The Happiness Institute
Strengthening Human Well-Being in a Digital World
The Happiness Institute is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit developing thoughtful, practical ways to help children - and all of us - thrive as whole human beings.
Our Belief
Technology can enrich human life. It should not replace it.
We begin with a simple conviction:The experiences that help people develop as whole human beings - movement, connection, curiosity, creativity, and engagement with the physical world - are not optional. They are essential. Our work is dedicated to protecting and nurturing those experiences, especially for children growing up in an increasingly digital age.
"The richness of a child's life is built in moments of wonder, movement, and genuine human connection."
Move · Connect · Be
Our Flagship Project
Jacardia Tree: Move · Connect · Be
An innovative early-childhood model that transforms stories into invitations — encouraging children to move, connect with others, and engage deeply with the world around them. Designed for schools and early-childhood educators, Jacardia Tree weaves together movement, mindfulness, curiosity, and creativity into a living curriculum.
"Stories become invitations for children to experience more of the world around them."
Our Founder
Dr. Karen Croftcheck
Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Dr. Croftcheck brings more than three decades of experience in education, leadership, curriculum development, publishing, coaching, and work with children, educators, and families. She has served as a classroom educator, university educator and supervisor of future teachers, educational program developer, publisher, and leadership coach.
Areas of Focus
Six Pillars of Whole-Child Well-Being
Our programs and research center on six interconnected dimensions of human flourishing — each one essential, each one at risk of being crowded out by screen-centered life.
Movement
Physical activity and embodied experience as foundations of learning, health, and joy.
Human Connection
Meaningful relationships, empathy, and the irreplaceable warmth of face-to-face community.
Mindfulness
Presence, stillness, and the capacity to notice — and appreciate — the world as it is.
Curiosity
The drive to explore, question, and discover that lies at the heart of all learning.
Creativity
Imagination, play, and the freedom to make something new from the materials of the world.
Engagement with the Physical World
Direct sensory experience of nature, objects, and spaces that no screen can replicate.
Join Us in This Work
Whether you are an educator, a parent, a researcher, or someone who simply believes in the power of human connection — there is a place for you here. We welcome collaborators, supporters, and curious minds.