About Hart & Hero
Hi! We’re Chanie and Musya, moms, friends, and cofounders of Hart & Hero. We created Hart & Hero to bridge the gender play gap and redefine what strength looks like. To show that softness and nurture aren’t fragile. They’re fierce.
Hi! We’re Chanie and Musya, co-founders of Hart & Hero. As moms, we were bothered by the gender play gap. Why were all toys that fostered social-emotional intelligence last marketed towards boys? Why was nurture a “girl thing,” not the human thing that it is? And why were parents reluctant to give their sons a doll stroller
We spoke to parents. Lots of them, and everywhere. What we heard exposed something deeper than “it’s just a toy.” We kept hearing an ingrained fear of soft, and an association with nurture and social-emotional skills as weak. Feminine. Less than. And so we set out to change that narrative and reframe nurture and social-emotional play as the powerful human traits that they are.
Our solution was the Herotron: something rugged enough for the rambunctious toddler and stylish enough for the design-conscious parent. We created car-like accessories to make it appeal to parents of boys who didn’t want their sons playing with a pink stroller. And we gave it a superhero aesthetic to help build a new association — that nurture and compassion are powerful. Alongside the Herotron, we created Hartie, a plush superhero deer, as well as the Power PJs and cape. This was initially done to reinforce the narrative that nurture is powerful.
In 2024, we came to market and won several awards for bridging the gender play gap. But what we didn’t expect was what came next — the constant messages from parents telling us how deeply their kids had connected with Hartie.
Hartie was helping children find their inner hero. From navigating grief to going to the doctor, from sleeping in a different hotel to moving homes, Hartie had become an anchor. Kids were learning to tap into their own power, and alongside the book, they were finding the words for it. And so Hartie's Club was born.
Thank you for being here. Together, let's raise a generating of kind, confident and resilient kids.
Walk down any toy aisle and you’ll see it immediately: boys’ toys are built for action, girls’ for care. Trucks and tools on one side; dolls and tea sets on the other. It’s a divide so normalized we hardly notice it—but it shapes how children understand strength, empathy, and identity from the start.
At Hart & Hero, we call this the gender play gap—the gap between the skills boys and girls are encouraged to develop through play.
Boys are taught that leadership, courage, and problem-solving are their domains. Girls are guided toward nurturing, communication, and empathy. Both sets of skills are essential, yet few toys invite both. The result? Narrow definitions of strength for boys and limited expressions of power for girls.
We’re here to change that.
Our products are intentionally designed to blend action and empathy, adventure and care. We want children to see kindness as powerful, nurture as heroic, and courage as something that belongs to everyone.
By closing the gender play gap, we help raise a generation of whole children—capable of leading with both heart and heroism.
What is the Hero Mindset?
The Hero Mindset is a powerful framework that empowers children to see themselves as the hero in their own narrative. It's especially vital when a child might instinctively default to feeling like a victim. This mindset creates space for the complexity and growth found in the crucial word: 'And.'
It teaches children they can hold two truths at once, recognizing their struggle and their strength:
- "This is hard and I can try."
- "I am sad and hurt and I matter."
- "I am scared and brave."
💪 Practice Your Brave Powers
We help kids shift their view of safe challenges—like going to the dentist or sticking to a bedtime routine—not as "bad" obstacles, but as opportunities to practice their brave powers.
Children quickly begin to recognize their profound power to affect those around them. They learn that small actions make them a hero: saying a kind word, including someone new, or respecting their environment. They realize they are agents of change in their world.
💖 How We Reinforce the Hero Narrative
We bring the Hero Mindset to life using engaging tools and techniques:
- Somatic Tools: Helping kids connect with their body's signals and internal strength.
- Visualization: Using the imagination to see themselves as the capable, powerful hero they already are.
- Hartie, Hello Hero, and the Power PJs: Our dedicated resources that provide a fun, consistent, and tangible way to reinforce the narrative.
The Hero Mindset isn't about being fearless; it's about being brave, even when scared.
