MESH PRODUCTS - PROBLEM SOLVING
Post 3 in a 6 Part Series about MESH
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.
Mental, emotional and social health requires the ability to navigate change. Change comes at kids in predictable and unpredictable ways that can cause “problems” - moments or challenges they need to find their way through in order to be healthy and grow. Problem solving is a core skill that strengthens a child’s mental health in the near and long term.
Problem-solving requires practice. Most adults find it safer and faster to help kids by showing them solutions or jumping in to fix a problem themselves (and it is faster.) However, watching someone practice a skill does not build confidence or competence, therefore it is essential that kids experience solving problems for themselves.
Using play to build to improve kids’ problem-solving ability and also their confidence in themselves as problem-solvers will make them safer and stronger as they grow. Toys and games that help players build this skill:
Toys and games that are built with problems for kids to solve, with no guarantee of success, are essential learning tools. In well-designed toys and games, the fun that kids experience along the way will encourage them to try and try again, giving them real world abilities they will use for the rest of their lives!
“Toys and Games that make problem solving fun are some of the most impactful products in the development of MESH skills for kids.T” Rachele Harmuth, Head of ThinkFun.
For more information on the MESH initiative, please visit www.MESHhelps.org
MESH PRODUCTS - BRINGING CHILDREN AND THEIR ADULTS TOGETHER: Post 6 of 6
Interview with SANTA CLAUS: - Toymaker, Jolly Old Elf & Co-Creator of Santa’s Kindness Ornament
Film Review: Transformers: Age of Extinction
Royal Corgi Report from the POP What’s Up Distoy Party 2023
Film Review: Lightyear
Film Review: Transformers: Age of Extinction
Kirsten Koe: Do you have what it takes to Hunt A Killer?
Determined to refresh old-school fun, Harrison Brooks kicks off second card game: Fourth Down™
Toyfully Yours: Top 15 Coolest Quotes from Toy Inventors Over the Past 30 Years
Adam Unger - Curator and Matchmaker for Products, People, Factories and Brands
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.
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!
Matt Leacock talks Game Design...
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