ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As families prepare
for the holidays, a wave of toys is set to make an impact on how
children play, while building skills of resilience and promoting
mental health. MESH Helps, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to
strengthening kids' resilience through play, announced the
first-ever group of toys and games to receive the prestigious MESH
(Mental, Emotional, Social Health) Accreditation. Submissions span
39 companies and 150 products reviewed including games, puzzles,
construction sets, and creative kits. View full list of
products with MESH Accreditation.
This groundbreaking program highlights toys and games that go
beyond entertainment, offering children toys as tools to build
skills of resilience through play. The MESH Accreditation serves as
a trusted mark for caregivers seeking toys and games that foster
well-being. Submissions are accredited by the independent experts
at FUNdamentally Children who evaluate products using a framework
based on the eight well-documented skills vital to youth mental,
emotional, and social health: problem solving, perseverance,
adaptation, conflict resolution, self-regulation, self-advocacy,
cognition, and communication.
"We are thrilled to introduce this inaugural group of MESH
accredited toys and games, especially as we approach the holidays,"
said Rachele Harmuth, Board
President of MESH Helps. "These products have undergone rigorous
evaluation by FUNdamentally Children, ensuring they meet the
highest standards. This accreditation empowers consumers to select
gifts that are fun and beneficial to a child's well-being."
The significant rise in childhood mental health concerns since
2010 underscores the need for resources. As mental health
challenges grow, it is critical to strengthen children's resilience
in an ever-changing world. Through extensive research into youth
mental, emotional, and social health, MESH Helps has identified
four key play patterns that empower caregivers to select products
that foster resilience. These play patterns - overcoming obstacles,
storytelling, increasing challenge, and bridging play - encourage
the development of multiple resilience-building skills.
"MESH has inspired a shift in how we talk to consumers about
toys and play," said Michelle Smith,
Piccolo Mondo store owner. "Play is a crucial part of how children
learn to manage their emotions and build relationships. The toys
and games that have received MESH Accreditation are leading the way
in this important movement and we are excited to share them with
our customers."
Caregivers are encouraged to look for the MESH Accreditation Seal
when selecting toys and games for their children, confident in the
knowledge that each product has been carefully reviewed for its
ability to build MESH Skills and help kids strengthen resilience
through play.
To earn MESH Accreditation, a toy or game must pass the basic
assessment criteria, intentionally help children develop two or
more of the eight crucial MESH Skills, and engage children
age-appropriately during play. MESH Helps continues to accept a
range of submissions year-round from companies that recognize the
profound influence toys have on children's mental health. To learn
more or submit, visit www.MESHhelps.org/Accreditation.
About MESH Helps:
MESHhelps.org launched in
October 2022 to address the growing
concern of kids' mental health in an increasingly challenging
world. ThinkFun, a division of Ravensburger, inaugurated MESH Helps
in partnership with resilience expert, Dr. Deborah Gilboa to support the mental health of
children today. In January 2023, MESH
Helps became an independent nonprofit with a mission to help kids
build resilience through play by strengthening the critical skills
of mental, emotional, and social health. For more information,
please visit www.MESHhelps.org.
About FUNdamentally Children:
FUNdamentally Children
is a leading authority on child development, play, and toys.
Through its flagship product, The Good Play Guide, FUNdamentally
Children offers expert insights, toy accreditation services, and
innovative marketing solutions to help brands engage with families
and create positive play experiences.
Media Contact:
Ahren
Hoffman
MESH Project Manager
800-468-1864
382718@email4pr.com
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SOURCE MESH Helps