The hour-long interactive program teaches kids to empower themselves by standing up to bullies in non-confrontational manner. Watch video
WARREN -- Wear the Cape and its non-profit kidkind foundation are taking on bullies in New Jersey with a multimedia, interactive program that teaches elementary school kids how to combat bullying in a non-confrontational manner.
Wear the Cape, based in Warren Township, has held 21 assemblies in New Jersey in October, which is National Anti-Bullying Month. Its next assembly is scheduled for Nov. 2 at Belleville School No. 3 in Essex County at 10 a.m. and at Wilson School in Lodi at 1 p.m.
The program may expand beyond the state in the near future, said Lauren DuBois, spokesperson for Wear the Cape.
The goal is to teach kids anti-bullying tactics and demonstrate to them how they can empower themselves by standing up against bullies.
The hour-long interactive program has been put together over the past year with the assistance of teachers and Phillip Brown, a Fellow of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University, where he founded the Center for Social and Character Development.
"Wear the Cape brings good character to the forefront with a positive angle on how to combat the bullying epidemic," said Leigh Ann Errico, chief executive officer and founder of Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation. "We are thrilled to impress upon kids that it's cool to be kind through a fun, engaging program."
The presentation includes a sequence of videos and an in-person facilitator to assists kids with practice skills. The goal is to teach strategies needed to be defuse bullying and be a positive role model in their communities, according to a press release.
"Wear the Cape's anti-bullying assembly is a modern take on an age-old problem that has been intensifying in recent years, particularly with the rise of social media and constant connectivity -- but Wear the Cape doesn't just identify the problem; it credibly presents real solutions," Brown said.
Pre- and post-assembly support are also part of the program. Wear the Cape offers lesson plans, roundtable workshops, and further reading for families, educators and youth club leaders.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.