Boy Noise

by Sarah Kern Enter any early childhood classroom and you are sure to find a group, mostly boys, engaged in superhero play. Even if it is not specifically superhero play, the theme of good versus evil permeates almost every type of preschool dramatic play. Superhero play, however, is typically the LOUDEST expression of this theme.The topic of superhero play can be a hot button issue for adults. Common complaints against superhero play include themes of violence, weapon play, an aggressive appearance, and noise. Because these are accurate descriptions of superhero play, it makes many teachers uncomfortable to the point of banning it altogether. Even some of my own early childhood Master’s program colleagues don’t allow superhero play in their programs. While arguments could be made for the need for teachers to feel comfortable with their students’ activities, the job of the teacher is not to love every play scenario. It is the job of the teacher to understand play and to honor it, comfortably or not.For young children, the role of the superhero is appealing because it allows them to feel powerful in an adult-controlled world. When portraying a superhero a child is invincible and in control, but as a "regular" four-year-old, a child may cry because she wasn't able to select her shirt for the day. Superheroes are the helpers, while young children are almost always the helped.Many opponents of superhero play focus on the perceived violence and aggression, but rarely does pretend violence or aggression escalate into the real thing. If a child does hurt another child, peers are quick to intervene. Recently a student touched another student while pretending to fight. The child who was touched said, “No, that’s not how you do it. Sarah, let’s show him how to pretend fight without touching.” After a quick demo, the superheroes were off on their own again, happily fighting bad guys.We have to ask ourselves what messages we send to our students when we prohibit the themes they are most interested in. Children need a safe place to explore ideas and themes that interest them and even frighten them. A classroom that prohibits superhero play may appear more peaceful and easier to manage, but how do the children feel? By taking the time and effort to understand their play, we respect young children whenever we honor their interests. They need safe spaces to explore these "big themes" they're grappling with - good and evil, power and control, rehearsing for adult roles. It’s what fighting bad guys is all about.