Looking for a cool tool that will help keep your kids:
a) busy ?
b) using their imaginations creatively ?
c) working on those reading and writing skills ?
d) out from in front of those video game screens ?
Then you might just be interested in checking out some great stuff on the Marvel Comics website.
Now I know some folks like to turn their noses up at comic books and don’t consider them “quality reading materials”. However, the simple fact of the matter is that comics have been turning non-readers into readers for decades and it does it in a way that is very visual, action packed, detailed and just as imagination expanding as any fancier, school approved reading list will. Those same visual and action packed characteristics also makes them especially productive for those readers who are either just learning to read or struggling to read because it keeps them involved and adds a context to what they’re reading.
You mix that all up with story lines that frequently hit on major themes of good and evil, right and wrong, accepting people that are different than you and protecting and helping others and you’ve got a pretty good formula for what in my mind is a “quality” activity for any kid. With the boom in comic book character based blockbuster movies the last couple of summers kids are also paying attention to them which means that yes ….. you can use comics to not only occupy your child’s time but also occupy their time in a way that you can be confident is growing and not rotting their little brains.
As an added bonus since many of the characters are timeless it’s a great way for kids to bond with their parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents (yes, maybe the men more than the women but don’t kid yourself there are plenty of Moms and Grandmas out there that know these characters too).
So, let’s get on to the point of the post which is some great tools and tips for using the Marvel comics site with your kids.
The main Marvel website is cool enough for those who love the comics and superheroes. It’s a website PACKED with information including character look-ups, movie, games and comic information along with live trailers and viewable cartoons. You, or your child, could easily spend a couple of hours going through the site. Then when you throw in the online digital comics ($4.99 per month but there are some free previews) you’ve got a huge library of comics to read without ever having to get out to the store.
Okay, but I promised more interactive stuff than just sitting and watching shows and clips and that’s where the More Marvel tab in the MarvelKids.com site comes in. They’ve got mazes, word finds, coloring and drawing sections and a fantastically cool create your own comic section. This isn’t some little rinky dink one page comic kind of thing, you can actually create everything from a couple scene comic strip to a full 22 page comic book that you can print, save and share.
The site is really interactive and customizable and let’s you pick your own page layouts, add backgrounds, characters, sound effects, dialogue and various objects to create really cool looking stories. A simple drag and drop format makes it easy even for younger kids but with a level of customizing that will makes it very cool for older kids (ahem, maybe even some Dads).
It’s a great site that your kids could easily spend hours using this summer to really work on their creativity, reading and writing skills using family friendly technology on a family friendly website. It’s obviously a bit commercial in places (more so the main Marvel site) because they are of course trying to sell Marvel gear but that stuff is easy to deal with considering all of the really cool things you can do on the site.
But beyond the comic strip section there are lots of other things you can do on the site.
For a great example of one of the character information pages click the image to the left (his name is Gambit and was one of my favorites growing up).
So you may be asking – How is this kind of page useful?
First of all, whether on the screen or printed out it’s a great reading session. It’s interactive which increases the likelihood that your child will actually like it and it’s detailed enough not to be simple mindless reading.
Secondly it’s packed with details and links that will not only keep your child busy but with a quick pre-read by you it can easily be a reading comprehension and memory skills activity ( What’s the hero’s real name?, What are his aliases?, Tell me three facts about his life?, Who are his enemies?, etc.)
Third, it’s great imagination fodder for creative writing assignments. Using what they read your child can create their own stories (or comics) and then share them with you or their friends. This is exactly what my brother and I and our friends would do when we were younger (though then you had to check these books out as Reference books at the library to get the info). Great fuel for stories and imaginative play or daydreaming!
Fourth (and this is maybe the most fun thing to do) read through a bunch of bios until you get a feel for all the different things in there, then have your child create their own characters using the same kind of outline as there is in the bio.
“Okay, Johhny if you were a hero which would you rather have speed or durability (what’s durability? – back to that comprehension again)?”
“Okay Jenny, what would your powers be?”
“Okay, Billy pick three other characters that would be on your team, what would you call your team and why did you pick those heroes / villains?”
The possibilities are really endless here and yes it works as good for little girls as it does for the little boys.
If you want to keep your kids off the video games this summer and help battle that summer brain drain, this site is a potential treasure trove of ideas and tools to get them going and growing.
Let me know what you think and share any ideas that you have for fighting the summer brain drain / couch potato battle?
If all of this comic stuff has you wondering the answer is yes …. all Dad’s do still think it would be cool to have some…..
