MINDPLAY COMPLETES THE FIRST RESEARCH PHASE IN GERMANY

Germany – The European project MindPlay has successfully completed the national needs analysis on the mental health and well-being of children aged 6 to 9. Conducted within Work Package 2 (WP2), the research explored the experiences and needs of teachers, school leaders, psychologists, and parents.

Using a combination of focus groups and surveys, the study gathered perspectives from educational professionals and families in order to better understand current challenges related to children’s mental well-being.

The findings show a growing concern about emotional and behavioural difficulties among young children. Participants highlighted increasing problems related to concentration, emotional regulation, anxiety, social relationships, and the impact of excessive screen use. Many respondents also stressed that children with migration backgrounds or traumatic experiences may require additional support.

A key finding of the study is that schools often recognise early signs of difficulties, but lack practical and age-appropriate tools for early identification and intervention. Teachers largely rely on observation and professional experience, while psychologists emphasise the need for accessible, culturally sensitive, and nonverbal assessment approaches.

The research also revealed a strong demand for additional training in areas such as early identification of mental health difficulties, trauma-sensitive practices, communication with parents, and cooperation with support services.

Encouragingly, all stakeholder groups expressed strong support for the MindPlay approach. Participants recognised the potential of game-based tools to help children express emotions in a natural and safe way and to support the early detection of emotional and social difficulties.

The results of this research phase will directly inform the next stage of the project, during which MindPlay partners will develop and pilot innovative game-based tools and training modules for schools.

About MindPlay

MindPlay is a European cooperation project focused on the prevention, early identification, and support of mental health challenges among children aged 6 to 9. The project develops innovative game-based tools and training programmes for teachers, school teams, and parents and is co-funded by the European Union.

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