Not All Heroes Fight

If you asked young children to draw a picture of a hero, what do you think their drawings would depict? Would their drawings suggest that heroes wear armor and carry weapons? Would their figures have fisted hands ready to fight? Such images in children’s drawings would not be a surprise, as those are the kinds of heroes they see in movies, video games and toys.  

But not all heroes fight with fists and swords; this is a message worth sending to young children. Left unchallenged, the image of a hero as a warrior or fighter is likely to stay with them throughout their childhood years. A poll conducted by the Barron Prize for Young Heroes team several years ago indicated that U.S. teenagers recognized Superman and Spiderman as heroes more often than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln. This same poll suggested that young people tend to confuse celebrity—even imaginary celebrity—with real-life sacrifice and leadership when it comes to identifying heroes.

Carefully selected books can be used to give young children a broader view of what constitutes a hero. My favorite in the “hero category” is Swimmy by Leo Lionni. Some teachers think of Swimmy as a science book for young children. Others use it to introduce or reinforce the ideas of teamwork and cooperation. I like to think of Swimmy as a hero book for young children.

Swimmy, the main character in the story, is a small fish who never engages in a fight, yet he becomes a real hero to other small fish in the sea. His “weapon”—or power source—is an idea that he introduces to the group. Swimmy’s idea is to have the little fish swim together in formation to present an image of being the biggest fish in the sea. This idea—along with teamwork and cooperation—is what saves the smaller fish from being eaten by the bigger fish.

The etymology of the word hero reveals meanings like “protector” and “defender,” and that’s exactly what Swimmy is for the other small fish. In trying to keep others safe, Swimmy works for a cause greater than himself; he works to help others in need. Some might wonder if young children can understand this concept, as we tend to think of them as being egocentric. But even children at self-centered stages of development can be sensitive to the needs of others. As reported by the Greater Good Science Center, even very young children have altruistic tendencies—and these tendencies can be promoted.

Use these steps to broaden young children’s understanding of Swimmy and what it means to be a hero.

1. Before reading the story, have the children draw pictures of heroes. Give them an opportunity to talk about their pictures.
2. Introduce the book by telling the children that you’re going to read a story about another kind of hero. Ask them to listen carefully to find out why Swimmy is a hero.  
3. Read the story, and then ask the children to talk about what Swimmy did that helped others.
4. Also ask, “Was Swimmy brave? What did he do that showed he was brave?”
5. Continue the discussion by asking the children to complete this sentence: “A hero is someone who …” If they say something like “kills the bad guys,” you can ask if Swimmy had to kill anyone to protect the little fish. Help the children understand that a hero is someone who helps others when they need it. Explain that some people in their own communities are heroes. Give some examples, such as people working for the environment or people helping those who are homeless. Invite the children to give some additional examples.
6. Finally, ask the children, “Could you be a hero?” Reinforce the idea that a hero is someone who helps others who need it. Use puppets or cut-outs to narrate a story about someone telling a bully to stop hurting someone else.
7. Ask the children to think of something they can do to help others in their homes, communities or school, and then have them draw pictures of themselves engaged in that activity.

To emphasize the idea that not all heroes fight, you may also wish to share some other carefully chosen books with children. Discussing what makes a hero versus a superhero can help children identify character traits associated with heroic behaviors. According to Education Oasis, some universally accepted hero-related character traits include personal courage, caring for others, perseverance, resourcefulness, a belief in oneself, optimism and being an inspiration to others. Examples of children’s books reflecting one or more of these traits include the following:

• 26 BIG Things Small Hands Do by Coleen Paratore, illustrated by Mike Reed

• A Bus Called Heaven by Bob Graham

• Bullies Never Win by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Arthur Howard

• Harvesting Hope: The Story of César Chávez by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Yuyi Morales

• Mahavira: The Hero of Nonviolence by Manoj Jain, illustrated by Demi

• Nobody Knew What to Do: A Story About Bullying by Becky Ray McCain, illustrated by Todd Leonardo

• Wings by Christopher Myers

Wilson is an educational consultant and curriculum writer.