Superheroes are used to dealing with adversity, but they now have a new opponent: an Australian council which has declared them public enemy number one for children.
The ban affects children between the ages of three and five at kindergartens in Hobsons Bay, a sprawling suburb to the west of Melbourne.
Parents at eight of the nurseries are instructed not to bring their children to class dressed as Wonder Woman, Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, or any other top hero. Parents as well as teachers had requested the policy, fearing that the costumes could encourage bullying and violence.
Bill Baarini, the mayor of Hobsons Bay, said violent play could arise if children imitated the behaviour of their comic-book heroes. ”There were kids wearing these superhero outfits and … actually believing they were the character. We all did it as kids, and superheroes are great fun, but you must limit it to the interests of [the] children.”
But childcare experts said that the ban would not prevent childhood aggression.
Judy Radich, president of Early Childhood Australia, said imitating heroes was a natural part of growing up. ”I don’t think that banning anything is a sophisticated way of dealing with this. We need to delve more deeply into why they behave like this. Part of it is learning to socialise. Children need to act things out to sort out where they fit in the world.”
Baarini, who admits that as a child he wore a Superman suit, added: ”We all wish we were Superman sometimes.” – Guardian Unlimited Â