McDonald's makes major change to Happy Meals for important reason

For the first time in its history, McDonald's has decided to remove the iconic smile from its Happy Meal boxes.

This move is part of a campaign to let children know that it's okay not to be happy all the time. The initiative is set to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from May 13 to 19.

This decision comes after a study commissioned by McDonald's found that nearly half of UK children feel pressured to always appear happy, even when they're not. The limited-edition Happy Meal boxes are designed to encourage parents to discuss emotions with their children, reports Wales Online.

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In addition to the redesigned meal boxes, McDonald's will also provide sticker sheets featuring various emotions. These stickers allow children to express their feelings directly on the boxes.

The special edition boxes and stickers will be available at all McDonald's outlets nationwide, with the stickers being offered in select locations from Monday, May 13 until Sunday, May 19. McDonald's has joined forces with BBC Children in Need, launching a resource hub to support families in discussing emotional well-being with children.

This initiative aligns with the charity's Mental Health Awareness Week campaign, which aims to shed light on the mental burdens faced by young people across the UK. The resources can be accessed through a QR code on Happy Meal boxes, as well as on McDonald's website and social media platforms.

The campaign also highlights a tendency among parents to shield their children from sadness, with 74% of parents feeling it's crucial to prevent their kids from feeling sad.

Louise Page, Head of Consumer Communications and Partnerships at McDonald's, said: "We've been proudly supporting BBC Children in Need for four years now, and we know how important it is to help stimulate open conversations about mental health in families. Through this change to our iconic Happy Meal box, we hope that many more families are encouraged to kickstart positive conversations around children's emotions and wellbeing."

Fozia Irfan OBE, Director of Impact and Influence at BBC Children in Need, added: "Ensuring children are happy is at the top of all parents' priorities, but allowing children to express themselves and giving them the necessary space to articulate when they aren't feeling at their best is of equal importance. Mental Health Awareness Week is the perfect opportunity to shine a light on the vital impact we can make on children and young people's mental wellbeing and we are thrilled to be working with McDonald's to provide the necessary support parents and families may need to start the conversations with their children."

For further details on the available resources, visit the McDonald's Family Hub.

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