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An Urgent Call for Resilience in Children

In the wake of the pandemic, the need for addressing children's mental health has grown exponentially. A new report titled "Post-Pandemic: From Recovery to Resilience" has been released by MESH Helps, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening children's resilience through play. The white paper invites families, educators, and leaders in the toy industry to shift their focus back to what children truly need—intentional and purposeful play.

Resilience: A Learned Skill

The report outlines two critical truths about resilience:
1. Resilience is a skill set, not a trait: Children are not innately resilient; rather, they develop this crucial attribute through meaningful relationships, regular practice, and, importantly, play.
2. Resilience is contagious: Just as stress can ripple through communities, so can resilience. When children witness and model coping strategies and adaptability, they can bolster their own resilience as well as that of their peers and families.

Recent data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the Harvard Human Flourishing Study validates these assertions and highlights the ongoing youth mental health crisis. Rachele Harmuth, the Founder of MESH Helps, emphasizes the dual focus on treatment and prevention: “While mental health professionals are essential in tending to kids in crisis, the larger community must act upstream,” she states. Resilience can indeed be taught and augmented through engaging play.

Embedding Resilience in Everyday Life

The report presents a roadmap for families, schools, toy makers, and youth organizations to incorporate resilience-building strategies into daily experiences, especially through play-based activities. It emphasizes that play serves as a vital medium for nurturing skills like adaptability, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.

The release of this report signals a new chapter in MESH Helps' mission, aiming to ensure every child has access to opportunities that foster resilience at home, in school, and across their communities. Families can easily find toys and games that meet MESH Accreditation standards through MESH Helps' website and Amazon MESH Toys. In addition, they can access play-based resources aimed at enhancing resilience in everyday settings via MESHhelps.org.

Industry Involvement

Furthermore, industry leaders are encouraged to join this movement by developing and promoting products designed to enhance children’s mental, emotional, and social health through MESH Accreditation. This collective effort has the potential to extend beyond mere recovery, paving the way for a more resilient generation.

MESH Helps is a relatively new nonprofit, having launched in October 2022 to confront the pressing issue of children's mental well-being. Initially founded in partnership with ThinkFun and resilience educator Dr. Deborah Gilboa, the organization became independent in December 2023. Its objective remains steadfast: helping children cultivate resilience through play, strengthening invaluable skills in mental, emotional, and social health.

For more insights and resources from the full report, visit MESHhelps.org. Together, we can make a significant impact on the trajectory of children’s mental health, fostering an environment where resilience thrives through the power of play.