Toy biz initiative IDs eight core skills children need to build resilience, and kids media can help big time

With sales of self-soothing products like fidget spinners and Squishmallows exploding during the pandemic, and a multitude of parents expressing grave concerns about their kids’ mental wellness in the aftermath, Ravensburger’s ThinkFun toy division turned to resilience expert Dr. Deborah Gilboa to understand what was going on. It turns out these early warning signs were just the tip of the iceberg, and lurking beneath the surface was a crisis of alarming proportions.

According to the World Health Organization, roughly 20% of kids and teens around the globe currently have a diagnosed mental health condition. And many more are struggling in various ways to cope with the highs and lows of post-pandemic life.

In October 2022, Dr. G and ThinkFun published a white paper for the toy industry that identifies eight core skills all kids need to develop in order to ensure their mental, emotional and social wellbeing. They also offered up practical suggestions for the development of new play products that are already resonating at retail and providing relief and tools to families trying to support kids at every stage of improving their mental health.

To continue the mission, we've asked Dr. G and ThinkFun’s Rachele Harmuth to apply their model to the children's media industry and explore how the building blocks of resilience can be incorporated into the fabric of kids TV content. Please join us for this critical keynote presentation at Kidscreen Summit to find out what you can do to help.

About Dr. G

Resilience expert Deborah Gilboa, MD (a.k.a. “Dr. G”) works with families, organizations and businesses to identify mindsets and strategies to turn stress into an advantage. Renowned for her contagious humor, Dr. G works with groups across multiple generations to rewire their attitudes and beliefs, and create resilience through personal accountability and a completely different approach to adversity. She is a leading media personality who is seen regularly on TODAY, Good Morning America and The Doctors. She is also featured frequently in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Authority Magazine and countless other digital and print publications. Dr. G is a board-certified attending family physician, and is fluent in American Sign Language. She lives in Pittsburgh with her four sons. 

About Rachele

Rachele Harmuth is Head of ThinkFun, a division of Ravensburger. Throughout her 30 years in the toy industry, she has been involved in design, marketing, brand management, sales and strategic planning for such brands as K’NEX, Klutz, Scholastic, Fat Brain Toys and, of course, ThinkFun. Rachele is also the founder of MESH (Mental, Emotional and Social Health), an initiative that awards a special designation to toys that teach kids skills like how to adjust to new challenges, resolve conflict, advocate for themselves or solve problems. When she’s not running MESH and making toys, Rachele can often be found setting up treasure hunts, running cardboard boat races, and looking for ways to add fun to the world with her husband and three kids.

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