This month, US retailer Rick Derr discusses the importance of Comfort in the Moment and MESH skills for kids, and how the toy industry can play its part.
“There is a documented mental health crisis in the US among children and teens,” Rick writes. “In October of 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry declared a national state of emergency in children’s mental health. In these organisations’ combined 125 years of existence, this has never happened before.”
After listening to a podcast on the topic earlier this year, Rick has decided he has to be involved in combatting this crisis – and he wants the toy industry to get involved too. Rick says the work of Rachele Harmuth, head of ThinkFun, Ravensburger North America and Deborah Gilboa, MD, clinical associate professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, has opened his eyes to two things youths need – Comfort in the Moment and MESH (Mental, Emotional and Social Health) skills.
Rick explains that Comfort in the Moment has seen the fidget, plush and sensory toy markets explode, while the promotion of MESH skills can be aided with a wide-ranging assortment of toys and games, including those that:
- Focus on problem solving and perseverance
- Encourage storytelling
- Present new or increasing challenges over the duration of play
- Attract children and their adults
He also asks: “Does play offer the solution? Putting toys and games that build MESH skills into the hands of parents will provide tools for them to teach these valuable skills. These tools will support parents’ strategies and ideas to teach them openly and to work with children.”
In his Letter from America, Rick also outlines five steps toy companies can take to start positively impacting the mental health of kids, and talks about the changes he’s made at his Learning Express store to help staff learn and deal with mental health issues.
To find out more about Comfort in the Moment and MESH skills, and why Rick is so passionate about this topic, read his full column, which was published in the April issue of Toy World, by clicking here.
