The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has launched a new programme to help 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 colourful hanging mobile to be displayed in classrooms that gives 12 monthly wellness themes for teachers and kids to explore.

Themes include:

• Eat Healthy
• Show Love
• Be Creative
• Breathe Deeply
• Move Joyfully
• Smile Proudly
• Explore Nature
• Dream Big
• Be Curious
• Have Fun
• Show Kindness
• Be Yourself

The mobile hangs from ceiling to floor, and each theme is designed to become a springboard for new lessons, conversations, colouring, songs and games that make wellness fun and tangible.

This programme 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.

The programme is first being piloted in US schools.

The GWI believes this is the crucial age to introduce kids to healthy habits, as early childhood development has an extraordinary impact on a person’s social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing for life.

The calendar concept and design was created by Jessica Jesse, CEO and creative director of BuDhaGirl, and former member of the GWI’s Board of Advisors.

“I’m so happy the GWI is launching the Children’s 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.”

Getting the wellness calendar programme into more schools is dependent on individual donations. People can sponsor a classroom, a school or a school district to support wellbeing for children – head to the GWI's official website to find out more.