the use of weapons.
  • Is a symptom of too much exposure to violence—both real-life and fantasy—in the media.
  • Discourages creative and open-ended
  • May result in bullying behavior and unsafe play.

Resources

Supporting super hero play in child care: Concerns and benefits. Kendra Moyses, Michigan State University Extension. http://bit.ly/2mzeFqV

Positive superhero play. Great Schools. http://bit.ly/2lEmewg

From Superhero to Real-Life Hero: Encouraging Healthy Play. Shelley Butler and Deb Kratz. http://bit.ly/2kZIbpg

Rough and tumble play 101. Frances Carlson. www.ccie.com/library/5018870.pdf

Contact

Programs and families can contact the program leadership directly at PAIECMH@pakeys.org with questions or concerns.

Additional Considerations

This project is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning.