Get the FAQs on MESH Helps!

MESH Helps started with a question, “How can we strengthen the skills kids need for their mental, emotional, and social health and build resilience through play?”. ThinkFun inaugurated this initiative in partnership with resilience expert, Dr. Deborah Gilboa who prepared research and built the MESH White Paper.

MESH Helps is proud to be a nonprofit organization as of December 2023 with a mission to help kids build resilience through play.

This weekly column will share insights on MESH Accreditation and provide details on using the four play patterns to select and submit products for evaluation during the pre-order sale through May 2024. This week’s column share’s our most frequently asked questions so you can get the facts on MESH Helps!

Who evaluates the products for MESH Accreditation?

FUNdamentally Children is the expert third-party accrediting body for MESH Helps led by Dr. Amanda Gummer with over 20 years' experience in child behavior development and a PhD in Neuropsychology. The organization provides an independent, evidence-based approach to testing and accreditation. Each product submitted for MESH Accreditation will be reviewed by FUNdamentally Children staff that have credentials in child development and/or education. All products will be tested in a minimum of three play sessions with children from a wide range of backgrounds and whose age is appropriate for the toy or game.

How do I know if my product will pass MESH Accreditation?

We recommend using the 4 play patterns as a guide to selecting and submitting products. Through the research and expertise from Dr. Gilboa, we have found that a majority of toy and game products within these play patterns encourage multiple skills of resilience. The following play patterns are a good reference for selecting products for MESH Accreditation:

1. Overcoming Obstacles - Encourages the skills needed to identify and solve problems
2. Storytelling - Encourages the skills needed to express experiences
3. Increasing Challenges - Encourages the skills needed to adapt and comprehend
4. Bridging Play - Encourages children and adults to play together and connect

What if I don’t pass MESH Accreditation?

That’s ok! Any product not acquiring MESH Accreditation will be given recommendations and allowed to resubmit within 12 months to FUNdamentally Children for no additional fee.

When do the MESH Accreditation pre-orders end and when/where do I send my products?

Pre-orders for MESH Accreditation will end on May 17th and will be prioritized for review for holiday marketing. Standard and Enhanced MESH Accreditation Reports will be sent out in September by FUNdamentally Children as the third-party accrediting body! FUNdamentally Children will contact you to get the specifics on your product submission(s) and tell you where to send three of each SKU for review. Products can be sent to FUNdamentally Children in the US or the UK by May 31st.

If I submit a product for MESH Accreditation now, when will I receive my review?

Pre-order MESH Accreditation reviews will be completed by September for holiday marketing efforts by our third-party accreditation body, FUNdamentally Children!

For more information on the MESH Accreditation Program, please visit www.MESHhelps.org/accreditation or email info@MESHhelps.org.