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Global Wellness Institute Launches Children’s Wellness Moonshot Calendar to Bring Healthy Habits into the Classroom Every Day of the Year
The pandemic took a toll on young children’s wellbeing—and this new program gives teachers a simple resource to introduce wellness practices to students in a tangible and engaging way
Miami, FL – September 8, 2021 – The nonprofit Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the leading research organization for the global wellness industry, today launched a new program that helps educators introduce young school kids to the importance and practice of physical and mental wellness.
It revolves around The Children’s Wellness Moonshot Calendar, a colorful, large hanging mobile to be displayed in classrooms that gives twelve monthly wellness themes for teachers and kids to explore—whether breathing deeply, exploring nature, moving joyfully, or showing love. This work of art hangs from ceiling to floor, and each monthly theme (represented by a moon) becomes a springboard for new lessons, conversations, coloring, songs and games that make wellness fun and tangible. Learn more here.
This program brings The Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease, the GWI’s global call to action to eradicate preventable, chronic diseases, to an important new audience: pre-school to young elementary school children. This is the crucial age to introduce kids to healthy habits, as early childhood development has such an extraordinary impact on a person’s social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing for life. The program is being piloted in US schools, and calendars ship in two weeks.
The calendar concept and design was created by Jessica Jesse, CEO and creative director of BuDhaGirl LLC, and former member of GWI’s Board of Advisors. With thirty years experience in fashion retail, Jesse has been an innovator in combining evidence-based contemplative practice with design to make ritual a crucial daily practice for wellbeing.
“I’m so happy that the GWI is now launching the Children’s Wellness Moonshot Calendar, because it’s a perfect opportunity to plant the seeds of wellness for future generations,” said Jesse. “I’m thrilled that my original design of a mobile calendar is being used, as I think it will captivate children and make them want to interact through beauty and whimsy.”
Children Are in a Wellness Crisis
As millions of children across the US head back to school, they return in dire need of more physical and mental wellbeing. This past year-plus, they experienced a radically disrupted childhood: the loneliness of disconnection from their friends, the challenges of remote learning, family economic stress, and even the loss of loved ones. New studies agree that American kids are in a historic mental wellness crisis. One reveals that children’s mental health problems have doubled during COVID-19: Globally, 1 in 4 kids is now experiencing clinically elevated depressive symptoms and 1 in 5 clinically elevated anxiety symptoms. US parents report that two-thirds of children have experienced mental or emotional challenges because of the pandemic.
“As children return to school, all the discussion is about the severe learning setbacks (and catch-up needed) after a year of remote learning, but we feel that it’s equally critical to bring new wellness practices into the classroom after this difficult time,” said Susie Ellis, GWI chairman and CEO. “But it can be hard for teachers to tackle that, so we created a striking visual calendar and simple program that identifies an impactful practice every month—and learning how to breathe deeply or show kindness can be woven into every day.”
Sponsor a Class or School
Getting the wellness calendar program into more schools is dependent on individual donations. People can sponsor a classroom, a school or a school district to support wellbeing for children. LEARN MORE HERE.
About the Global Wellness Institute: The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3), is considered the leading global research and educational resource for the global wellness industry and is known for introducing major industry initiatives and regional events that bring together leaders to chart the future. GWI positively impacts global health and wellness by educating public institutions, businesses and individuals on how they can work to prevent disease, reduce stress, and enhance the overall quality of life. Its mission is to empower wellness worldwide.
