The phearnik!® Campaign
A month ago, I announced my campaign to make phearnik!® available to every child who could use its subtle powers. These “powers” work to support children’s mental health. In particular, the quirky little plush helps kids be less scared of everything.
A Crowdfunding Project
To help me make the plush available in the marketplace, I plan to launch a fund-raising campaign later this year. The funds raised will help me with manufacturing costs. These include the manufacture of the phearnik!® plush and the printing of the accompanying Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears picture book.
Why Crowdfunding?
For my phearnik!® Campaign, I am using “crowdfunding.” Crowdfunding is a way to fund projects by raising money from a large number of people through the internet. Many artists and entrepreneurs have successfully raised funds and fostered awareness of their initiatives through crowdfunding.
Like these artists and entrepreneurs, I have invested my own funds into my project, along with the support of family and friends. To take my idea to the next step, I need more help. I want to branch out to include others who are also interested in supporting mental health.
Kickstarter Crowdfunding
For my crowdfunding campaign, I am using Kickstarter. Kickstarter is one of many online crowdfunding platforms. These platforms make it easy for creators to share their projects and receive funding. With Kickstarter, like similar platforms, investors or “backers” receive rewards for their investment.
I chose Kickstarter because I like the fact that, to receive funds from your backers, you must meet your funding goal. If you do not meet your goal, your project does not receive any funds. Plus, backers would not be expected to pay. Although challenging, this seems fairer for the investor. A creator who reaches their goal is more likely to follow through with their initial intentions than those who do not.
Mental Health Issues on the Rise
Kids’ mental health issues are on the rise in the US and around the world. Many suffer anxiety and are hamstrung by their fears. These include irrational fears like being afraid of the water, going to a new school or getting a shot at the doctors. Furthermore, kids often lack the skills needed for their social and emotional learning. Parents of these children are frustrated and request more tools and strategies to help them help their kids.
Hear what Rebecca, a retired Pre-school Educator, had to say about phearnik!®:
“My now grown daughter could definitely have used a phearnik doll. She was very fearful of new things to the point that it affected her social connections with other kids her age. At the time there was no product like phearnik on the market. We relied on tiny “worry dolls“ to help her manage her fears. I definitely would have invested in phearnik had it been available at the time. I think it would’ve been a big help to her then.”
Support Children’s Mental Health
By supporting the phearnik!® Campaign, backers will be an essential link to bringing this mental health resource to fearful children and their parents. In addition, investors will be sponsoring the larger mission of “boosting” or supporting mental health. With the phearnik!® Campaign, this includes the message of reducing mental health issues with skill building aka social emotional learning (SEL).
What About You?
What have you used to help kids with their anxiety? In what other ways do you support mental health? Let us know in the Comments.
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