Helping Customers Help Kids Through MESH Skills
STEP 1: Get to know MESH Helps
Parents and caregivers are looking for toys that not only entertain but also help children build emotional resilience. This guide will help you confidently talk to customers about skill-building toys—and ensure they leave with the right product for their child’s needs.
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.
Point customers towards products that support the 4 MESH Play Patterns.
Step 2: Connect with Customers
When a customer approaches you asking about products for resilience (mental, emotional, and social health), follow these steps:
Empathize with the customer as much as you can or as appropriate. Excitement for the products should be greeted with excitement and concern should be greeted with understanding. There is never a moment to discuss a diagnosis. Please refer to “That sounds hard. I’m sorry that’s happening.”
Always recommend the consumer to visit MESHhelps.org for further information.
If you encounter a situation of someone in immediate crisis, please advise them to call 988. This is a 24/7 national mental health crisis hotline.
Over the past few years, there's been a strong demand for fidget toys, plush, and other comfort items -- excellent tools for helping kids navigate moments of mild or moderate distress. Now, as families settle into routines, they are not only looking for toys that offer comfort but also products that help their kids build skills of resilience.
Comfort Toys | Skill-Building Toys |
|---|---|
Immediate/short-term support | Long-term skills to navigate change and challenge |
Often plush, sensory, or familiar items | Often found in a variety of toys and games |
Help soothe emotions | Encourage emotional growth and coping skills
|
How to talk to customers!
When customers are looking around the store for toy or game ideas or express concern about a child, the best way to help them is to ask:​​​​​​
​“Are you looking for a comfort item to help a child who’s having a hard time or looking for skill-building to strengthen a child’s resilience?”​​​
If a parent is really worried about their child, you can offer empathy:
“That sounds hard, I’m sorry that’s happening.”
And encourage them to get support from their child’s doctor or school.
Step 3: Put MESH in Motion
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