Promote Student Health Through Better Learning Space Design

Students can’t learn effectively if they struggle with challenges to their health and well-being, which is why promoting healthy habits is a core strategy for improving academic achievement. Supporting student wellness is also critical to educating the whole child and developing smart behaviors that last a lifetime.

Although promoting student health has always been important, it’s even more so amid evidence that today’s youth are growing up with fewer healthy behaviors. As students’ screen time increases, they spend less time on activities with proven health benefits, such as exercising regularly outdoors.

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, many children face challenges that limit their opportunities for regular physical activity and access to health-promoting environments, essential for supporting lifelong well-being and preventing chronic conditions. Health disparities also persist, with students from under-resourced communities facing additional challenges due to limited access to safe play areas, nutritious food, and comprehensive health education. These inequities contribute to increased risks for chronic health conditions like heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression.

Students aren’t just exercising less frequently but also spending fewer hours outside. According to one survey, 65 percent of American parents said they played outside daily during their childhood, while only 30 percent of their children do the same today.

As educators look for ways to promote healthy habits among students, the design of learning spaces can play a key role in supporting this goal. Creating learning environments that intentionally promote students’ physical and overall health can profoundly impact their well-being and academic success.

Here are five strategies that educators can use to promote student health through smart learning space design:

Encourage movement

The 2024 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth graded the physical activity of students as a “D– ,” reporting that only a quarter of U.S. children ages 6 to 17 meet the national recommendation of 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Schools can help students meet this recommendation by encouraging students to move throughout the school day, and a well-designed learning environment makes this easier to accomplish.

For example, use flexible furnishings that can be moved around to create space for students to move during class. Add furniture and equipment that promotes movement, such as balance balls, standing desks, or stools that rock or swivel. Create spaces where students can be active during the school day, such as “wiggle rooms” or exercise facilities where students can stretch, dance, or decompress. These options support physical and mental health while reinforcing self-regulation and self-management skills.

Learning spaces can also help students analyze how their environment influences health behaviors. For instance, access to outdoor areas can motivate students to be more active, and seating arrangements that allow for movement or peer interaction can reduce stress and foster engagement. Involving students in choosing how and where they move during learning activities can help them evaluate the impact of their surroundings and make informed, health-supportive decisions.

Support outdoor learning

Creating outdoor learning environments helps students get outside and connect with nature, which has been shown to reduce stress and improve their physical health. Breathing fresh air can clear students’ minds and help them think by increasing the oxygen their brains receive. Being outside can reduce stress and improve students’ emotional well-being. Exposure to natural sunlight helps prevent vitamin D deficiency, making students less vulnerable to bone problems, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health issues.

Design courtyards, patios, gardens, and playgrounds that double as learning environments, drawing on research-based principles from nature-based learning and outdoor education frameworks that highlight the cognitive, emotional, and physical benefits of learning in natural settings. Use outdoor seating and other furnishings that are weather-resistant and designed specifically for outdoor use.

Think about what you hope to accomplish through outdoor instruction. Think about the types of activities that students might engage in. The answers to these questions will help you understand what equipment students and teachers will need to support outdoor learning.

For instance, the outdoors is perfect for activities such as hands-on science using portable data collection tools. Mobile whiteboards or easels can help teachers and students communicate their ideas in outdoor learning environments, and storage totes, carrying cases, and outdoor learning center carts can be used to transport learning materials outside.

Promote proper hygiene

Thoughtfully designed hygiene stations make it easier for students to develop and maintain healthy habits. Strategically placed portable sinks, hand sanitizer stations, and other convenient options for students and staff to wash their hands and remove germs can encourage proper hygiene during the school day. Pre-packaged hygiene kits can also promote healthy habits among students at school and at home. When students have regular opportunities to wash their hands and care for their personal hygiene, it reinforces self-care and responsibility, key components of skills-based health education, which encourages students to apply what they learn in real-world situations.

Incorporate plenty of natural lighting and ventilation

Abundant natural lighting and good air quality are fundamental for maintaining students’ health and enhancing their mood and energy levels. Daylight exposure can improve mood and cognitive performance, while proper ventilation reduces airborne pollutants and supports respiratory health. Therefore, making sure that classrooms and other learning spaces include features such as windows, skylights, and advanced HVAC systems is important. Use HEPA-quality air filters within indoor learning spaces, and remember to replace air filters in HVAC systems regularly. Portable air purifiers can improve the air quality in spaces that aren’t well ventilated.

Choose ergonomically designed furniture

To make sure students can work comfortably while they’re seated, tables, desks, and chairs should be ergonomically designed and age-appropriate. Ergonomic design promotes good posture, which is crucial for students who spend significant time sitting. What’s more, using adjustable chairs and desks can accommodate students of all sizes and help them find comfortable positions that support focus and engagement.

For example, the height-adjustable chairs and desks from Classroom Select create a comfortable workspace for students, who can easily raise or lower the height of their desks to the optimum level they need to be productive.

How to learn more

Students’ health is critical to their academic success, and learning spaces that are thoughtfully designed, furnished, and equipped can support better well-being.

To learn how School Specialty’s Projects By Design division can help you design learning spaces that promote student health, call 888-388-3224, or go to schoolspecialty.com/projects-by-design.

About the author: Naomi Hartl Education Strategist, PE, Health & Wellness, Middle School & High School Science