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Superheroes are a big thing at our house right now.  The Cheese got all of the Planet Heroes for Christmas, while the Monkey received a Superman and a Batman doll.  I call them his "Barbies" but the Golfer doesn't like it when I do.  Of course there is Buzz Lightyear and Woody.  I guess they aren't actually superheroes, but with the Monkey saying things like, "Buzz Lightyear...to the rescue!" it sure seems like they are.  I live in a house filled with boys; superheroes are going to be a natural part of the equation. 

For the Monkey's birthday, he even received a book called "The Superhero Starter Kit" by Chicken Socks.  Chicken Socks has a great assortment of activity books for ages preschool and up.  "This was one of those gifts that you don't realize how fun it's going to be until you get it out and play with it.  The starter kit has everything in it to turn, as they say, "an ordinary kid into a superhero."  There is a cape, six different masks, wrist guards, super stickers, and "heroic advice." 

Thank goodness we were given two of the same book, because both of the boys decided to become superheroes at the same time.  The cape is of really good quality, made of a satin fabric with a Velcro closure, which means that it will last for much more than a day or two.  It amazes me how as soon as I put the cape on the boys, both of them immediately started to run around with lightening speed, stopping to put their hands on their hips and announce things like, "I am Super Bee!"  (That one came from the Monkey.)

Being early in the morning, the boys still had on their jammies.  It was a good thing that the beds were still unmade because they needed somewhere to jump and fly from.  Now, I don't typically endorse this kind of behavior, but it was hard to stop them when I saw how much fun they were having "flying" like superheroes.  Besides, I was standing right there the whole time, taking pictures of course.

What I think I love most about this "toy" is that it is all about using your imagination.  There were some karate kicks and punches were thrown, but never at each other, just at the imaginary bad guy.  While wearing their capes, masks, and wrist guards, there was lots of talk about super powers and "to infinity and beyond."  They ran around the house like wild things, and were jumping off the furniture to gain as much air as possible, but considering that it all lasted about thirty minutes before they wore themselves out, I don't think it was such a bad thing. 

I'm so glad that my children have discovered how much fun it is to play "let's pretend."  Playing pretend, be it a superhero, a rock star, a famous chef, or a teacher, is a wonderful way for children to realize that they can be anything that they want to be.   

As the starter kit says, "Time to set free your inner hero.  Our future is in your hands!"