NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota
State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
July 30, 1998
Kim Bushaw, Parent Line Program Specialist
NDSU Extension Service
When he was age 4 or so, our son carried a briefcase full of Mutant Ninja Turtles everywhere he went. Fortunately he didn't care for the turtle's enemies so he didn't buy many of them. This meant there was little conflict in the group. The turtles did their kicks and chops, but I was constantly reassured they were only having fun practicing and exercising. I bought it.
Moms and dads are still buying it today—literally. There are a number of play figures on the market, and parents regularly confess that their preschooler is hooked on playing with "the guys"little plastic figures of people or animals, usually designed after a popular television program. These guys tend to be the super heroes of the day.
Why do kids love this type of play? According to Marjorie Kostelnik, Alice Whiren and Laura Stein in the book "Reducing Stress in Young Children's Lives," children are looking for a variety of things from their super hero play.
Super heroes have power. Preschoolers feel pretty powerless since many decisions are made for them. Adults are in charge of most major arrangements, as it should be. Children, however, can be given "everyday power" to decide things such as what to wear, what to play with and the amount they want to eat—again, within adult parameters.
Super heroes have good qualities. They're smart, strong and never afraid. They are often athletic, and some can even magically turn into something else. Their quick wit gets them out of every jam, and they don't make mistakes. Best of all, they are appreciated by adults.
Preschoolers need a lot of encouragement, much more than they need criticism. Parents regularly register complaints that their preschoolers seem to have stopped hearing. Preschoolers are happy to report that they can hear but they've stopped listening because the messages are often not positive. Corrections that come in the form of helpful suggestions are always more welcome than those that come as orders.
What's the problem? Super hero play is often action-packed, which is probably fine. Unfortunately, it can turn aggressive very quickly. That's not fine.
What's the solution? Monitor the play, and make suggestions about how the super hero might solve his problem without hurting others. Limit the amount of television-scripted play the child does by limiting TV and encouraging the child to use the figures in other ways. Perhaps the turtles could take a vacation in a homemade shoe box car. Maybe the Power Rangers could help their community by building a house for homeless plastic people.
As long as there are young children, there will be heroes to watch and emulate. When they have plenty of options, creative alternatives and parents who are real heroes, children learn what is acceptable in a safe and healthy way.
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More than 100 Parent Line columns are in the book "Please Tell Me This is Just a Stage." To order, send $9.95 per copy to Distribution Center, Box 5655, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105-5655.
Kim Bushaw answers the Parent Line, an information and listening support line for North Dakota parents from the NDSU Extension Service. Call the Parent Line at 1-800-258-0808 (231-7923 in Fargo) with questions about this column and other parenting topics. The Parent Line is answered 7:30 a.m. - 9:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday.
Source: Kim Bushaw (701) 231-1070
Editor: Becky Koch (701) 231-7875