(CNN)Two of my eldest son's first words were "Dada" and "Batman." (Or "Batmah," at least.) 

That should have clued me in that Gilbert was following in his Dad's footsteps; he was a superhero fan in the making. 

From dancing and singing to the "Batman" theme song at age 1 to creating his own super-characters from everyday items around him, he's been completely enthralled with superheroes. As he grows up, his superheroes are shaping the person he's becoming. 

A fascination with superheroes can benefit a child in many ways, including boosting his self-confidence and making him feel powerful. (And what better day than National Superhero Day, April 28, to celebrate that?) 

Gilbert isn't the only example of the positive powers of superhero worship. In some cases, superheroes can teach children how to be strong. 

Cynthia Falardeau of Vero Beach, Florida, has also encouraged her son, Wyatt, to explore superheroes for years, because of the way they changed her childhood for the better. 

Before she admired Wonder Woman and Princess Leia, Falardeau was bullied by other kids for her first heroic inspiration, Mary Poppins. 

"My two oldest brothers and their neighborhood friends squelched my dreams," she said. "Their mockery drove me to find comfort in the arms of my mother." 

Her mother encouraged her to pursue a more "daring" character, and soon she discovered Wonder Woman and TV's Bionic Woman. 

Wonder Woman gave her confidence: "She was powerful, beautiful and never broke a sweat!" 

Even today, she credits these heroes with some of the things she has accomplished in life. 
Who did she talk to about it?
Her mother