As the 2020 Summer Olympics kick off, all eyes will be gazing toward the heavens (or rather, the ceiling of Tokyo’s Ariake Gymnastics Centre) for a glimpse of Simone Biles, the world’s most decorated gymnast. Biles is not just a living sports legend, with few competitors expected to rival her in her quest for even more golden hardware at this year’s Olympics. The 24-year-old is also a particularly irresistible childhood superhero and an especially appealing and teachable example of a growth mindset in action.
“Developmentally, younger kids are in a magical place where they have these amazing imaginations and anything’s possible—including being Simone Biles,” says Danielle Roeske, PsyD, executive director of Newport Healthcare, a series of nationwide mental-health treatment facilities for teens and young adults. “As they get older, they encounter a reality that challenges that and they may start to think, ‘I could never do that.’ Simone Biles offers an opportunity for kids to link their own setbacks to someone who also encountered obstacles along the way, but didn’t let them stop her.”
Whether your child is riding high on Biles mania and wants to play-act the part, or whether they could use some toys, books, and activities to help foster the resiliency their idol is famous for, here’s what the kids, parents, and experts we talked to recommend for any young Simone Biles superfan.
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