The Cape Effect…what’s that?

March 14, 2014 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

Cape Effect
/kāp/ /iˈfekt/
noun

1. The immediate reaction of a child when given a cape to wear. Usually involves wide eyes and open mouth, in addition to one or more of the following: squealing with delight, jumping for joy, frolicking around the house, superhero voguing, and surprisingly good behavior.

You know what’s really cool? When your kids EXCEED your expectations. You hope your messages to your teenage daughter about being inclusive of her peers have sunk in…and then you find out she’s gone out of her way to make sure others don’t feel left out or lonely. You’ve tried to encourage your little guy to stand up for someone being bullied…and then he does, with confidence and tact.

We at Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation believe we’ve found the secret sauce to this recipe. It’s what we call the “Cape Effect.”

Time and again, we’ve seen and heard that kids are motivated to earn the right to Wear the Cape – whether tied around their neck or imprinted on their shirt – by doing the right thing. Explain to them what it looks like to be a “hero” and give a kid that name, and he or she will work to live up to it. They get it, even at a young age.

To facilitate communication with tykes to teens, every Wear the Cape product includes a Hero Tag that tees up a teachable moment. Various real-life scenarios are presented that challenge kids to think through the right choices to be made in each situation. Try it. Talk with your kids about what it REALLY means in practice to be heroic, and watch great stories come back to you about your Cape Kid in action!

I still remember when the first box of prototype shirts arrived at our house last summer. The kids I gave them to went wild with excitement about the idea of a cape being on their backs – symbolic, for all to see. And what followed the initial excitement was the best part: They began acting like heroes.

The video below paints this picture with two little boys who will undoubtedly put a smile on your face. After receiving Wear the Cape tees, they spend a few moments processing the idea of being able to wear a cape on their backs (like they’ve seen heroes do in movies, books and on TV), and then they start “flying” around the house. Think of being given a cape like being knighted.

Also interesting to note: these handsome little men have a super cool mama, too. Her name is Chara, and she and her colleague Jodi just finished a book you’ll love called You Are. The fundamental premise of the book is that when people really know WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY HAVE, and WHAT THEY CAN DO, they are naturally inspired to uplift, encourage and help, rather than put down, criticize or harm. We could not agree with you ladies more!

So, hey folks – give a cape, and watch the magic; keep it in mind to give Wear the Cape products as gifts for birthdays, holidays, and just to celebrate achievements (check out our Shop page here for lots of great ideas). We so appreciate the support – it’s how we’ll be able to keep on chuggin’ – and you’re turning kids’ dreams of being heroes into reality.

Building heroes, a kid at a time – that’s Wear the Cape and YOU.

Choose kind,
Leigh Ann

New Product Perfectly Suited to Teach Kids Gratitude

March 2, 2014 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

“La reconnaissance est la memoire du coeur.” – Jean Baptiste Massieu (1742–1818)

This French proverb, meaning “Gratitude is the memory of the heart,” is displayed in my family’s home. I love the feeling I get when I when I mull over what these words of wisdom really mean: Our hearts cherish moments for which we are thankful long after they have passed. And why not make it a habit to express gratitude to those who gave us something to appreciate?

Today’s kids—many of them—are pretty darn lucky. They live with an abundance of stuff. My kids know gratitude is expected, but I always worry on Christmas morning and on birthdays that my tribe is ripping off paper faster than they can pause, breathe and say thank you. We work on ensuring proper appreciation for how hard mom and dad or grandparents or friends had to work to provide the gift, whether a material thing or an opportunity…and perhaps more importantly, the tremendous thought that went into the giving.

I am big on written thank you notes in my house. A handful of my friends make fun of me; other people tell me to stop it as the note back makes them feel pressure to reciprocate this practice; and some of my friends write me cards, too, when the occasion presents itself to say thank you—no judgment here, just different reactions from different people. But no matter how thank you notes from the Errico household are received, I am satisfied knowing the people in our lives understand that their kindness is a memory in our hearts.

Following the birthdays of my three oldest kiddos, I have typically prepared on my computer thank you cards that they’re asked to color, illustrate and/or sign. We then stamp and mail the cards together at the post office. I want them to see that there is effort involved here and that it is part of the process of receiving—to be grateful with “a proper thank you,” as they say.

And after much research on this action-backed virtue, I uncovered what I had already learned in practice: Recent studies show that there is something about sharing gratitude—saying that my happiness is due to something you have done for me—that recognizes our interdependence. New research by Algoe & Way (Social, Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience, January 31, 2014) indicates that the oxytocin system of the brain is enhanced by acts of gratitude and may be the glue that binds us into meaningful and important relationships. While this study isn’t the first to suggest that we’re social creatures, it suggests that our emotional response to someone sharing a kind word or deed is deeply rooted in our bodies and is part of our evolutionary history.

But, in all my searching, I also failed to find many simple ways to teach kids the quality of being thankful, the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

I got the idea to “marry up” the gratitude ritual in our household with Wear the Cape values and, low and behold, Gratitude-Strong Thank You Cards were born. I think you’ll love them; check out the pictures below. The inside of the card defines gratitude and thanks the addressee for “…making me grateful. Your kindness helps me be strong.” There are even wide-ruled lines to make writing a brief note easy. They are an awesome tool for all of our Wear the Cape families, perfectly-suited to teach kids what gratitude is AND what it looks like in action.

We hope you will have a look at the cool cards here and purchase packs for the little heroes you love (and, of course, they come fabulously gift-wrapped with love and care from our house to yours). Merchandise with meaning, I promise they’ll be put to good use.

Speaking of being grateful, have I told you lately how incredibly grateful I am for all of you? We ARE making a difference together.

Choose kind,
Leigh Ann

Another Reason to Celebrate Diversity

January 21, 2014January 21, 2014 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we recognize the man behind the words above. As the third Monday of January reminds us, focusing on what unites us instead of what divides us makes our lives happier, more peaceful, and more successful…a lesson evident from an early age. According to the National School Climate Center:

“…school climate is larger than any one person’s experience. When people work together, a group process emerges that is bigger that any one person’s actions. A comprehensive assessment of school climate includes major spheres of school life such as safety, relationships, teaching and learning, and the environment as well as larger organizational patterns (e.g. from fragmented to shared; healthy or unhealthy). How we feel about being in school and these larger group trends shape learning and student development. Peer-reviewed educational research has consistently demonstrated that a positive school climate is associated with academic achievement, effective risk prevention efforts and positive youth development.”

Teaching kids to not only accept others for their differences, but to celebrate diversity among their peers means that the group functions better overall, benefiting each student on an individual level. And the value goes beyond time spent in the classroom. A “positive school climate fosters youth development and learning necessary for a productive, contributing and satisfying life in society.”

How Can You Help at Home?

Communicate to your kids that everyone deserves to feel socially, emotionally and physically safe.
Explain the importance of respecting AND engaging others.
Provide first-hand experiences, such as caring for pets or looking out for younger siblings, to allow kids to think of themselves as helpful, caring people.
Get involved in your child’s school and activities to encourage policies and programs that celebrate diversity of talents, interests, age, race, income, background, appearance, cultures, etc.

Check out these “14 Unexpected Responses to Hatred Show That Humans Do Sometimes Get It Right” for more inspiring stories of people looking beyond their differences to find common ground, fertile for a positive outcome. Make it a great week!