Turns out kids’ heroes are a lot closer to home than the cape-and-mask crowd.

A survey of 2,000 parents of children aged 4 to 12 found the people kids look up to most are parents, at 71 percent. Teachers followed at 40 percent, then siblings at 37 percent, extended family members at 33 percent and friends at 31 percent.

Fictional superheroes ranked lower, at 29 percent. Celebrities and fictional characters each came in at 22 percent.

When parents were asked specifically who their child’s hero is, many named some version of mum, dad, grandma or grandpa. Others said their children idolise athletes including Michael Jordan and LeBron James, and celebrities such as John Cena and Michael Jackson.

Superheroes including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman and Black Panther also featured. Other popular characters included Rumi from the KPop Demon Hunters, Sonic the Hedgehog and Bluey.

The survey found kids are choosing heroes for personal qualities, not flashy powers. Bravery ranked at 38 percent, while strength and kindness were both at 37 percent, and honesty at 31 percent. Those traits ranked above moral righteousness at 16 percent and being a risk-taker at 13 percent.

The results, conducted on behalf of the Kiddie Academy brand by Talker Research, also found parents most often define a hero as someone who goes out of their way to help others, at 58 percent. Another 53 percent said a hero is someone who puts others before themselves, and 48 percent said it is someone who has a strong moral compass and sticks to it.

Almost three-quarters of parents surveyed, 74 percent, said their definition of a hero has changed as they have gotten older. Another 38 percent said they have a different hero today than they did as a child.

More than half, 56 percent, said their childhood hero influenced their career path as an adult. Parents also said their hero helped them embody traits including kindness at 94 percent, compassion at 91 percent, strength at 90 percent, moral righteousness at 89 percent, bravery at 87 percent and confidence at 87 percent.

Parents said 70 percent of who they turned out to be as an adult stemmed from the habits and teachings of their childhood hero.

“Though they may change over time, it’s no secret that childhood heroes have an impact on people long after they’ve left the classroom,” said Joy Turner, chief academic officer for the Kiddie Academy brand.

Parents surveyed said an average of 72 percent of the values they teach their own children stem from their childhood hero.

When asked which heroic qualities their children already have, parents most often chose kindness at 37 percent, honesty at 30 percent, intelligence at 27 percent, positivity at 27 percent and compassion at 27 percent.

They said they are trying to build those qualities by teaching children to express themselves in healthy ways, 57 percent, letting them explore their own interests, 55 percent, and practising patience in stressful situations, 52 percent. Parents also said they show their children how to set healthy boundaries, 51 percent, show kindness to strangers, 50 percent, and follow their dreams, 50 percent.

“According to the results, 82 percent of kids of parents polled want to be considered a hero someday, which means parents’ hard work may be paying off,” said Turner. “It’s important to allow kids to find themselves and have role models who support their dreams and the qualities they most want to embody.”

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 parents of children aged 4 to 12 with internet access. The survey was commissioned by Kiddie Academy and conducted online between May 21 and May 28.

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