McDonald’s launches blank Happy Meal to help kids open up
The initiative aims to spark family conversations about mental health.
McDonald’s UK&I is removing the red design from its Happy Meal boxes for the first time, replacing them with plain white ones to encourage children to draw and express their feelings.
The limited-edition change is part of a partnership with BBC Children in Need, aimed at promoting conversations about mental health between children and their families.
The “Draw How You Feel Meal” boxes will be available in McDonald’s restaurants across the UK until 18 November, along with crayons for kids to use.
The move follows research, commissioned by McDonald’s, showing that 42% of children aged 5 to 10 find it difficult to talk to adults about their emotions, but 73% say drawing helps them open up.
The study also found that 21% of children use colouring to express negative emotions, and 43% do so when they feel positive.