I partnered with MESH Helps to help facilitate this ‘ MESH Helps Is Launching Its First National Play For Resilience [Mental Health Awareness Month]’ post.  *This post also contains Amazon affiliate links.*  As always, all opinions are my own. 

[Mental Health Awareness Month] – MESH Helps Is Launching Its First National Play For Resilience

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month?  Families across the country are being encouraged to discover the powerful connection between play and emotional well-being thanks to a new initiative from MESH Helps.  

Created to address the growing concerns surrounding children’s mental health in today’s increasingly challenging world, MESH Helps officially launched in October 2022 with a mission centered on helping kids build resilience through meaningful play experiences. This May, the organization is taking that mission nationwide with the launch of its very first Play For Resilience campaign.

Play For Resilience

From May 1–8, families visiting more than 450 Chuck E. Cheese locations across the United States were introduced to curated video messaging focused on the importance of social-emotional development through play. Displayed hourly on in-store screens, the content is designed to help parents and caregivers better understand how imaginative play, problem-solving, and social interaction can support children’s emotional growth and resilience.

But The Initiative Doesn’t Stop There!

The initiative doesn’t stop there. Throughout the month of May, MESH Helps resources and MESH-Accredited products will also be featured in approximately 300 American Library Association member libraries nationwide. These community-based activations aim to provide caregivers, educators, and librarians with access to tools and activities that encourage storytelling, emotional understanding, communication skills, confidence, and healthy coping strategies.

One especially meaningful aspect of the initiative is the focus on MESH Accreditation.  This is a distinction awarded to products specifically recognized for helping children build resilience and emotional skills through play. By highlighting these products in libraries and community spaces, MESH Helps hopes to make resilience-building resources more accessible to families everywhere.

MESH-Accredited Products You’ll Want To Add To Your Home

Goliath Jelly Blox Creative Kit

The Goliath Jelly Blox Creative Kit brings a fun new twist to classic building play.  Featuring soft, squishy blocks; kids can squeeze, stretch, and stack for endless creative fun. Designed to encourage both learning and sensory exploration, this kit includes colorful tactile blocks.  They are filled with fun materials like foam beads, super sand, mini stars, and mini bricks.  Safe, easy to clean, and compatible with other Jelly Blox sets, this MESH Accredited toy helps support important developmental skills including problem-solving, creativity, communication, and self-regulation.  All while keeping playtime engaging and ouch-free!  — Buy It On Amazon

MindWare Hocus Pocus Magic Show Magician Kit

The MindWare Hocus Pocus Magic Show Magician Kit is an exciting and educational magic set!   Designed to inspire creativity, confidence, and imaginative play in young performers, it’s loaded with fun.  This kit allows kids to learn and perform over 20 fun magic tricks like a real magician. Step-by-step instructions and online instructional videos make each trick easy to master, helping children quickly build their skills and put on impressive performances for friends and family. The included box even doubles as a presentation case, creating the perfect stage for a magical show. Designed for children ages 6–10.  This engaging set combines hands-on learning and entertainment, making it a fun experience for aspiring magicians of all skill levels.  — Buy It On Amazon

Rory The Lion – Interactive Plush Toy for Kids with Roaring Sound

The Rory The Lion Interactive Plush Toy for Kids is a fun and comforting companion.  He’s designed to make playtime extra special for children!  With a simple press of Rory’s face, kids can activate an exciting lion roar, bringing imagination and pretend play to life.  He’s made with ultra-soft materials and a lightly weighted design.  Rory offers a cozy, huggable feel that children will love to cuddle during quiet time, travel, or everyday adventures. This lovable lion also includes a playful recitation phrase — “When I am feeling sad or mad, I take a big breath in and roar it out” — encouraging kids to engage in imaginative play while expressing themselves in a positive and fun way.  — Buy It On Amazon

MindWare The How I Survived Card Game

The MindWare The How I Survived Card Game is an entertaining and educational game that challenges players to think creatively and improvise their way through hilarious survival scenarios. As players collect tokens, they must use problem-solving skills and imaginative thinking to come up with clever, witty, or funny survival plans that will impress the judge and earn valuable survival rations. Designed to encourage creativity, quick thinking, and laughter.  This engaging card game is perfect for family game nights, classrooms, parties, and group activities where players can stretch their imaginations while having fun together.  — Buy It On Amazon

Magna-Tiles microMAGS Learn Letters 56-Piece Magnetic Construction Set

The Magna-Tiles microMAGS Learn Letters 56-Piece Magnetic Construction Set combines the excitement of magnetic building with hands-on early literacy learning, creating a fun and engaging experience for young learners. Featuring colorful, tactile magnetic tiles; this interactive set helps children explore letter recognition, phonics, and early word-building skills while encouraging creativity and imaginative play. Designed for independent, child-led learning, the set supports meaningful developmental play that keeps kids entertained while strengthening fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Loved by builders ages 3–99, this versatile educational toy makes learning letters both playful and creatively endless.  — Buy It On Amazon

Makedo Discover Upcycled Cardboard Construction Tool Kit

The Makedo Discover Upcycled Cardboard Construction Tool Kit inspires kids and families to turn everyday cardboard into endless imaginative creations through hands-on building and open-ended play. Designed for one to five makers; this versatile kit encourages collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving.  Children get to cut, fold, punch, and connect cardboard pieces into unique inventions of their own design. By transforming recyclable materials into durable projects, Makedo promotes eco-friendly fun while teaching the value of reuse and sustainability. Perfect for creative playtime, home projects, and educational environments, this STEM and STEAM-focused kit helps children learn through experimentation, independent making, and imaginative storytelling while developing critical thinking and hands-on construction skills.  — Buy It On Amazon

Shashibo Shape Shifting Box

The Shashibo Shape Shifting Box is an award-winning sensory toy that delivers hours of engaging, hands-on fun.  With its innovative design, it transforms into more than 100 unique shapes!  Unlike ordinary fidget toys, Shashibo encourages creative, screen-free exploration while helping kids and adults stay focused, relaxed, and entertained. Its compact, quiet design makes it the perfect travel companion.  The strong internal magnet system allows multiple cubes to connect and build even larger structures and sculptures for endless possibilities. Ideal for sensory play, STEM and STEAM learning, and creative problem-solving, this transforming magnetic puzzle makes a fun and satisfying gift for children, teens, and adults alike.  — Buy It On Amazon

PLUS PLUS School Bus

The PLUS PLUS School Bus is a fun and creative building set that lets kids design and construct their very own 3D school bus using colorful Plus Plus pieces.  Perfect for young transportation and vehicle enthusiasts, this engaging STEM and STEAM toy encourages hands-on learning.  All the while, children develop creativity, problem-solving abilities, logic, and fine motor skills. By combining elements of engineering, art, and imaginative play; this set introduces kids to basic 3D design concepts in an exciting and approachable way.  Kids love PLUS PLUS as it’s both educational and entertaining for hours of creative fun.  — Buy It On Amazon

Tell me, which MESH–Accredited toys and games do you need to add to your collection?

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Miranda

I’m a city girl turned country by my awesome husband and we have three busy boys and two darling daughters. I love spending time with my family, reading Karen Kingsbury novels, and catching up with friends while our kiddos have play dates. I’m blessed beyond measure and can’t wait to see what God has in store.
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