Wellness for Children Initiative
2019 Trends
TREND 1: Children’s mental health and wellness
Children’s mental health and wellness, recognizing what mental health in children looks like and what we can do in curriculums in schools to improve children’s abilities to communicate their emotions.
TREND 2: Family wellness retreats or wellness vacations
Family wellness retreats or wellness vacations, where the whole family gets to go together and learns what it is to be well. From cooking together, and receiving wellness treatments, whether it’s by a massage, reflexology or aromatherapy but some kind of wellness treatment in a spa setting or in a wellness retreat with their children.
TREND 3: Generational Wellness
Generational wellness is where we have older family members being able to participate with younger members of the family and, in fact, without even being a family member. We see a problem with loneliness across the globe that came up a lot in the globe wellness this summer, how communities are the crook of wellness. When we look at blue zones, where people are living healthy and happy and becoming one hundred and beyond, the common denominator was community. Not always family but the sense of belonging, the sense of purpose, and that someone was there that they could connect with. One of the things we talked about with Professor Tylenoly was an Alzheimer’s unit being built, purposely built salutogenic, on the property of Castle Bagot house, the property of Junior Geneses. This is something we are looking at, trying to connect the elderly with the young.
TREND 4: Children and their environment
In Scandinavia and New Zealand, there is a trend with children and their environment, having children do school projects that are related specifically to saving the plant. Where the children are not just going out picking up trash off the beach but they are actively in their science programs looking at ways to understand recycling better. This, in fact, improves their awareness of plastics in the ocean, how not to use plastics, and make better choices in their family life in home about sustainability, by using paper goods versus plastic, etc. The project in New Zealand shows the children being more creative about their use of non-plastic. (There is a lot we can speak to in the Caribbean on this type of programming as well.)
TREND 5: Genetic testing for food
Sending away your genetic materials for testing for food. I think you have to do a fecal matter test as well as a saliva test. They take a look at your DNA, and they tell you what foods are suitable for your specific DNA profile. We are looking at the micro bio in children and how they can eat for their health.
TREND 6: Back to basic connections, playful learning and team learning
We’ll go back to basics connection, playful learning, and team learning games. People will become more aware of the importance of exercise and nutrition. Balance—self-awareness and personal development—will start younger.
