As busy parents, it often feels like we’re juggling a hundred different responsibilities before breakfast. Between work, school, activities, homework, and trying to squeeze in family time, play can sometimes become an afterthought. I know I’ve caught myself thinking that if my kids are happy and occupied for a little while, then I’m doing okay. But recently, I was introduced to an organization that reminded me to look at play in a completely different way.
That’s when I discovered MESH Helps and its mission of Resilience Through Play. Instead of seeing play as simply a way to pass the time, MESH Helps encourages families to recognize how those everyday moments can help strengthen children’s mental, emotional, and social health. As parents, we all want to help our kids grow into confident, compassionate, and resilient people. While there’s no single formula for doing that, I love the reminder that meaningful play can be part of the journey.
What I appreciate most is that this message isn’t about adding another activity to an already full calendar. Instead, it’s about making the most of the moments we’re already creating together.
Why MESH Helps Caught My Attention
One of the first things that stood out to me about MESH Helps is that it began with a simple but powerful question: How can we strengthen the skills kids need for their mental, emotional, and social health and build resilience through play?
That question led to a collaborative effort with resilience expert Deborah Gilboa, M.D., along with extensive research that resulted in the MESH Helps White Paper. The organization launched MESHhelps.org in October 2022 to bring conversations about children’s mental, emotional, and social health to the forefront of the toy industry and beyond.
In December 2023, MESH Helps became an independent nonprofit with a mission to help kids build resilience through play by strengthening those important mental, emotional, and social skills. More recently, the organization celebrated Mental Health Awareness Month by organizing its first national Play for Resilience™ initiative, bringing resilience-building play experiences directly to families through community-based activations across the country.
Learning about their mission reminded me that play isn’t just something children do while waiting for the next scheduled activity. It can be a meaningful part of everyday family life.
Resilience Through Play Can Look Different for Every Family
One thing I really appreciate about the message behind MESH Helps is that it doesn’t suggest there’s only one “right” way to play. Every child has different interests, personalities, and ways of expressing themselves. Some love to build. Others enjoy pretend play, puzzles, sensory experiences, or hands-on projects. That’s why I enjoyed seeing such a wide variety of products featured as part of the Play for Resilience™ initiative.
Building, Creating, and Exploring
The Tube-Dolphin by Plus-Plus immediately caught my eye because it’s such an open-ended activity. The tube includes 70 pieces and instructions for building a cheerful dolphin, but it doesn’t stop there. The pieces can also be used to create other sea-inspired designs, flat mosaics, or three-dimensional creations. I love activities that encourage kids to keep imagining new possibilities long after they’ve built the first project.
Another creative option is the Makedo Discover Kit. Designed for turning everyday cardboard into imaginative creations, the kit includes 126 pieces, including Safe-Saws, a Scru-Driver, a Fold-Roller, Scrus, Scru+, Mini-Tools, and a storage toolbox. I especially like the idea of giving new life to something as simple as a cardboard box. It’s an easy reminder that creativity doesn’t always require fancy supplies.
For families with early learners, the MAGNA-TILES microMAGS LEARN Letters™ 56-Piece Set combines magnetic building with hands-on literacy activities. The set features color-coded uppercase letter tiles, with vowels in orange and consonants in green, helping children explore letter recognition, phonics, alphabet identification, and simple word building. I also appreciate that it’s compatible with other MAGNA-TILES sets, making it easy to expand the fun over time.
Encouraging Imagination and Confidence
Pretend play has always fascinated me because kids often surprise us with just how creative they can be.
The Hocus Pocus Wooden Magic Show Kit by MindWare includes more than 25 wooden props that allow young magicians to learn over 20 magic tricks. Step-by-step instructions and online tutorials led by a professional magician help beginners get started, while the storage box doubles as a presentation case for family performances. I can easily picture kids proudly putting on a magic show after practicing their favorite tricks.
Another product that stood out to me is Shashibo by Fun In Motion. This award-winning magnetic puzzle cube uses 36 ultra-strong magnets to transform into more than 100 geometric shapes. Each cube also features four unique art designs, including hidden interior panels to discover. I like that it can be enjoyed as a puzzle, a fidget toy, or simply as something fun to explore with your hands. Plus, multiple cubes can connect to create even larger magnetic sculptures.
Sensory Play and Mindful Moments
Not every child enjoys the same type of activity, which is another reason I appreciate the variety represented here.
The Jelly Blox Creative Kit from Goliath offers a completely different building experience. These colorful blocks are soft, squishy, and designed for sensory play. Some of the blocks even contain materials like super sand, foam beads, mini stars, and mini bricks for added tactile exploration. The blocks are compatible with other Jelly Blox kits, easy to clean with gentle soap and water, and have undergone toy safety testing. It sounds like a fun option for families looking for something a little different from traditional building toys.
I also thought Rory the Lion Deep Breathing Tool from The Calm Caterpillar was a unique addition to the initiative. Rory is designed to help children practice Lion’s Breath through interactive play. The weighted design provides a comforting sensory experience when draped around a child’s neck, and pressing Rory’s face activates a lion’s roar to encourage deep breathing practice. I also like that Rory includes a simple feelings mantra to reinforce the breathing activity and has a removable voice box for easier machine washing.
Making Everyday Family Moments Count
One thing I appreciate about the Play for Resilience™ initiative is that it recognizes play doesn’t always happen at home.
The Chuck E. Cheese Refillable Cup is a simple example of making family outings a little more enjoyable. The reusable souvenir cups are typically available at the in-store concession counter, and they often include free or deeply discounted refills during future visits. While it isn’t a toy, I like that it encourages families to make the most of time spent together during future trips.
To me, that’s part of the bigger picture MESH Helps is sharing. Meaningful play can happen around the kitchen table, in the living room, while building with blocks, performing a magic trick, solving a puzzle, creating something from cardboard, or simply enjoying time together during a family outing.
A Reminder Every Busy Parent Can Appreciate
As parents, it’s easy to feel like we’re always searching for the next resource, activity, or parenting strategy. What I appreciate most about MESH Helps is that their message feels both hopeful and practical. Instead of asking families to completely change their routines, they’re encouraging us to recognize the value that’s already found in everyday moments of play.
That message really stayed with me.
Whether your family enjoys building dolphins with Plus-Plus, practicing magic tricks with MindWare, exploring letters with MAGNA-TILES, squeezing Jelly Blox, transforming Shashibo into new shapes, creating cardboard inventions with Makedo, making memories at Chuck E. Cheese, or practicing deep breathing with Rory the Lion, each activity represents another opportunity to spend meaningful time together.
If you’d like to learn more about the mission behind Resilience Through Play and discover additional programs and resources, I encourage you to visit MESH Helps. It’s a wonderful reminder that sometimes the simplest moments of play can become some of the most meaningful moments we share with our children.
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