Every Hero Has A Story

Superheroes. 


They’re all the rage these past few years as Marvel unleashes movies in its Avenger’s series. From movies to purses to backpacks and now even to library summer reading programs, it’s hard to miss the superhero sensation! Walking through my local library, looking at the capes and hero emblems decorating the walls, I had to wonder: why are we so captivated by these masked vigilantes?  I believe there are two reasons. First, superheroes are ordinary people doing extraordinary things! They are standing up for the little guy and making the world a better place. Superheroes do what we are often too afraid to do ourselves.

 The second reason for our superhero fascination is captured in the library’s summer reading tagline: “Every Hero Has a Story”. As much as we love to watch superhuman people perform amazing feats of bravery, we love it even more when we are given a glimpse of their humanity. We appreciate the real-life struggles each hero faces because we see ourselves. We begin to think, “If he can do it, maybe I can too…”
The truth is, there are no superheroes, but there are heroes.


 They are ordinary people with ordinary stories who made extraordinary choices.


 It is those choices that transform them. This is one of the most important lessons we can instill in our children. Not only can children look up to superheroes, they can BE superheroes! As our children gear up for another school year, this is an especially important message. School is filled with many wonderful things, but it can, unfortunately, also be full of hardships and trials. As hard as they try, teachers cannot be everywhere and situations will arise when children will have to take care of matters themselves. So what can we do to prepare our kids to make the choice to be heroes instead of bullies this school year?

Here is a list of activities to get you started:

  1: Act like a hero

By Kalman Andrasofszky

Talk with your kids about what makes someone a hero. Why do we look up to heroes? What qualities do we admire and how can we replicate them in our everyday lives? A fun way to visualize this is to create a collage. Have your child cut out pictures of people he or she admires (they don’t necessarily have to be superheroes) along with words that describe that admirable person such as honor, truth, and courage. Help them to see that this is how a hero behaves.

Discuss a few small ways your child can be a hero at school, such as always being respectful and honest with his or her teacher, sitting with someone at lunch who doesn’t have a friend, or refusing to participate in bullying activities. Marvel actually made some awesome special edition comic book covers in support of bully prevention month that show favorite superheroes preventing bullying. These could serve as great inspiration for ways your child can be a hero instead of a bully! 


Also be sure to check out an earlier blog post we wrote called In a New Light for some tips and books to prepare your child to deal with bullying.


A quick word of caution: kids are still kids and while it is our job to teach them how to handle life on their own, we need to be sure to let them know when it is time to call for adult backup. Hey, even Batman called for reinforcements sometimes!

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2. Talk like a hero

This is a tip I picked up from the fantastic blogger Carrots are Orange.  When her children are fighting and the inevitable name calling begins, she asks them the simple question: “Is this how heroes talk? Would a hero say ‘stupid’?” If mean names and insults start flying, recall the hero collages and ask your child if he or she is acting very much like a hero right now. Chances are, they will see their words more clearly. 

 3. Dress like a hero

Photo credit: AshMill Photography

This step is both very fun and very useful!  What does every great superhero need? A secret identity of course! With your child, come up with a superhero alias. Design an outfit, draw pictures, go nuts!  Make a collage for your child’s superhero identity just like you made a collage for his or her favorite heroes. If you want to get even more creative and build literary skills, have your child write his or her own superhero story. Discuss what your superhero will stand for and remind him or her that, just like real superheroes, they can stand for those qualities even when they aren’t in costume.

For a visual reminder of his or her superhero identity, try making bracelets using your child’s superhero colors. We’ve included a link to a tutorial for very simple but nice bracelets that can be made by even young children! The colors can be customized and they have a gender neutral look. Add beads, more buttons, whatever you want!  When the time comes to exhibit some hero-like behavior, this bracelet may be just the reminder your little hero needs. 

4. Be a hero!

With your child, act out different scenarios they might encounter at school, such as one student calling another stupid, gossiping about the teacher, pushing, or being left out at recess. Talk about how a hero would behave in these situations. What are words, phrases, and actions that could help the situation instead of make it worse? Discuss how it probably won’t be easy and it might even be a little scary to speak up and go against the flow. It might be hard to choose kind words over angry ones or to not call names in retaliation, but remind them that


                      difficult is not impossible.


Especially not for a hero! Remind your child to look down at his or her hero bracelet and choose to be a hero today. And remind him or her that sometimes heroes call for backup. Make a list of adults your child can go to in times of trouble and discuss what those situations might look like. Think of this list as a superhero tool-belt.

Photo found on scgpr.com

I hope you find these tips helpful as you and your child prepare to begin another school year!

To be a real hero today, consider donating to these worthwhile causes that work hard each and every day to end bullying, comfort victims of bullying, and make the world a better place:

Stand For The Silent

Small Acts Big Change

Stomp Out Bullying

Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center

Project Anti-Bully

Unleash your inner superhero!

Let us know in the comments what your secret superhero name would be!

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More fun activities to help children combat bullying and become heroes!

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​To help young children (ages 4-8) understand the issue of bullying check out This is A. Blob by L.A Kefalos.  In a beautifully illustrated tale of a playground bully’s antics, readers discover that A. Blob and, perhaps others like it, may not be exactly what they seem. Through this story, children are encouraged to put themselves in the shoes of another and consider what can be done to help bullies and the victims of bullying.

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​BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE!​
A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 

Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!