The Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County are looking to make kids in the area Mightier.
A new program by that name, designed to Foster Emotional Resilience, was announced Monday. Mightier is an innovative and engaging program aimed at helping Club members develop essential coping skills to navigate life’s emotional challenges. This exciting digital program, developed by Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, utilizes real-time heart rate monitoring to teach emotional regulation through game-based activities.
In a world where big emotions like anger, frustration, and anxiety are part of everyday life, Mightier offers a fresh approach to building healthier responses. By blending fun and learning, Mightier empowers Club members to develop a toolbox of coping skills that can be applied in real-life situations.
Mightier is built upon the principles of biofeedback, allowing Club members to receive real-time physiological feedback while engaging in a variety of games. A heart rate monitor band is worn by the participants, projecting their heart rate in real-time at the corner of the screen. As Club members play the game and their heart rates increase, Mightier intervenes by pausing the game and guiding kids in practicing techniques to lower their heart rate. As heart rates continue to rise, the difficulty levels of the games increase, providing additional opportunities for “cool downs” and regulation techniques, such as breathing exercises.
One of the remarkable aspects of Mightier is its inclusivity. While it is particularly beneficial for children with ADHD and other emotional regulation disorders, it can be utilized by any Club member experiencing heightened emotions. Whether a child is dealing with anger, frustration, or anxiety, this program equips them with valuable skills to effectively manage these natural emotions in real-world situations.
“Mightier underscores our commitment to providing comprehensive support and fostering the emotional resilience of our members,” said Dr. Erica Kelsey, Director of Emotional Well-being. “By providing this innovative tool within our Club kids’ natural environments, we aim to reduce the barriers that stigma, financial constraints, or transportation issues may pose to enhancing emotional well-being.”
953 MNC spoke with Jacqeline Kronk of the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County about the new program. You can hear that conversation here:
