Goldie Hawn’s MindUP helps 7 million children manage stress across 48 countries (Image Credit: MindUP)
Recognising this need, actor Goldie Hawn established the Goldie Hawn Foundation in 2003 to help children develop emotional awareness and mental well-being. Which supports MindUP, the programme has worked with children in 48 countries since its establishment in 2003, according to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Health Initiative. A February 13, 2026, profile published by ASU+GSV Summit reported that MindUP had reached more than 7 million children worldwide. MindUP is designed for children aged 3 to 14 and also provides resources and guidance for educators and parents.
These lessons aim to strengthen prosocial behaviour, executive functioning and social and emotional competence, according to the SNF Global Health Initiative. Children learn mathematics, science and languages in school, but understanding their own emotions and managing stress can be equally important to their development. The initiative led to the creation of MindUP, a school-based programme that combines neuroscience, mindfulness and social-emotional learning to give children practical tools for handling everyday challenges. Developed with neuroscientists, educators, psychologists and researchers, its curriculum aims to help children understand how their brains work, regulate emotions, reduce stress and build empathy. The initiative has grown from an effort to improve children’s emotional well-being into an international education programme. Hawn established the Goldie Hawn Foundation after becoming concerned about rising school violence, youth depression and suicide, as well as the difficulties children faced in managing increasingly stressful lives. To develop a practical approach, the foundation collaborated with neuroscientists, educators, psychologists and researchers. Their work resulted in MindUP, an evidence-based curriculum designed to introduce children to brain science and teach them skills for emotional regulation and positive behaviour. The programme was developed around the understanding that children who recognise their emotions and learn how their brains respond to stress can become better equipped to handle difficult situations. Rather than treating emotional well-being as a separate subject, MindUP integrates these lessons into classroom activities and everyday learning. Its curriculum brings together four key areas: neuroscience, social-emotional learning, positive psychology and mindful awareness. One of its central elements is helping children understand the brain and how it responds to different emotions and experiences. By learning about brain functions, children can better recognise what happens when they feel frightened, angry, anxious or overwhelmed. The curriculum is organised into four interconnected units that gradually develop children’s awareness, self-regulation and social skills. Over the years, MindUP has expanded beyond its initial school-based activities. Its resources are now available through an interactive online learning platform, allowing educators and families to access its lessons and practices in different settings. The programme has also received support from organisations working in education and mental health. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Global Health Initiative supports MindUP in making its curriculum more accessible, including through an animated version of its first unit, Understanding the Brain. The initiative is intended to make the lessons more engaging and accessible to children.