Placement Activity: Superhero Day!

Here is another great play-time activity for kids that is a spinoff on the Paper Plate Masks craft idea. Kids can create their own superhero identities and spend the day fighting crime!

Activity/Idea name: 
Superhero Day!

Brief description of the placement where you work (please include ages, number of people, languages spoken, other etc):
I did this as a full-day activity at a daycare center, with approximately 8-10 kids between 4 and 8-years-old.  It is useful to be able to speak some of the key words to the kids (like superhero, mask, cape, etc.), but even if you can't speak a word of their language, they will catch on pretty quickly to the idea!

Goal of the activity:
Creating superhero masks and costumes engages the kids creatively, and allows them to work towards an end goal of completing their identity so that they can begin playing.  It also is good for younger kids to work on their motor skills. Perhaps most importantly, it is a lot of fun!

Required resources:

•  Paper Plates
• String
• Stickers, stickers, etc (optional)
• Trash bags

Step-by-step process:
Have the kids create and decorate a superhero mask, in the same way that the Paper Plate Animal Masks worked.  They can use markers, stickers, crayons, or whatever they have access to to customize their mask.  Cut the trash bags into capes that they can wear around their necks...and voila, a superhero is made!

Suggestions:

1. It helps to have the masks cut out beforehand, so that the kids do not need to cut the eye holes and other parts out themselves.  This will save time and is safer.
2. Bring extras!
3. Don't get too worried about making the costumes beautiful - a little imagination goes a long way, and most likely the kids will not want to wait to start playing!
4. Make sure you are careful when supervising the younger kids.  Plastic bags can be dangerous if they get are around the head.