OK, I'm in the final stages of writing my new book and I've realised that I am out of touch with the UK 'craze' scene!
I"m after examples of Superheroes who are female and positive for a story about superhero play and what is appropriate and inappropriate. Is Dora the Explorer a superhero? Is she popular and well known in the UK?
Ideas welcome! American crazes are often so different and I dont want to mention some characters that nobody in Britain has even heard of!
What are your rules about Superhero type play? Any particular games banned? Limits? Gender issues? I know how things move on with crazes and I'm sure all the games our nursery children played are way out of date now, six years later!!
Nicola
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Female Superheroes
Started by Nicola Call, May 05 2004 10:03 PM
29 replies to this topic
#1
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Posted 05 May 2004 - 10:03 PM
#2 Guest_Tredworth_*
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Posted 05 May 2004 - 10:28 PM
Superhero play seems to be the hot topic of the moment! In our setting (pre-school within LEA early years centre) it is entirely gender specific. Superman, Spiderman and Ninja Turtles are the main characters of interest. None of them are seen by the children as forces for good!
Sorry I've not heard of your female superhero but maybe others have?
We have limits on Superhero play indoors mainly due to space and resultant safety issues. Outside we only intervene if play is considered too aggressive or threatening.
I'm taking part in a pilot "Supporting Superhero Play" course run by the LEA in June so I'm hoping to come away with some useful ideas.
Sorry I've not heard of your female superhero but maybe others have?
We have limits on Superhero play indoors mainly due to space and resultant safety issues. Outside we only intervene if play is considered too aggressive or threatening.
I'm taking part in a pilot "Supporting Superhero Play" course run by the LEA in June so I'm hoping to come away with some useful ideas.
#3
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cybertwin
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 07:04 AM
ours are into transformers, ninja turtles, and power rangers still.
but for the girls there doesnt seem to be one, barbie is popular but wouldnt sat she is a super hero!!!!
also the boys imitate footballers more that the others
but for the girls there doesnt seem to be one, barbie is popular but wouldnt sat she is a super hero!!!!
also the boys imitate footballers more that the others
#4
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 09:14 AM
Not sure if it helps but my son watches the Power puff girls. Its a cartoon about three young girls with super powers.
Sandra
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 09:16 AM
My girls do watch Dora the Explorer Nicola but thats because we have Sky and it's on Nick Jnr. Don't think it's shown on terrestrial tv. 
I've been wracking my brains but just can't think of a female super hero popular at the moment. Sorry! 
I've been wracking my brains but just can't think of a female super hero popular at the moment. Sorry!
Carol
The World is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning. – Ivy Baker Priest
The World is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning. – Ivy Baker Priest
#6
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 11:49 AM
It was wonderwoman when i was little.
My little one watches totally spies on fox kids (they save the world - so could be classed as superheros)
My little one watches totally spies on fox kids (they save the world - so could be classed as superheros)
hali
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In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 06:31 PM
I would agree that totally spies and power puff girls are about as good as it gets! my son loves totally spies!
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 07:31 PM
Hi Nicola,
not really aware of any female superheroes. Barbie seems to be the perennial favourite, once the girls come into school anyway.
Boys seem to always play power ranger type games and we always discourage rough play and fighting as evetually someone gets hurt!
Soldiers were very popular this time last year but not so obvious now.
not heard of any of the spies or power puff girls or Dora the explorere but who knows?
not really aware of any female superheroes. Barbie seems to be the perennial favourite, once the girls come into school anyway.
Boys seem to always play power ranger type games and we always discourage rough play and fighting as evetually someone gets hurt!
Soldiers were very popular this time last year but not so obvious now.
not heard of any of the spies or power puff girls or Dora the explorere but who knows?
Susan
Children are like snowflakes, each one is an individual.
Children are like snowflakes, each one is an individual.
#9
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 07:59 PM
Gracious - here in a little village we must be in the dark ages - we have no superheroes of any gender at present (only batman with a cloak from the dressing-up box, but batman does not seem to be gender-specific).
At present, all the role play seems to be animals: puppies (and special dogs), gamboling lambs, frogs (producing frog spawn and tadpoles), ladybirds, spiders, spider-monsters (lol).
The girls are barbie-fanatics (a generalisation), and the boys go for Thomas the TE (another generalisation). But neither of these usually impinge upon the play.
Maybe it's because our environ does not have cable, and digiboxes don't work here!
Diane.
At present, all the role play seems to be animals: puppies (and special dogs), gamboling lambs, frogs (producing frog spawn and tadpoles), ladybirds, spiders, spider-monsters (lol).
The girls are barbie-fanatics (a generalisation), and the boys go for Thomas the TE (another generalisation). But neither of these usually impinge upon the play.
Maybe it's because our environ does not have cable, and digiboxes don't work here!
Diane.
Imagination is intelligence having fun.
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Sue R
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 08:44 PM
Diane - how wonderful!!!!
Where are you, EXACTLY, I'm moving!
Sue :D
Where are you, EXACTLY, I'm moving!
Sue :D
Want to be someone someone would want to be
#11
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 09:19 PM
Sue,
Come on over.
I am in the wilds of Cambridgeshire (not really- just on the Hertfordshire/ Cambridgeshire border)!!
The nearest McDonald's is 13 miles away. The nearest cinema is 10 miles. No cable TV, very few (if any) have satellite. No digiboxes here (much to my own children's disgust).
I guess our children are relatively uninfluenced.
Role play tends to be based around their own experiences, which is rather nice, I have to say. I would find it very hard to be a convincing ninja turtle (or indeed one of these puff people).
Diane (who can just about manage to be Harold the helicopter when push comes to shove).
Come on over.
I am in the wilds of Cambridgeshire (not really- just on the Hertfordshire/ Cambridgeshire border)!!
The nearest McDonald's is 13 miles away. The nearest cinema is 10 miles. No cable TV, very few (if any) have satellite. No digiboxes here (much to my own children's disgust).
I guess our children are relatively uninfluenced.
Role play tends to be based around their own experiences, which is rather nice, I have to say. I would find it very hard to be a convincing ninja turtle (or indeed one of these puff people).
Diane (who can just about manage to be Harold the helicopter when push comes to shove).
Imagination is intelligence having fun.
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 09:32 PM
Um - might be my influence I'm afraid, but my Annie (age 6 and three quarters) can't decide whether she'd like to be Arwen, Eowyn or Galadriel.
Do they count as superheroines? If not, why not?
Do they count as superheroines? If not, why not?
'There are no ordinary people. It is immortals whom we work with, joke with, marry, snub and exploit.'
#13
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 09:55 PM
Steve, it must be your influence.
I have always encouraged my children to be Charlotte (from Charlotte's Web).
Needeless to say, it never worked for me. My little one was always Burglar Bill, but never the reformed version.
Diane.
I have always encouraged my children to be Charlotte (from Charlotte's Web).
Needeless to say, it never worked for me. My little one was always Burglar Bill, but never the reformed version.
Diane.
Imagination is intelligence having fun.
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 10:01 PM
:D
Charlotte - what a great superhero! :)
Charlotte - what a great superhero! :)
'There are no ordinary people. It is immortals whom we work with, joke with, marry, snub and exploit.'
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Posted 06 May 2004 - 10:13 PM
Female superheros seem to be seriously unrepresented now you have got me thinking about it.
I am not much help I'm afraid as my little girl is Disney princess mad and the likes of Cinderella, Ariel and Snow White can't really come into the category of superhero can they.
Princess Fiona in 'Shrek' is quite cool with her kung foo skills.
I will keep thinking though and hopefully will have a flash of inspiration.
Sue
I am not much help I'm afraid as my little girl is Disney princess mad and the likes of Cinderella, Ariel and Snow White can't really come into the category of superhero can they.
Princess Fiona in 'Shrek' is quite cool with her kung foo skills.
I will keep thinking though and hopefully will have a flash of inspiration.
Sue
You know the only people who are always sure about the proper way to raise children? Those who've never had any.
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
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