McDonald’s Turns Happy Meal Boxes Into Canvases for Kids’ Emotions

A simple white box could change how families talk about emotions. McDonald’s new campaign turns mealtime into a creative outlet for kids—and a lifeline for parents.

, and Administrator

2025 December 7 . 7:10 PM

1 min read

The boy in front of the picture wearing grey and black jacket is eating food with chopsticks.... — The boy in front of the picture wearing grey and black jacket is eating food with chopsticks. Behind him,we see children sitting on the chairs. Behind him, we see a wall which is in green and white color. On the right side, we see a white wall on which charts and posters are pasted. Beside that, we see a brown door. Beside that, we see a wall clock. This picture is clicked in the classroom.

McDonald’s Turns Happy Meal Boxes Into Canvases for Kids’ Emotions

McDonald's Happy Meal box becomes canvas to 'draw how you feel'

McDonald's and BBC Children in Need have debuted blank Happy Meal boxes to encourage children to express their emotions through art and start mental health conversations.

McDonald’s has launched a new campaign to help children talk about their feelings. The fast-food chain is replacing its usual red Happy Meal boxes with blank white ones, giving kids a space to draw and express themselves. The initiative, run with BBC Children in Need, aims to make emotional conversations easier for families across the UK and Ireland.

The limited-edition blank boxes will be available in restaurants until November 18. Alongside the packaging, McDonald’s is offering free resources on its Family Hub to support parents in starting these discussions. Research shows that 42% of children aged 5-10 struggle to talk about their emotions, but 73% feel more at ease when drawing.

The blank Happy Meal boxes will remain in restaurants for a limited time, with donations and creative activities running alongside them. The campaign builds on findings that 88% of parents find it easier to talk to children during creative tasks. McDonald’s hopes the initiative will help families connect and discuss emotions more openly.