Superhero for a Day🦸

The day begins with floating slippers and glowing hands. First, the child has to work out their new power, with a few funny mistakes along the way: breakfast cereal flying around the kitchen and a door opening a little too forcefully. Then the child notices that the town needs help, and there's not much time.

The missions are everyday ones rather than dangerous: a kitten that's stuck, a neighbour who's dropped their shopping bags, a little child who's lost their dad in the park. Late in the afternoon, the power begins to fade, and the most important mission is still to come. What the child discovers then is at the heart of the book, so we'll leave that for you to read.

This idea is for children who love dressing up, leap off the sofa with their arms outstretched or wonder which superpower would be best. It's also for a child who could do with hearing that small things, like helping someone or saying sorry, take courage too.

A three-year-old can enjoy flying over the rooftops and seeing people wave. An eight-year-old might think about whether to use a power for themselves or for others, and whether someone who can't fly can still be a hero.

Describe the child's real costume or cape, and the power they'd choose for themselves: flying, becoming invisible or talking to animals. A sibling could be their sidekick with a costume of their own, while the family dog or cat could have a little mask and a superpower all to itself.

Afterwards, think about your everyday superpowers together. Who in the family is best at comforting people, and who always finds lost things? Make up one hero mission a day for the next week, such as helping a neighbour or surprising someone with a drawing. For more on costumes and pretend play, visit Dressing up.