Have You Heard About MESH?

by RACHELE HARMUTH, Head of ThinkFun, Ravensburger North America

MESH stands for Mental, Emotional, Social Health.

MESH is a new initiative founded by ThinkFun and launched at MESHhelps.org in 2022.

Experts and parents agree that kids are struggling due to the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but evidence suggests that the issues run deeper, pre-dating the pandemic and poised to continue long past it.

To better understand what is happening for kids and families, ThinkFun collaborated with resilience expert Deborah Gilboa, MD. Together, we published our research in a white paper and launched MESHhelps.org, inviting members of the greater toy and game industries to participate in enacting change on a larger scale.

We found that most of us assume products like fidget toys and stuffed animals are toys that help kids with their mental health. While these provide comfort in times of mental distress, they don’t build the skills that make children stronger and more resilient. We learned that we could make a real difference by building specific MESH skills that make kids more resilient for the next time they face changes and challenges in their lives.

With the eight MESH skills culled from the research, ThinkFun looked for play patterns that intentionally built these MESH skills. The team identified four main play patterns that collectively build these skills. They are problem solving, storytelling, increasing challenge throughout the duration of play, and products that draw kids and their adults together.

We realized this idea was far bigger than just one company and would be far more impactful if we launched this concept with the entire toy industry.

This year, ThinkFun focused on a goal to spread the word and build a multi-stakeholder task force to bring this project to the industry.

In 2024, MESHhelps.org will become a nonprofit organization with the mission of building kids’ resiliency through play. Additionally, MESHhelps.org will launch a product certification program to help retailers and consumers identify products that build MESH skills.

As we saw the growing mental health issues in our youth population, we learned that we — the toy industry — have an opportunity to make a real impact on kids’ lives and be part of the solution. We’re inviting everyone to join us in the MESH effort!

Learn more at MESHhelps.org.

MESH Products Showcase:

Retailers: Looking to stock products that support MESH concepts? The Toy Book team curated a selection of a few ideas to get you started.

A version of this feature was originally published in the 2023 Innovation & STEAM issue of The Toy Book. Click here to read the full issue! Want to receive The Toy Book in print? Click here for subscription options!