by Rachele Harmuth, MESH Helps Founder & Spokesperson
Across the country, libraries serve as trusted community spaces where families gather to learn,
connect, and grow. From story times and STEAM programs to family workshops and discover
play areas, libraries already play a powerful role in supporting children’s development. Today,
that role is more important than ever.
Resilience is not a trait. Resilience is a set of skills.
Parents, educators, and community leaders are increasingly focused on helping children build
the skills needed to navigate challenges, manage emotions, and develop confidence. These
abilities — often referred to as mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) — are foundational
to lifelong resilience.
One of the most effective and accessible ways children develop these skills is through play.
Recognizing the powerful connection between play and resilience, MESH Helps was created to
help families, educators, and communities better understand how play can support children’s
development.
About MESH Helps
MESH Helps is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids build resilience through play
by strengthening the critical skills of mental, emotional, and social health (MESH.)
Working with child development experts, educators, and leaders in the toy and game industry,
MESH Helps identifies and highlights play experiences that support the development of
resilience-building skills in kids. Learn more here.
The power of play in building resilience
When children engage in play — whether solving a puzzle, creating stories, or playing a game —
they are doing far more than passing time. Play helps children practice important skills that
support mental, emotional, and social health.
At MESH Helps, these experiences are organized into four play patterns grounded in well-
documented research on youth mental, emotional, and social health that help children build
resilience.
Overcoming Obstacles
Games encourage children to work together through challenges, try different strategies, and
experience the satisfaction of solving a problem.
Storytelling
Story-based play invites kids to imagine possibilities, express experiences, and explore different
perspectives through characters and narratives.
Increasing Challenge
As children master new skills and take on greater levels of difficulty, they learn to adapt,
persevere, and build confidence through a growing sense of accomplishment.
Bridging Play
Play that connects children with caregivers strengthens communication, cooperation, and
meaningful relationships.
These play patterns are often already present in the activities families enjoy together. By
recognizing and highlighting them, caregivers can better understand how everyday interactions
support children’s resilience and well-being. Check out MESH Helps Caregiver Resources.
Families are looking for resources to raise resilient kids — libraries can help
Many caregivers recognize the importance of reading and academic learning, but may not
always realize that play is equally critical for building life skills. Libraries are in a unique position
to help families make that connection. By incorporating simple play experiences into programming, displays, and family engagement activities, libraries can help caregivers see how everyday play supports children’s mental emotional, and social development.
For Mental Health Awareness Month this May, MESH Helps is launching the Play for
Resilience™ campaign to help libraries highlight this connection in their communities.
Participating libraries will receive resources designed to make implementation easy and flexible
including:
- A Play for Resilience digital toolkit with MESH resources
- A shipment of MESH-Accredited toys and/or games for display or programming
- Access to a live webinar to support implementation
The campaign is designed to work within the programs libraries already offer. Some libraries
may choose to create a small display, integrate materials into story time, host a resilience-
themed event and/or distribute information. By highlighting how play builds confidence, problem-solving skills, and connection, libraries can help families better understand how these everyday experiences contribute to children’s long-term well-being.
Libraries interested in participating in the MESH Helps Play for Resilience™ campaign during
Mental Health Awareness Month can learn more and apply to receive resources and materials
through March 31.
Apply now!
Questions? Contact info@MESHhelps.org