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A few months into preschool, my son began pretending to be a superhero—even though he'd never seen one on TV or in the movies. Apparently, he learned all about them from a couple of kids in his class. "It's common for 4- to 5-year-olds, especially boys, to become attracted to these supernatural characters," says Nina Howe, Ph.D., professor of education at Concordia University in Montreal. Marketing surely plays a role: Thanks to the blockbuster comic-book movies this year, superhero stuff is everywhere. But even without an avalanche of Batman backpacks or Iron Man toys, plenty of preschoolers would still be drawn to caped crusaders, says Dr. Howe. She and other experts fill you in on five reasons why superheroes are so enthralling—and how you can activate your child's enthusiasm to promote good values.

THEY HAVE SPECIAL POWERS.
Being able to fly, lift heavy things, or run at breakneck speed—superheroes possess abilities kids wish they had, according to research at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "With more expectations placed on children in preschool and kindergarten, they begin to realize they don't have control over a lot of things," explains Jayne Singer, Ph.D., clinical director of the child and parent program in the Developmental Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Boston. "At the same time, these kids develop 'magical thinking,' the ability to escape to vivid fantasy worlds where they are in charge." When your child pretends to be a superhero with the power to freeze people in place or fly away from danger, he's using his magical thinking to feel like he has more control over situations.

Activate: Help your kid try out his super powers in real-life situations. For instance, say, "Let's see if you clean up these toys as fast as the Flash" or "Use your super strength to carry this bag of groceries into the house."

THEY'RE ALWAYS RIGHT.
Superheroes don't mess up very often, and that totally appeals to preschoolers, who often make mistakes or get into trouble. "Many 4- and 5-year-olds struggle to do the right thing as they encounter new experiences," says Karen Bauer, Ph.D., head of the early-childhood-education program at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. "A child likes the feeling of confidence she gets from pretending to be a superhero." As a result, playing superhero can provide a release for a kid's frustration as well as a chance to try out a leadership role.

Activate: Help your child make the right decision—like whether she should share a toy with a pal or not—by asking, "What do you think a superhero would do?"

THEY SAVE THE DAY.
Preschoolers don't usually get the opportunity to come to anyone's rescue. "But superheroes certainly do," says Dr. Bauer. "And they don't simply save a handful of people-they save an entire city or even a planet." Taking on these superhero roles fulfills a young kid's desire to help out—and, of course, they like the praise that usually comes along with their good deeds.

Activate: Give your child a chance to be "the hero" by introducing him to volunteering. Start small: Ask him to hold the door for someone who needs help or give you a hand raking the leaves for an older neighbor. Work your way up to a recycling project or collecting canned goods for a soup kitchen. No matter what he does, tell him how much everyone appreciates his help.

THEY'RE SUPER ACTIVE.
Kids love to run, jump, and shout, and superhero play gives them a setting to do it in. "Other pretend roles that kids assume—like princess or doctor—don't lend themselves to vigorous activity," points out Dr. Howe. As long as you're supervising within close range, it's okay if kids even get a little physical with each other. "The real thrill is running around full tilt. It's not meant to be hostile, it's just having a fun time together," says Gerard Jones, author of Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make-Believe Violence.

Activate: Kids need to blow off steam so they can be quiet and calm when you need them to, says Dr. Howe. As long as superhero play doesn't turn aggressive, she says, it's a fine outlet for their boundless energy.

THEY HAVE COOL COSTUMES.
You've got to admit, all those colors, emblems, and capes are pretty awesome. "Preschoolers love wearing bright and sparkly costumes that attract attention," says Jones. "It makes them feel prominent rather than one of 20 kids in a classroom."

Activate: When your child gives you a hard time about getting dressed up for church or a family party, try this: Tell him that tie and jacket isn't just an outfit, it's a superhero disguise that makes him look just like Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent.

* Encourage your child to dream up his own superhero character rather than mimicking one from a book or a TV show.

As fun as playing superheroes or watching television can be, many parents worry that this kind of entertainment will make their children more rowdy and aggressive. "The research on the effects this has on kids is mixed," says Dr. Nina Howe, of Concordia University. In one of her studies, a group of 4-yearold boys who played with action figures didn't show any aggressive behavior afterward. But other research involving older kids suggests that watching hero-and-villain battles on the screen may be associated with more aggressive acts. Dr. Howe's take: "You shouldn't ban superheroes. But you should supervise your child's play and media habits. Talk to him about the physical aspect of pretending to be a superhero so he understands what is acceptable behavior and what's not."

Comic books made especially for young kids—such as Tiny Titans and Super Friends—are ideal for teaching early-reading skills. Katie Van Sluys, Ph.D., president of the Whole Language Umbrella of The National Council of Teachers of English, explains why they're helpful.

• High-Frequency Words
  Comics are filled with small words like and, the, or, I, and we that young children will eventually need to recognize on sight.
• Neat Sounds
  Action words like kaboom, bam, and gotcha are easy for your child to sound out and lots of fun for him to read.
• Plenty of Pictures
  Kids can use the visuals to help figure out the story. Encourage your child to predict what's in the text bubble by asking what she sees in each picture.

Vivian Manning-Schaffel

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