Youth wellness takes the spotlight this fall, powered by creative partnerships and new curricula that blend sports, arts, and emotional well-being. The Kinder and U.S. Soccer Foundation’s new “Joy of Moving” campaign is inspiring thousands of U.S. youth to boost wellness by getting active, building friendships, and embracing positive routines.
Launched in New York and expanding nationwide, the youth wellness initiative integrates daily physical activity, creative workshops, mindfulness, and mentorship to help reverse a worrying decline in youth movement. Reports show only 20%–28% of young Americans meet physical activity guidelines—numbers that have prompted urgent calls for change. Kinder and the U.S. Soccer Foundation hope to engage more than 30,000 families by 2026, using sports as a gateway to broader youth wellness, confidence, and academic achievement.
Programs are built on inclusion and joy. Youth wellness leaders say that activities encouraging self-expression, identity building, and goal setting help students find their strengths and build resilience. The initiative also trains educators and parents, making youth wellness a shared mission.
Stories from students and mentors highlight how movement, connection, and creative play fuel emotional and physical wellness. “I used to feel left out and stressed. Now, with soccer and wellness workshops, school is fun and I feel like I belong,” shares one 12-year-old participant in the Bronx program.
Source: Kinder/U.S. Soccer Foundation Youth Wellness Initiative
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