TL;DR: The Heroism Cheat Sheet If you’re in a rush between soccer practice and making sure the "Skibidi Toilet" song isn't the only thing your kid hears today, here’s the quick list of media that actually models heroism rather than just "super-slamming":
- Best for Empathy: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown or the The Wild Robot movie.
- Best for Conflict Resolution: Avatar: The Last Airbender.
- Best for "Everyday" Heroism: Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
- The 2025 "Hope" Pick: James Gunn’s Superman (releasing July 2025).
- The Red Flag: Brawl Stars and certain combat-heavy Roblox "tycoons" that equate progress solely with destruction.
Check out our full guide on identifying "Brain Rot" vs. Quality Content
We’ve all been there. You walk into the living room and your seven-year-old is "embodying a hero" by virtually shotgunning a banana in Fortnite. When you ask what they’re doing, they say they’re "saving the squad."
In the 2025 media landscape, the line between "heroic protector" and "efficient combatant" has become incredibly thin. Between the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the endless "battle pass" loops of modern gaming, and the chaotic energy of YouTube creators, kids are being taught that a hero's primary skill is how hard they can hit, not how much they care.
As intentional parents, our job isn't necessarily to ban the "slamming"—let's be real, kids have been playing "tag but with swords" since the dawn of time—but to help them distinguish between the power and the purpose.
It’s not just that they like explosions (though, let’s be honest, explosions are cool). Kids love superhero and combat media because it offers agency. In a world where they are told when to eat, when to sleep, and when to do math, Minecraft or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gives them the power to change their environment.
The problem arises when the only way to change that environment is through violence. When every "win" in a game like Brawl Stars is tied to a "K/D ratio" (Kill/Death ratio), the concept of heroism gets flattened into mere dominance.
Ask our chatbot about the psychological effects of combat loops in gaming
For a decade, we’ve been stuck in the era of the "edgy anti-hero." But 2025 is seeing a shift. The upcoming Superman movie is a massive talking point in the digital wellness world because it’s explicitly moving away from the "gritty" violence of previous iterations.
If your kids are seeing trailers for this or Thunderbolts*, it’s a perfect time to talk about the "Why." Why does Superman help? Is it because he can punch through a building, or because he chooses not to?
If you're looking to balance the "super-slamming" with some actual substance, here’s how to categorize what your kids are consuming.
1. The "Empathy First" Heroes
These stories feature characters who have the power to destroy but choose to create or protect instead.
- The Wild Robot: This is the gold standard right now. Roz is a high-tech machine (pure power) who learns that her greatest "superpower" is kindness and motherhood. It’s a beautiful way to show that being "strong" means being useful to your community.
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: While there is plenty of action, the core conflict is about ethics and whether one person’s life is worth "the canon." It's a great "thinker" for ages 9+.
- Avatar: The Last Airbender: Whether you watch the original animation or the live-action, Aang’s struggle to remain a pacifist in a world of war is the ultimate lesson in "Heroism vs. Violence."
2. Gaming: Creativity vs. Combat
- The Good: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. In this 2024/2025 hit, you play as Zelda, and instead of just swinging a sword, you use "echoes" (copies of items) to solve problems. It rewards "big brain" energy over "fast trigger" fingers.
- The Gray Area: Fortnite. Look, it’s a shooter. But the "LEGO Fortnite" and "Creative" modes are actually brilliant for digital engineering. If your kid is just playing "Battle Royale" for 4 hours, they’re in a combat loop. If they’re building worlds, they’re being creators.
- The "Watch Out": Roblox. Some games on Roblox, like Bee Swarm Simulator, are harmless fun. Others are "Bloody Mary" style horror or combat games with zero context other than "hit the other player to get coins."
Ages 4-7: Helping is the Superpower
At this age, kids struggle to separate fantasy from reality. If they see a "hero" hitting someone, they think hitting is what heroes do.
Ages 8-12: The "Cool" Factor vs. The Consequence
This is the peak Fortnite and Marvel era. They want what’s "cool" and "Ohio" (weird/cringe) is anything that feels like a "baby show."
- The Talk: Start asking about the "villains." Do they have a point? Why is the hero's solution to use their fists?
- Recommendation: Wings of Fire series. It has dragons and battles, but it’s deeply concerned with the cost of war and the burden of leadership.
Ages 13+: Complex Morality
Teens are ready for the "Deconstruction" phase.
- Media: The Hunger Games or The Dark Knight.
- The Talk: Discuss "The Greater Good." Is violence ever the right answer? How does the digital world (social media, "cancel culture") act as a form of non-physical violence?
You don't want to be the parent who pauses the movie every five minutes to ask, "Now, was that a healthy choice?" That’s a one-way ticket to your kid watching YouTube in the bathroom with the door locked.
Instead, try these "drive-by" questions:
- "That character is incredibly strong. What do you think would happen if they didn't have those powers? Would they still be a hero?"
- "In Fortnite, is there any way to win without eliminating people? Why do you think the developers made it that way?"
- "If Superman just used his heat vision on everyone who disagreed with him, would people still look up to him?"
Check out our guide on having better tech conversations with your kids
While we're talking about the philosophy of violence, don't forget the visuals.
- Cartoon Violence: Think Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Characters fly off screen, no blood, no lasting trauma. Generally okay for most kids.
- Realistic Violence: Games like Call of Duty or shows like The Boys (which many middle schoolers are unfortunately watching) use "hyper-violence." Research shows that while "cartoon" violence has minimal impact on aggression, "realistic" violence can desensitize kids to real-world suffering.
Heroism isn't the absence of conflict; it's the presence of character within conflict.
Whether your kid is obsessed with Minecraft, Roblox, or the latest Marvel movie, the goal isn't to sanitize their world. It’s to give them a lens. When they see a "super-slam," they should be able to ask: "Is this because they’re a hero, or just because they’re the strongest person in the room?"
Helping them find that distinction is the ultimate parenting superpower.
- Audit the Watchlist: Check your kid's YouTube history. Are they watching "Life Hacks" or "People Pranking/Hitting Each Other"?
- Play Together: Hop into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and ask your kid to build you something cool rather than just fighting monsters.
- Read Aloud: Start The Wild Robot tonight. It’s the perfect bridge for this conversation.
Ask our chatbot for a personalized media recommendation based on your kid's favorite games