MESH Helps | mental emotional and social health

Parent Resource Hub:
Building MESH Skills Through Play

Welcome to the MESH Helps Parent Resource Hub! Play is a powerful way to nurture your child's mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) skills. Whether through guided conversation, everyday tasks, or structured activities, you can help your child strengthen resilience, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills -- all through play!

LEARN ABOUT MESH HELPS

We believe play is more than just fun! It's a powerful tool for building mental health resilience. MESH Helps has a mission to help kids build resilience through play by strengthening the critical skills of mental, emotional, and social health. MESH Helps is here to support your family's journey - one playful moment at a time!

Young girl on the cover of the MESH White Paper

Through well-documented and researched skills of youth mental, emotional, and social health, we created 4 MESH Play Patterns that can help strengthen kids' resilience through play.

As you play with your child, look for ways to encourage these patterns and strengthen your child's confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

EXPLORE CONVERSATION STARTERS

During play, ask your child questions that reinforce the MESH lessons and skills they are strengthening through interactions with toys and games!

Wow, you've found another way to do that! How does it feel? (MESH Skill - problem-solving)
Can you tell me a story about your game? What's happening? (MESH Skill - storytelling)
Does this get harder as you play it or easier? (MESH Play Pattern - increasing challenge)
Can I play (MESH Play Pattern - bridging play)

What problem do you have to solve in this game? (MESH Skill - problem solving)
What's the hardest part to play or character to be in this game? Why? (MESH Play Pattern - storytelling)
I see the challenge increasing the longer you play. How do you feel about that? Does it make the game better or worse? Why? (MESH Play Pattern - increasing challenge)
Will you teach me about this game so I could try? (MESH Play Pattern - bridging play)

I see you kept going past the obstacles. What do you think about if you want to encourage yourself to keep trying? (MESH Skill - perseverance)
How does playing this game help you? What do you love about it and what do you learn from it? (MESH Play Pattern - storytelling)
Some games get harder as you go, and I see you challenging yourself with that. What's the advantage to you? Wouldn't it be easier to stay on the beginner level over and over? (MESH Play Pattern - increasing challenge)
Can you show me your favorite thing to play right now and I'll show you my favorite? (MESH Play Pattern - bridging play)

PRACTICE AROUND THE HOUSE

You don't need fancy toys to build MESH Skills! Common household items, interactions, and tasks can spark learning. Turn everyday play into meaningful moments that build resilience! Use the buttons to view age appropriate activities for around the house.

Overcoming Obstacles

Sorting utensils into their correct spots in the drawer.
Bringing pairs of shoes to put away in a closet.
Matching kitchen storage containers and lids.

Storytelling

Looking through a picture album and making up a story about what might be happening.
Making different "mood faces" like sad, happy, worried, angry. Take pictures and name each emotion.
Looking out the window and making up story about a person/family/dog outside.

Increasing Challenge

Seeing who can stack the most pillows in a pile.
Playing a memory game! Place three items on a tray, cover with paper, remove the paper and see how many you can remember. Increase to five items, then seven, etc.
Creating a tongue twister using words that start with the same letter. Try saying it three times in a minute, then five times in a minute, etc.

Bridging Play

Playing 'Slap Jack' with a deck of cards.
Play "I Spy" in a room of your home.
Turn on some music and have a dance party!

Overcoming Obstacles

Searching for lost items around the house (keys, pet toys, etc.).
Folding laundry and putting it away.
Figuring out a meal to make from leftovers in the fridge.

Storytelling

Looking at a commercial or billboard and sharing a story.
Sharing two "highs" and one "low" about your day.
Talking about someone they know who got in trouble for poor behavior and thinking of a good reason for why.

Increasing Challenge

Having a contest to see who can balance on one foot the longest.
Playing a memory game! Place five items on a tray, cover with paper, remove the paper and see how many you can remember. Increase to seven items, then nine, etc.
Gather up all the cushions and pillows and cardboard boxes in your home and see how elaborate a fortress you build!

Bridging Play

Playing 'Go Fish' with a deck of cards.
Have a 2-Minute Talent show to act out the funniest, loudest, more most amazing talent act you can think of!
Playing a board game together - kids choice!

Overcoming Obstacles

Setting a budget and deciding on a meal - create the menu and then make a grocery list.
Cleaning your room!
Playing 'The Floor is Lava' - find your way across the house without touching the ground.

Storytelling

Asking your child to tell you about their favorite YouTube or Instagram account or influencer and why they admire them.
Sharing two "highs" and one "low" about your day.
Telling a story about someone who is misunderstood from a book, the news, etc. and why.

Increasing Challenge

Having a contest to see who can leave all technology alone the longest!
Playing a memory game! Place seven items on a tray, cover with paper, remove the paper and see how many you can remember. Increase to nine items, then eleven, etc.

Bridging Play

Playing Gin or Hearts with a deck of cards.
Sharing the funniest things (memes, videos, etc.) you've seen online this week.
Choosing something kind to do for someone else!

Parent Resource Hub: Building MESH Skills Through Play

LEARN ABOUT MESH HELPS

EXPLORE CONVERSATION STARTERS

During play, ask your child questions that reinforce the MESH lessons and skills they are strengthening through interactions with toys and games!

​

Wow, you've found another way to do that! How does it feel? (MESH Skill - problem-solving)

Can you tell me a story about your game? What's happening? (MESH Skill - storytelling)

Does this get harder as you play it or easier? (MESH Play Pattern - increasing challenge)

Can I play (MESH Play Pattern - bridging play)

​

What problem do you have to solve in this game? (MESH Skill - problem solving)

What's the hardest part to play or character to be in this game? Why? (MESH Play Pattern - storytelling)

I see the challenge increasing the longer you play. How do you feel about that? Does it make the game better or worse? Why? (MESH Play Pattern - increasing challenge)

Will you teach me about this game so I could try? (MESH Play Pattern - bridging play)

​

I see you kept going past the obstacles. What do you think about if you want to encourage yourself to keep trying? (MESH Skill - perseverance)

How does playing this game help you? What do you love about it and what do you learn from it? (MESH Play Pattern - storytelling)

Some games get harder as you go, and I see you challenging yourself with that. What's the advantage to you? Wouldn't it be easier to stay on the beginner level over and over? (MESH Play Pattern - increasing challenge)

Can you show me your favorite thing to play right now and I'll show you my favorite? (MESH Play Pattern - bridging play)

PRACTICE AROUND THE HOUSE

You don't need fancy toys to build MESH Skills! Common household items, interactions, and tasks can spark learning. Turn everyday play into meaningful moments that build resilience! Use the buttons to view age appropriate activities for around the house.

Sorting utensils into their correct spots in the drawer.

Bringing pairs of shoes to put away in a closet.

Matching kitchen storage containers and lids.

Storytelling

Looking through a picture album and making up a story about what might be happening.

Making different "mood faces" like sad, happy, worried, angry. Take pictures and name each emotion.

Looking out the window and making up story about a person/family/dog outside.

Increasing Challenge

Seeing who can stack the most pillows in a pile.

Playing a memory game! Place three items on a tray, cover with paper, remove the paper and see how many you can remember. Increase to five items, then seven, etc.

Creating a tongue twister using words that start with the same letter. Try saying it three times in a minute, then five times in a minute, etc.

Bridging Play

Playing 'Slap Jack' with a deck of cards.

Play "I Spy" in a room of your home.

Turn on some music and have a dance party!

Overcoming Obstacles

Searching for lost items around the house (keys, pet toys, etc.).

Folding laundry and putting it away.

Figuring out a meal to make from leftovers in the fridge.

Storytelling

Looking at a commercial or billboard and sharing a story.

Sharing two "highs" and one "low" about your day.

Talking about someone they know who got in trouble for poor behavior and thinking of a good reason for why.

Increasing Challenge

Having a contest to see who can balance on one foot the longest.

Playing a memory game! Place five items on a tray, cover with paper, remove the paper and see how many you can remember. Increase to seven items, then nine, etc.

Gather up all the cushions and pillows and cardboard boxes in your home and see how elaborate a fortress you build!

Bridging Play

Playing 'Go Fish' with a deck of cards.

Have a 2-Minute Talent show to act out the funniest, loudest, more most amazing talent act you can think of!

Playing a board game together - kids choice!

Overcoming Obstacles

Setting a budget and deciding on a meal - create the menu and then make a grocery list.

Cleaning your room!

Playing 'The Floor is Lava' - find your way across the house without touching the ground.

Storytelling

Asking your child to tell you about their favorite YouTube or Instagram account or influencer and why they admire them.

Sharing two "highs" and one "low" about your day.

Telling a story about someone who is misunderstood from a book, the news, etc. and why.

Increasing Challenge

Having a contest to see who can leave all technology alone the longest!

Playing a memory game! Place seven items on a tray, cover with paper, remove the paper and see how many you can remember. Increase to nine items, then eleven, etc.

Bridging Play

Playing Gin or Hearts with a deck of cards.

Sharing the funniest things (memes, videos, etc.) you've seen online this week.

Choosing something kind to do for someone else!

Parent Resource Hub:
Building MESH Skills Through Play