This initiative gives guidance for caregivers and anyone who wants to enable kids to flourish on a flourishing planet.
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Together we enabled the next generations to flourish
HOW | MENTAL GROWTH
Confidence & Courage
Having healthy self-confidence means having a positive self-identity and knowing one's strengths.
While having a healthy self-confidence can make it easier for individuals to do what they truly want to do, some individuals act courageously despite feeling afraid or uncertain about their abilities. When acting courageously, kids can also gain confidence from that experience.
Today, social media and many toys however focus more on entertainment than on encouraging courage and development of character strengths. To support kids in feeling confident and courageous to achieve what they want, it can be good to think deeper about what different toys and activities encourage and which of them can accelerate the empowerment of kids through active and creative play.
Courage
By Madeleine Enarsson © 2025
HOW | CONFIDENCE & COURAGE
Expanding options beyond surface level
Social media often focuses on passive entertainment and appearance. This can create pressures to buy 'must haves' and conform to narrow beauty standards, affecting children as early as kindergarten.
Girls, in particular, often encounter this in activities like princess or beauty-centric play. While it can be enjoyable, such play can unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes and impact children's self-esteem if they don't feel they measure up.
To support a well-rounded sense of self and empower kids, it is essential to encourage diverse values and interests from an early age. That way, children can value their unique qualities, pursue their passions and make their voices heard, whether through fashion, science, arts or any other area of interest.
Thinking critically about what toys encourage
ChatGPT's examples of toys that can encourage passive play - do some toys require a rethink?
Remember the conversation with ChatGPT on the previous page? Well, here are some examples it proposed with regards to toys that may restrict children to passive play. While these kinds of toys can be fun, they can also have unintended negative impacts, such as encouraging consumption and limiting the possibilities for kids to express themselves and be empowered. As a complement or alternative, see some options further down to encourage active play.
Empowerment and active play
Shifting focus from consumption to character strengths and co-creation
Moving beyond surface attributes like status symbols and appearance toward empowerment can be done in several ways, for example by introducing creative play or by expanding clothing options for kids beyond gender stereotypes. Another way could be to portray kids' unique character strengths in photos.
Character strengths collage
By Madeleine Enarsson © 2025
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