For centuries, heroic tales have inspired, motivated, and transferred cultural values to young children. This leads to a deeper question, who is a hero? According to one definition, a hero is a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. A person who has successfully achieved a task that in some way benefits others or themself in a transformational way. When we face difficult life challenges, we draw on heroic stories for inspiration to help us persevere through obstacles. Heroes show us a way to overcome life challenges through the use of a variety of character strengths and virtues.

How do we inspire children with these heroic stories at an early age?

Children need to develop heroic qualities and values early on from a preschool age so that they too can overcome life challenges and reach their full potential. Too often, heroes are viewed as myths, legends, and super heroes who never fail and are indestructible. While this could be good fun, it is not so transformational for children to bring about any positive change.

A good way for preschool and kindergarten educators to motivate children is to have discussions about heroic stories, movies, and books that highlight heroic character strengths and values. Children can then better relate to real-life heroes, who are diligently helping communities and not just fictional characters. Real people, who rise above fears and win seemingly impossible victories. Meeting these silent heroes from within the community can have a lasting impact on children and help them develop similar values and strengths when they grow up.

FBA Campuses – Celebrating Local Heroes!

Fueling Brains Academy campuses are serving as an excellent platform to introduce local heroes to children, inspiring future generations to build heroic qualities and become future leaders.

FBA campuses across the US and Canada make these interactions possible by observing various national days and regularly celebrating ‘community hero’ themes in the classrooms. Community heroes from all walks of life are invited to the campuses routinely, allowing children to interact with them, and learn about their extraordinary work in keeping our community safe. The community guests include military personnel, police officers, doctors, paramedics, artists,
superhero parents, and even a K9!

FBA campuses in Calgary celebrated First Responders Day, where children dressed up as the community helpers they admire the most. They were visited by firemen, police officers, and doctors in our local communities. A superhero dad in the police department was a real inspiration for the children. On Remembrance Day, students showed their love for the Canadian military heroes who shared their stories of duty and sacrifices for the country.

Left: Children dressed up in their favourite community helper attire on First Responders Day.
Right: one of FBA’s super dads who happens to be a policeman interacting with children to celebrate the ‘community
helpers’ theme.

Left: Canadian military officers visiting FBA Saskatoon
Right: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel visiting
Sr. Right Brain students and explaining about their heroic work in saving lives where every second counts!

Our FBA campuses in Texas introduce Heroes/ Role Models every school quarter. They recently celebrated the ‘community helpers’ theme in the classrooms. Local heroes from various city departments visited and allowed first-hand experiences for the preschoolers and kinder students. They showed their badges, equipment, and vehicles to the children and even read out stories in the classrooms. One of the guests who fascinated these little learners was a K9 hero who has been performing his duties to keep our streets drug-free. Children loved hearing about their experiences of courage, and strength, and how these officers risk their lives to keep the community safe.

The children and the teachers found these interactions particularly moving and positive in celebrating our local heroes while learning important lessons of courage and perseverance from their experiences. Meaningful experiences in early childhood education such as these not only teach children about the phenomenal work of these officials in providing civic services but also allow children to learn important values such as showing gratitude and honor to these local heroes.

Police officers reading to the students at FBA Poteet

FBA Escobar/Rios – Mission CISD: PreK 3 and PreK 4 Achievers say no to drugs after a presentation by the Mission Police Department which included a drug search demonstration by their very own K-9.

– By Faisal Masood