By: Natashya Phillips, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems
For decades, schools have measured success through grades, attendance, and performance. While these markers matter, they miss something fundamental: a child’s ability to feel safe, regulated, and supported every day. Without that foundation, learning becomes a struggle rather than a natural process.
Today’s children are growing up in a very different world. Academic pressure begins early. Screen exposure starts young. Schedules are packed. Quiet time is rare. Many children arrive at school already overstimulated, tired, or anxious. Expecting them to focus, absorb information, and behave well without addressing their inner state is no longer realistic.
This is where wellness programs in schools must evolve.
Wellness for children cannot be treated as an occasional yoga class or an annual mental health talk. It needs to be woven into the rhythm of the school day in a way that feels supportive, not additional. When children feel emotionally safe and physically regulated, learning follows naturally.
At LCHHS, this thinking is reflected in initiatives like Balanced Nutrition for Children (BNC), which focuses on age-appropriate nourishment, stable energy levels, and building a healthy relationship with food early in life. This philosophy also extends to the Bharat School Menu, designed to help schools and parents rethink everyday meals using simple, local, and culturally familiar foods that support growth, focus, and digestion. Building on this foundation, Bharat Classroom sessions, scheduled to roll out this year, aim to bring practical, child-friendly conversations around food, habits, and wellbeing directly into school environments. When nourishment is consistent and thoughtful, it supports not only physical growth, but also mood, attention, and emotional stability in the classroom.
The first area schools must address is nervous system regulation. A child who feels overwhelmed or unsafe cannot access higher learning. Simple practices like slow breathing at the start of the day, quiet transitions between classes, or short movement breaks can help children shift out of constant alertness. These are not distractions from academics. They prepare the brain for it.
Next comes sleep, nutrition, and energy awareness. Many behavioural and attention issues stem from fatigue, irregular meals, or blood sugar fluctuations. Schools that educate children and parents about simple, age-appropriate habits around sleep routines, hydration, and balanced meals often see improvements in focus, mood, and resilience. This is not about policing food or routines, but about building awareness early.
Movement also needs a rethink. Children are not designed to sit still for long hours. Movement supports cognition, emotional balance, and physical growth. Short bursts of activity, outdoor play, and posture-friendly classrooms help children release restlessness and return to learning with clarity.
Equally important is emotional literacy. Many children struggle not because they lack intelligence, but because they lack the language to express what they feel. Teaching children to recognise emotions, ask for help, and self-soothe builds confidence and reduces fear-based behaviour. When children feel heard, they feel safe.
Schools also play a powerful role in shaping a child’s sense of belonging. A wellness-oriented environment encourages connection over comparison. It reduces fear of failure and replaces it with curiosity.
Importantly, wellness programs should support teachers too. Educators under chronic stress cannot create calm classrooms. When schools invest in teacher wellbeing through realistic workloads, emotional support, and training, children benefit indirectly but deeply.
Adapting wellness programs does not mean turning schools into clinics. It means recognising that education and wellbeing are inseparable. A child who feels safe will explore. A child who feels regulated will focus. A child who feels supported will grow.
As we look ahead, schools that integrate wellness into daily life will not only improve academic outcomes but also raise children who are emotionally secure, resilient, and capable of navigating the world with confidence.
That is not an extra goal. It is the foundation of meaningful education.
