MESH Helps, Inc. reposted this
★ Managing + Creative Director Jellystone Designs ★ Adventure co-ordinator of 2 busy boys and a curious girl
Did you know rates of childhood mental health concerns have risen steadily since 2010, and that a national state of emergency was declared in 2021 (USA)? Last year, I attended a talk at New York Toy Fair called ‘HOW TOYS AND GAMES CAN BUILD KIDS’ MENTAL HEALTH’, presented by Rachele Harmuth, head of ThinkFun, a division of Ravensburger, and Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a resilience expert and board-certified family physician. I loved it. I wrote pages and pages of notes (total nerd at heart!) about how toys play a pivotal role in building mental wellness from childhood. Since that talk, curiosity has continued. MESH stands for Mental, Emotional, and Social Health. It poses the question: “How can we strengthen the skills kids need and build resilience through play?" MESH-accredited toys prioritise nurturing a child's mind, emotions, and social skills. The team behind MESH has identified four critical play patterns. Overcoming obstacles Storytelling Increasing challenge Bridging play (adults and kids playing together). In big news, we are SO thrilled to announce that Jellystone has received MESH accreditation. How toys can be used for good is at the core of everything we do at Jellystone, and is something I’m incredibly passionate about. Together, we’re building a brighter, more resilient future for our little ones.