Princesses and Superheroes
Helping our kids see their worth beyond fairy tales and capes.
Book Week is here, and as I watched my daughter and other little children excitedly showing off their outfits, it made me pause and think—why are kids so drawn to princesses and superheroes? What do these characters really represent to our little ones?
My 3-year-old daughter has recently become more interested in the princesses, so I asked her, “Why do you like Cinderella?” Her simple answer: “Her dress when she spins.”
It made me reflect. Princesses often represent beauty, being desired, being loved. Superheroes often represent strength, toughness, and in many ways, being the ultimate “winner.”
Of course, if we look back through history, beauty and strength were traits that offered survival, safety, and opportunity. But fast-forward to today, and those old messages still show up in the characters our kids adore—and, later, in the pressures they feel about their own bodies.
I remember walking through the shops with my preschool-aged son when he spotted a muscular man in a singlet: “Wow Mum, I want to be strong like that.” Already, the idea that strength equals muscles was taking shape. I took the opportunity to broaden his view: yes, that man was probably strong because he went to the gym, but strength also shows up in different ways. He was strong when he ran on the soccer field or swam in the pool. I was strong when I carried his baby sister in my tummy and then in my arms. You don’t need big muscles to be strong.
That’s why I think it’s important to be mindful of the origins and influences of these characters. When we look at body image struggles in both men and women, so much of the distress comes from feeling like we fall short of these ideals—that our bodies don’t match what culture or society tells us is desirable, and that this makes us less lovable or less worthy.
As a mum, I know I can’t control every message my kids will hear about beauty or strength—but I can help shape the foundation they stand on. Here are a few things I try to be mindful of:
Love them unconditionally. I make sure my kids know they are loved and cherished every day—just as they are. Not for how they look, what they achieve, or even how they behave, but simply for being themselves.
Celebrate who they are beyond appearances. I try to notice and name their qualities out loud—“Sharing your toys with your sister was very kind” or “You were caring when you got the ice pack for your brother.” This balances the louder cultural messages that beauty and strength are the only traits that matter.
Offer diverse role models. I expose my kids to a variety of people and characters—family members, friends, or even movie characters like Moana—who show qualities such as bravery, compassion, or determination. Then we talk about those qualities together.
Encourage independence and resilience. I want my kids to know they have the power to influence their own futures. That means letting them make choices, experience the outcomes, and learn from them. It’s one of the best ways to nurture inner strength and self-worth.
At the end of the day, our kids don’t need to be princesses or superheroes to be worthy. They just need to know that who they are is more than enough. And as mums, that’s one of the greatest gifts we can give them.
