It’s officially Mental Health Awareness Month and that means it’s time to talk about our feelings — and the toys that help teach them.
MESH (Mental, Emotional, and Social Health) is the new key term taking over the toy industry. These toys help kids cope with big feelings and learn how to identify what they are going through. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the top MESH toys & games — because sometimes Mental Health can be all fun and games.
Toys That Help with Anxiety
Kids and adults alike can benefit from sensory play in times of stress. Toys that ease the mind through sensory play or physical compression are useful tools in combatting difficult emotions.
KINETIC SAND SWIRL N’ SURPRISE
Kids can swirl, flow, and stack sand using the included tools to create mesmerizing effects. This kit features a total of 2 pounds of kinetic sand in red, purple, green, and yellow.
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FOIL FUN
This activity set comes with more than 150 stickers, 100 foil sheets, and an instruction manual. Kids start by selecting one of the 10 thematic boards, then choose their stickers and apply color using sparkly foil sheets. This set helps kids to create mess-free artwork without cutting, painting, or coloring. Available in Dinosaur and Animal…
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PLAYFOAM SHAPE & LEARN FEELINGS SET
This sensory-friendly set comes with Playfoam and 13 double-sided activity cards to help teach kids social and emotional skills. They can learn breathing exercises and re-create expressions to practice learning what different emotions look like.
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CARE BEARS GOOD VIBES 14-INCH PLUSH BEAR
The Care Bears, ambassadors of kindness, advocate for environmental responsibility with the 14-inch Good Vibes Bear plushie. Crafted from recycled materials, this eco-friendly bear embodies the message of "cleaner and greener is the way to grow!" Combining sustainability with snuggly softness, Good Vibes Bear promotes a stylish, earth-conscious lifestyle.
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CHUCKLE & ROAR SENSORY SAMPLER 8PK
A tactile, soothing journey with Chuckle & Roar's 8pk Sensory Sampler, the ultimate compound collection designed to awaken the senses and inspire imaginative play. This sampler pack brings together the magical textures of Whoa Dough, Whoa Dough Glow, Grand Sand, and Dream Sand. With two vibrant colors in each variety, this set promises endless possibilities…
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COOL DOWN CUBES SENSORY FIDGET SET
These four calming sensory cubes have different fidget actions to help kids as they work through their emotions. Kids can squeeze the slow-rise foam, spin the spinner, solve the maze, and sift the falling beads. The cubes store in the tray when playtime is over.
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BUMPAS
These 2.5-pound weighted plush create deep pressure stimulation to help promote a sense of security, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, and create a calming effect.
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NEEDOH NICE CUBE
New to the NeeDoh family are Nice Cubes — soft cubes that kids can squish to their heart’s content. They are available in three colors: blue, pink, and purple.
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EEYORE WEIGHTED PLUSH
Source: Disney Store
Source: Disney Store
Source: Disney Store
Cuddle up with the mane attraction of Hundred Acre Woods! This weighted plush has a two-and-a-half-pound removable pouch, embroidered features, and Eeyore's iconic tail. When there's a downpour of gloom, bounce back together.
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Toys & Games That Teach Feelings
We’re raising a generation of kids who understand their emotions better than any of those before them, and there are a myriad toys that aid in this education. These toys teach kids how to recognize different feelings in themselves and others.
MOODLES
Kids can interact with Purr Kitty, Cuddles Bear, and Pawster Pup to communicate their moods and learn about emotions while playing. Each plush features six faces to demonstrate happiness, sadness, surprise, silliness, sleepiness, and anger.
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EGGXPRESS YOURSELF!
Kids can practice matching skills, social-emotional intelligence, and more with these 12 wobbling eggs, complete with shapes and colors on the inside and facial expressions on the outside. The set includes a mirror card, a storybook, and more.
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FEELINGS ADVENTURE COOPERATIVE BOARD GAME
Players will work together and experience positive affirmations, skillful yoga poses, and reflection cards that spark conversations. With the 36 challenge cards and six bonus cards, kids can learn self expression, emotional regulation, and social skills.
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BIG FEELINGS PINEAPPLE DELUXE SET
The deluxe version of the Big Feelings Pineapple comes with 41 interchangeable pieces, including mouths, eyes, eyebrows, and hands. Kids can switch the pineapple’s expressions as they build preschool-level social-emotional learning skills.
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EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS SENSORY BOTTLES
Each of the four bottles in this set features a different color, expression, and interactive element that ties to an emotion: happy, angry, scared, or sad. The set includes an activity guide to help adults encourage productive conversation about emotions using the sensory bottles.
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WHO’S FEELING WHAT?
Feeling happy, sad, angry, scared? Kids can learn to identify their emotions in this social-emotional learning game. With 12 double-sided caller cards and 12 double-sided emotion prompt cards, this game teaches kids how to recognize, understand, and feel their feelings. They'll build the skills they need to make friends and master teamwork. Now I think…
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EMOTIONS COIN DROP
Based on Montessori principles, this wooden toy features images of six emotions on the front. Kids can drop 30 wooden coins into the corresponding coin slots to match the emotions. It's designed by pediatric specialists and has numerous uses for all ages.
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INSIDE OUT 2 SHAKING WITH ANXIETY FEATURE PLUSH
When kids play with this Anxiety plush, all of their own anxieties will go away! When kids twist Anxiety's hair, she shakes and says phrases from Inside Out 2 as her eyes quiver. The more kids twist her hair, the more she shakes and talks. This 13-inch plush has articulated arms, shapable hair, and embroidered…
