Looking Back at 2025 & What Lies Ahead
2025 marked an important year of visibility and influence for Wellness for Children, as children’s wellbeing continued to move into sharper focus within global wellness, real estate and investment conversations. Throughout the year, the work increasingly sat at the intersection of prevention, environment and long-term health, reinforcing the belief that how we design, invest and plan today directly shapes the wellbeing of future generations.
The year began with meaningful inclusion at a global level. In March, Wellness for Children was part of the dialogue at the Wellness Real Estate and Communities Symposium in New York City. Conversations centred on wellbeing-led design, community planning and the responsibility of developers, architects and policymakers to consider children and families more intentionally. The presence of children’s wellbeing within this context marked an important shift, positioning early-life support as a foundational element of healthy communities rather than an afterthought.
With that in mind, Connie Morris, our Vice-chair and Autism Specialist, and I have created a Sensory Supported Spa Training and Certification Program. Our new program aligns with WELL and LEED hospitality principles by addressing sensory comfort, mental wellbeing, acoustic control, and inclusive design. We work with spas to both design sensory-responsive spaces and train staff and therapists to deliver wellness experiences that support neurodivergent and autistic guests, without compromising luxury. Reach out to schedule your hybrid training that includes six online modules and an in-person day training and assessment for certification.
As the year progressed, this global perspective translated into lived, community-based experience. In September, Wellness for Children participated in World Wellness Weekend, a worldwide not-for-profit initiative activating free, inclusive wellness experiences across communities in over 160 countries. In collaboration with Jean-Guy de Gabriac and the wider World Wellness Weekend network, children took part in outdoor activities that centred on movement, play and connection, spending time together in the September sunshine. The simplicity of these moments underscored a core principle of the work - that wellbeing often begins with presence, fresh air and shared experience.
Later in the year, this momentum continued on a global stage. In November, Wellness for Children contributed to conversations at the Global Wellness Summit in Dubai, where the future of longevity and wellness investment took centre stage. Children’s wellbeing was reinforced as a critical pillar of long-term health strategies, with early intervention, nervous system regulation and digital balance recognised as essential investments rather than optional extras. These discussions helped ensure that children remained part of the longevity conversation from the very beginning of life.
Alongside these global and community-based moments, thought leadership around digital and nervous system health remained a central thread throughout 2025. Christine spoke on Analog Wellness, one of this year’s Global Wellness Trends, across Spa Life Ireland, Spa Life UK and Spa Life Scotland. These talks explored the growing need for offline connection, sensory regulation and human-centred experiences in an increasingly stimulated world. The conversations highlighted why analog approaches are increasingly relevant, not only for adult wellbeing, but as essential foundations for children’s emotional health, nervous system regulation and long-term resilience.
Digital wellbeing was further brought into focus on World Digital Detox Day on December 10th. Developed in close collaboration with partners committed to promoting healthier, more intentional relationships with technology, the day continued to act as a key moment in the calendar. This year, children actively participated by stepping away from screens and engaging in creative, sensory and relational activities. These experiences helped shift the conversation from awareness to practice, grounding digital balance in real-world behaviour and embodied experience.
The year also brought growth at a governance level, with the expansion of the Wellness for Children board. We were proud to welcome Adrienne O’Brien, Dr Donna Volpitta and Inma Moreno, each bringing depth of experience across wellness leadership, education, advocacy and global collaboration. Their insight strengthens the strategic direction of the organisation and reflects the increasingly international scope of the work. Connie and I are looking forward to working with Adrienne, Donna and Inma in the new year..
Looking ahead, early 2026 will open with a Wellness for Children roundtable discussion and the launch of a podcast, creating space for deeper conversation, shared learning and thoughtful exchange. These new formats will support more nuanced dialogue while keeping children’s wellbeing firmly at the heart of the work.
Overall, 2025 was a year of steady, meaningful progress. It was about building credibility, broadening reach and laying strong foundations for what comes next, with a continued commitment to shaping a more supportive, considered and compassionate future for children’s wellbeing.