ThinkFun, a games and toys company, set out in October 2022 to answer “How can we strengthen the skills kids need for their mental, emotional, and social health and build resilience through play?” This work began in partnership with resilience expert Deborah Gilboa, M.D., through research and the creation of a white paper. Through this collaboration, MESHhelps.org was launched to bring this important conversation about kids’ MESH to the forefront and build a task force of industry and non- industry professionals to address the growing concerns. 

Through this work, we have identified 8 crucial MESH Skills that will help kids develop resilience in an ever-changing world. 

“The US Surgeon General’s Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health urges adults to empower youth and their families to recognize, manage, and learn from difficult emotions.” Deborah Gilboa, M.D.

“Identifying and understanding the 8 MESH skills gives us a new way to evaluate the products we create. It allows us to see toys and games through a new lens that shows us in greater detail the impact they can have on children as they play.” Rachele Harmuth, Head of ThinkFun