The practice of mindfulness can help children improve their abilities to pay attention, to calm down when they are upset, and to make better decisions. In short, it helps with emotional regulation and cognitive focus. Help your child to start a mindfulness practice using one of the apps below. (All are free to try; some are entirely free and others are fee-based to access extra content).
Breathe, Think, Do (preschoolers)
This Sesame Street themed app helps preschoolers to work on problem-solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence using animated characters.
Calm (kids and teens with parent help; older kids and teens for independent use)
Calm provides a range of guided meditations and relaxing soundscapes in lengths of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 minutes. It also includes several stories that parents can read to children to help them fall asleep.
DreamyKid (kids)
DreamyKid provides kid-friendly meditations, guided visualizations, and affirmations.
Headspace (everyone)
Headspace provides calming sounds and guided meditations suitable for all levels. Teens will likely prefer the adult version, but kids and tweens will probably prefer the kid version.
Insight Timer (everyone)
Insight Timer focuses on relaxation, stress management sleep, and concentration. Meditations and activities are available for kids and adults.
Relax Melodies (everyone)
Relax Melodies allows kids and teens to pick specific sounds and make their own relaxing mix.
Smiling Mind (everyone)
Smiling Mind has a wide variety of mindfulness activities aimed at different age groups and settings. Kids may need an adult’s help to discover and use all the options.
Stop Breathe & Think Kids (kids and teens)
This app turns mindfulness into a game, offering children a fun and easy way to identify and process their emotions. Kids pick up to three emotions they’re currently feeling, and the app will suggest a few relevant activities. From counting breaths to frog jumps, each completed activity brings fun rewards to keep kids engaged! For older teens, try the adult version.
Three Good Things (kids and teens)
This online gratitude journal helps kids and teens to focus on the positive and recognize what went well each day. It’s a great way to begin an individual or family gratitude practice.
Breathe, Think, Do (preschoolers)
This Sesame Street themed app helps preschoolers to work on problem-solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence using animated characters.
Calm (kids and teens with parent help; older kids and teens for independent use)
Calm provides a range of guided meditations and relaxing soundscapes in lengths of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 minutes. It also includes several stories that parents can read to children to help them fall asleep.
DreamyKid (kids)
DreamyKid provides kid-friendly meditations, guided visualizations, and affirmations.
Headspace (everyone)
Headspace provides calming sounds and guided meditations suitable for all levels. Teens will likely prefer the adult version, but kids and tweens will probably prefer the kid version.
Insight Timer (everyone)
Insight Timer focuses on relaxation, stress management sleep, and concentration. Meditations and activities are available for kids and adults.
Relax Melodies (everyone)
Relax Melodies allows kids and teens to pick specific sounds and make their own relaxing mix.
Smiling Mind (everyone)
Smiling Mind has a wide variety of mindfulness activities aimed at different age groups and settings. Kids may need an adult’s help to discover and use all the options.
Stop Breathe & Think Kids (kids and teens)
This app turns mindfulness into a game, offering children a fun and easy way to identify and process their emotions. Kids pick up to three emotions they’re currently feeling, and the app will suggest a few relevant activities. From counting breaths to frog jumps, each completed activity brings fun rewards to keep kids engaged! For older teens, try the adult version.
Three Good Things (kids and teens)
This online gratitude journal helps kids and teens to focus on the positive and recognize what went well each day. It’s a great way to begin an individual or family gratitude practice.
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