Wellness for Children Initiative
2025 Trends
TREND 1: Teen activities to support mental health
Although time and opportunities for teens to play have decreased, studies continue to show the importance of play for teens. With one in seven 10–19-year-olds in the USA and 1 in 6 young people aged 5-16 years old in the UK experiencing mental health issues (WHO, 2024), developing accessible, inclusive, and safe areas for teens to meet and play is essential for their holistic wellbeing.
The benefits of play for teens include:
Stress release and relaxation.
Sparks creativity and imagination.
Improves mood and mental wellbeing.
Strengthens physical wellbeing.
Grows social skills, problem-solving, and connections.
To enable these benefits, there are trends to enhance teen mental health in Spas and Wellness centers. These include spa services such as adapted massage, hydrotherapy, facials, fitness circuits, relaxation therapies, sound vibrations and music therapies, halotherapy, and outdoor wellbeing that will enrich a teen’s sleep, outlook, and overall wellness.
A few recreational activities for teens that are trending in the USA are chess, journaling, social clubs, Japanese anime, puzzles, and drawing. It is essential to consider a teenager’s interests and preferences when seeking opportunities and to always allow for personal choice.
TREND 2: Analog Wellness
Digital Detox retreats for young people are on the rise in several wellness destinations around the globe. It’s an opportunity to disconnect, decompress, and discover what truly makes one happy. With many countries creating laws to manage teenagers’ access to social media, we see a rise in Global organizations such as World Digital Detox Day, sharing data and information for families on how best to manage social media use at home, at school, and beyond.
TREND 3: Europe’s Bathhouse Revival: Young Adults Fight ‘Happiness Recession’
In Europe, we see a renewed interest in Bath Houses and Saunas, with more and more young people gathering to enjoy the health benefits but also to meet some like-minded people. As young people adopt the term ‘happiness recession’ to describe their loneliness, it only makes sense to focus on community wellbeing.
TREND 4: China’s Youth Turn to ‘Reverse Consumption,’ Making Frugality Social
More young people in China have become aware of how they spend their money. They are looking for ‘value for money’ lifestyle, using terms such as ‘reverse consumption’ to describe a change in shopping habits including, food, clothes and accessories. The act of saving money has become a fun and interactive way to make friends.
TREND 5: ‘Lazy Health’: Youth Embrace Easy, Affordable Wellness
‘Lazy Health ‘– young people who want to add wellness practices to their life but without spending a lot of money or overexerting themselves. A foot soak, getting to bed early, a walk in the park and taking supplements. These simple yet enjoyable experiences are on the rise everywhere.
TREND 6: Inclusive Family Travel: Sensory-Friendly Wellness for All Ages
Inclusive family travel trends are focusing not only on the needs of teens but also on families within the neurodivergent community. The hospitality, spa, and wellness sectors can promote awareness, acceptance, appreciation, and accessibility through tailored experiences designed to be family-friendly. Wellness for Children has initiated our sensory-supported certification, enabling spas and resorts to collaborate with us to create customized sensory designs for all ages. This training will empower staff to provide a positive and uplifting experience for all families.
