Create a Hero Song

Begin by talking with your child about the idea of a hero. For younger children, the concept might be more difficult to understand. You can help by giving them examples of some hero traits — heroes never give up; they help people who need it; they work hard; and they can always come up with a plan. Include other traits that might be important to your child or your family.

Next, talk to your child about who their hero is. They may have somebody instantly come to mind, or might need help identifying some of the people in their life who inspire them. Help them think of family, friends, or community members who they admire. You can even tell your child about any heroes that you have.

Once your child identifies a hero, start to talk about why they admire that person! It can help to look at photos of their hero while talking about experiences that they’ve had with them and words to describe them. If possible, it would be fun to observe their hero in person! Your child can write or draw ideas of the things that they appreciate about their hero and what makes them special. After writing or drawing a few ideas, help them pick the ones that they like best to include in their hero song.

After you have your ideas, arrange them in the order your child would like in the song. You can even arrange the pictures that your child drew in the same order, to help remember what to sing about.

Now, find some everyday objects around your house that could be used to create a beat for your hero song. Empty boxes make wonderful drums. You could also use wooden spoons to click together, or even fill a plastic egg with dry beans, beads or pebbles to create a shaker.

Use the objects to make a beat for your hero song. Once you have the rhythm and beat, sing your hero song using the pictures as a reminder of each part. Siblings or other family members can even join in! Some children might like to share the song with their hero. You can sing in person or send a quick video to share their hero song.