by Rachele Harmuth | 11 May 2023
Industry Commentary, Op-Ed
Thinkfun turns their focus to the global youth mental health crisis and how play can make all the difference in protecting and strengthening children and teens. The company’s new initiative brings together stakeholders from all over the toys and games industry with the challenge: how do we build MESH (Mental, Emotional and Social Health) skills through play?
In this bi- weekly column for The Bloom Report, we will look into the different areas of this initiative in depth. This week we share an overview of the initiative.
Life gets more challenging as we grow up. And for the first time ever, more teens are telling researchers they don’t want to be adults than the ones who do. “It seems hard” is basically the reason young people are giving for not wanting to get drivers’ licenses, jobs, homes of their own…
Play can help! Toys and games that provide increasing challenges over the course of play are really models for life. The very real stresses of adulthood can absolutely impact mental, emotional and social health. Young people who feel confident and competent to navigate increasing challenges are more willing to take on those opportunities and better set up for success.
Toys and games that get harder as you go serve several key functions.
In this way, perhaps more than any other, play can mimic life in ways that build amazing skills and strengthen children’s mental, emotional and social health in those moments of increased challenge.
“It’s amazing to watch the confidence of a child grow as they try (and often fail) and then try again and win at progressive challenges. We celebrate that magical moment of success (the “a-ha” moment) where the player “gets” it - their confidence grows with each challenge.” Rachele Harmuth, Head of ThinkFun.
For more information on the MESH initiative, please visit www.MESHhelps.org
Play Nine: A Casual Card Game Built by Word-of-Mouth All the Way to the Shelves of Target
Book Review: A Lot Like Batman
Game Review: UNO
Game Review: Jenga
Book Review: PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Books
Ted Fischer, Co-Founder and CEO of Ageless Innovation, on Unleashing the Power of Play
Lisa Wallace Shares how "I’m The Chef Too!" Moved from Her Kitchen to Kitchens Everywhere!
Hasbro's Tanya Thompson on Women Innovators of Play
Toy industry rebels build an invention studio from zero to one
Attention Toys and Games Marketers: Is it time for Tums or Veuve Clicquot?
Randy Klimpert Shares his Ukulele Collection
Steve Casino Peanut Art
Everyone's Talking about POP!
Princess Etch - a Multi-Talented Etch A Sketch Artist
Joseph Herscher of Joseph' s Machines.
Tom Dusenberry... Bought Atari, Wizards of the Coast, and Avalon Hill!
Matt Leacock created Pandemic... the game!
Scott Brown and Tim Swindle... are Launching a New Sport!
Daryl Andrews says... "GO TO CONVENTIONS!"
Ed Gartin is... the Evel Knievel of Inventor Relations!
POPDuo: Richard Dickson, Mattel’s President & COO, and Kedar Narayan, Young Inventor Challenge AMB
POPDuo: Will Shortz and Josh Wardle
POP Duo: Elan Lee, Co-Founder, Exploding Kittens.and Jeff Probst, Host and Exec Producer, Survivor
POP Duo: David Fuhrer, MNG Director, Blue Sq Innovations & Shawn Green, past Dodgers & Mets MLB Star
POP Duo: Bob Fuhrer, Founder, Nextoy and Tom Fazio, Golf Course Designer