Why This Matters Now Mental health challenges don’t begin in adulthood—but our systems still largely respond as if they do. Right now, millions of children are struggling with anxiety, attention, and emotional overwhelm—and many are falling through the cracks because the support they need doesn’t arrive early enough. The reality? Most mental health issues begin in childhood, but our interventions arrive too late. At Fledge, we believe the earlier we act, the bigger the impact. That’s why we created a digital platform built specifically for young kids, ages 5–9, to learn the emotional tools that will shape their lifelong wellbeing: how to manage big feelings, focus their attention, build confidence, and cope with stress. Introducing Fledge: Designed for Prevention, Built for Play Fledge is a web-based platform that brings mental wellness education into the daily lives of children, educators, and families. Through playful videos, movement-based activities, and simple reflections, kids learn how to self-regulate, express emotions, and build the habits that support long-term mental wellness. But what makes Fledge different is that it’s not just a product—it’s part of a growing movement to prioritize proactive, developmentally appropriate, and joyful approaches to mental health in early education. The Story Behind the Research Over the past two years, we’ve worked with schools, educators, and parents to pilot Fledge and understand its impact. We conducted a longitudinal study with a group of families, asking one core question: Can a playful, tech-enabled tool actually help young children feel and function better? The results were clear. While some children still faced challenges, the majority showed measurable improvements in focus, social skills, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing within 8 weeks. Just as importantly, parents reported feeling more connected, more hopeful, and better equipped to support their child’s emotional growth. What We’ll Share In this session, we’ll share: Our story: Why we created Fledge and what we’ve learned Early research outcomes that reveal promising shifts in children's mental health A live look at the platform in action, with an open invitation for feedback A vision for what early intervention in mental health can look like when it’s integrated into the lives of children, educators, and caregivers Why This Presentation Is Relevant for eMHIC This is a call to reimagine how—and when—we start teaching mental health. By shifting from crisis response to early prevention, and by using technology to scale accessible, evidence-informed tools, we believe we can change the trajectory for an entire generation of children. This presentation invites policymakers, educators, and mental health leaders to see early childhood not as "too soon"—but as exactly the right time.