Asking children to name their superpowers puts their voices first

At Koala Kindy, Fraser Coast Anglican College, our Children’s Week project began with a question: “What is your superpower?” Starting in Term 3, educators spent time with each child exploring their strengths and how they believed those strengths helped others.

We followed with two further questions: “How does your superpower help others?” and “How does your superpower help our world, our community or country?” We wanted to hear how children saw themselves and the contributions they felt they made.

Each child was then invited to design a superhero cape incorporating their chosen superpower. Their designs were displayed throughout Koala Kindy during Children’s Week, giving children opportunities to talk about their ideas and share them with others.

From children’s ideas to personalised capes

The project concluded with a picnic and a surprise for the children. Each received a personalised superhero cape featuring their original design, name and superpower.

The capes gave children something tangible to represent the ideas they had shared with educators. They could see their own designs brought to life and wear them as they joined the celebration.

Children paraded through the school before gathering on the green to dance together. The occasion brought the kindy community together and gave children an opportunity to share their creations with the wider school community.

Making time for children to describe their strengths

As educators, we regularly observe and discuss children’s strengths, capabilities and interests. This project began by asking children what they recognised in themselves, rather than choosing those qualities for them.

Our intention was to explore strengths found in everyday relationships and experiences. Being a good friend, helping someone who is sad, caring for animals or having the courage to try something new can all be ways children contribute.

Children’s Week gave us a reason to make time for these conversations, but the questions can extend beyond a single celebration. We want to continue listening to how children describe themselves, what matters to them and how they see their place in their community.

Further information about Koala Kindy is available here.