Nursery World - Positive Relationships: Home Learning

The benefits of 'superhero play' are now understood by early years settings, but can cause concern at home. Here's our advice on how to reassure parents, plus a parent's guide to resources and activities.

'Superhero play' can perplex and alarm parents, so be prepared to address any queries that families might have about their children's sudden interest in becoming action heroes - and fighting baddies!

For background information on the subject, there's:

Two of the best-known books on the subject are Magic Capes, Amazing Powers: transforming superhero play in the classroom by Eric Hoffman (Redleaf Press) and Boys and Girls: superheroes in the doll corner by Vivien Gussey Paley (University of Chicago Press).

In recent years, there has been a real shift in thinking about superhero play within the early years sector. Where once it was discouraged, it is now largely accepted. That same change of heart may not be the case with parents, many of whom remain uncomfortable with this sort of play and uncertain about how to respond to it. Equally, a change in attitude across the sector doesn't mean that all practitioners are comfortable with superhero play, so discuss attitudes within your setting and agree, as a group, how to respond to parents' queries.

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