Wellbeing apps for kids

Suitable for: 5 & under

How does the app work?

This app from BBC helps children under 5 learn a variety of topics including wellbeing in a hands-on way.

How can it help your child?

• In addition to numeracy and literacy skills, the CBeebies app also helps children practise wellbeing exercises like breathing techniques.

Suitable for: All ages

How does the app work?

Available to all subscribers and their kids, users can enjoy fun, engaging activities that teach them the basics of mindfulness. They’ll practice breathing exercises, visualisations and even try some focus-based meditation.

Headspace for Kids, available to subscribed users, has bespoke exercises tailored for 3-5s, 6-8s and 9-12s.

How can it help your child?

• Children learn mindfulness techniques to stay calm and relaxed
• They learn about other topics as well — such as compassion, creativity and kindness

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free to download but requires a subscription to use. Subscription options are £49.99/year or £9.99/month with a free trial.

Suitable for: ages 4-12

How does the app work?
Mindful Powers is built on a skills-based approach that helps children build a healthier relationship with life, stress and anxiety. It empowers kids to bring calm to their lives at the touch of their fingertips.

Through a series of 10 progressive and interactive voice-guided sessions, kids learn how to master the powers of mindfulness – the ability to know and understand what is happening in one’s head at any given moment without getting carried away by it.

Before each lesson, kids smooth their very own ‘Flibbertigibbet’, who is in an agitated state, with the touch of their finger.

How can it help your child?

• This sensory-based repetitive interaction triggers the body’s rest and digest response, helping kids relax and regain focus
• Children learn useful lifelong skills to manage stressors and anxiety

Suitable for: ages 8-12

How does the app work?

This app uses creative tasks to encourage and build self-awareness, self-confidence, empathy and kindness. It lets kids document their worlds through drawings, animations, recordings and photos.

How can it help your child?

• The prompts given to children help them become more aware of who they are
• It allows creative expression of things in their lives, regardless of how they feel

Suitable for: ages 5 and under

How does the app work?

Brought to you by Sesame.org, this app teaches kids Sesame’s research-based ‘Breathe, Think, Do’ approach to solving problems and dealing with tricky situations. Like all things Sesame Street, it’s engaging and accessible for all children.

How can it help your child?

• It helps your child learn coping strategies to help them stay calm
• The ‘more tips’ section helps your child develop resilience by giving them tools to solve problems

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free

Suitable for: ages 12+

How does the app work?

eQuoo is an evidence-based emotional fitness game proven to build resilience, boost your relationship skills, enhance personal growth and lower anxiety.

The skills and storylines are based on current psychology using psycho-education, elements of CBT, Positive Psychology, EQ, gamification and AI to take you on an adventure that gives children skills beyond the game.

How it can help your child?

• Children experience boosted mental and emotions health
• Young people learn regulating skills that can be applied throughout their lives

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free (in-app purchases and ads)

Suitable for: ages 12+

How does the app work?

MindDoc, formerly Moodpath, lets users log their mental health and moods in real time. Over time, the app allows users to recognise patterns and pinpoint triggers. There are also a variety of courses and exercises to help users learn more about emotional wellbeing.

Developed by clinical psychologists and researchers, MindDoc can help those suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia and eating disorders.

How can it help children?

• Teens can use the app to monitor their emotions and pinpoint what triggers these emotions
• It can help them recognise and learn about their emotions along with coping mechanisms to benefit their wellbeing

Suitable for: ages 12+

How does the app work?

MindShift uses strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help reduce anxiety. It encourages users to check in with their emotions and adjust their thinking through guided meditation and exercises. Users can set goals and track their progress.

It is designed to help those who struggle with worry, panic, perfectionism, social anxiety and phobias.

How can it help children?

• Teens are made more aware of their emotions and given quick activities to do to help cope with high-stress or anxiety-inducing situations
• They can track their progress and see their improvement over time.

Suitable for: ages 7-11

How does the app work?

The Positive Penguins app has a simple 5-minute guided meditation for children to learn to sit, relax and let go of negative thoughts as they come into their heads. Children learn strategies to understand how events or situations affect their emotions. It is designed to change thought patterns.

Suitable for: all ages

How does the app work?

Smiling Mind is a mindfulness meditation app developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to users’ minds. Programmes are designed to assist people in dealing with the pressure, stress and challenges of daily life.

Every session starts by asking children to assess their mood based on three criteria: happiness, contentedness and alertness. At the end of the session, they are sent back into the world ‘with a smile on your mind.’

How can it help children?

• From slowly discovering who they are and gaining a sense of independence, to learning how to interact socially and respect others, the app offers support for the potential challenges of being a child
• Children learn techniques that they can carry on into adulthood

Suitable for: all ages

How does the app work?

Chill Panda helps users understand and monitor the relationship between heart rate and anxiety. Users are asked to complete activities based on their heart rate and beginning emotions with the goal of increasing their mood.

Activities include breathing techniques, yoga poses, exercises and calming games.

How can it help your child?

• It helps children not only monitor their emotions but also recognise them and learn coping techniques
• Children learn lifelong techniques to manage life’s stresses.

Available for: iOS and Nintendo Switch users.
Cost: Free (in-app purchases)

Suitable for: all ages

How does the app work?

Developed by a clinical psychologist, the app uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help users learn how to respond to heightened emotions. It helps users manage their anxiety through a range of activities and exercises within the app.

How can it help your child?

• Children prone to anxiety may find themselves responding physically to stress. Clear Fear helps them learn how to reduce these responses
• It helps users change the thoughts and behaviours that make them feel more anxious
• Users learn how to release emotions causing them anxiety

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free

Suitable for: ages 12+

How does the app work?

MindDoc, formerly Moodpath, lets users log their mental health and moods in real time. Over time, the app allows users to recognise patterns and pinpoint triggers. There are also a variety of courses and exercises to help users learn more about emotional wellbeing.

Developed by clinical psychologists and researchers, MindDoc can help those suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia and eating disorders.

How can it help children?

• Teens can use the app to monitor their emotions and pinpoint what triggers these emotions
• It can help them recognise and learn about their emotions along with coping mechanisms to benefit their wellbeing

Suitable for: ages 12+

How does the app work?

MindShift uses strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help reduce anxiety. It encourages users to check in with their emotions and adjust their thinking through guided meditation and exercises. Users can set goals and track their progress.

It is designed to help those who struggle with worry, panic, perfectionism, social anxiety and phobias.

How can it help children?

• Teens are made more aware of their emotions and given quick activities to do to help cope with high-stress or anxiety-inducing situations
• They can track their progress and see their improvement over time.

Suitable for: ages 6-12

How does the app work?

GoNoodle Kids encourages kids to get up and get their bodies moving, making screen time active with 300+ dance videos, yoga exercises and mindfulness activities for kids.

Kids can browse through a large library of short videos ranging from about two to five minutes long. Follow the demonstrations to dance, jump up and down, spin around, regulate breathing, get into yoga poses and more.

All content is created and curated to be safe for kids with the help of choreographers and mindfulness experts.

How can it help your child?

• Promotes activity and physical wellbeing
• Videos exercises promote mindfulness
• Can aid positive mental wellbeing

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free

Suitable for: ages 9+

How does the app work?

The app gives children a fun little nudge to help them get into the habit of drinking water regularly throughout the day by combining it with the process of growing a virtual plant.

You can pick from a selection of virtual plants and enter basic information like your child’s weight and how much water they should be consuming.

When you’ve set this up, your child will be prompted to water the plant throughout the day in order to keep it alive, and they’ll have to drink water at the same time. Once the plant has fully grown, it can be planted in a digital garden and can generate new seeds to start the whole process over again.

How it can help your child?

• Help them stay hydrated throughout the day
• Encourages healthy habits that can become second-nature and a regular part of their daily lives

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free (in-app purchases)

Suitable for: ages 14+

How does the app work?

With over 1 million players, Zombies, Run! is a popular app that tracks GPS movements to play the game. As your teen runs with their headphones in, they can hear the zombies approaching, encouraging them to run even further.

Users can walk or run as they become the main character in humanity’s struggle for survival. It tracks speed and distance as users collect virtual supplies to save themselves from the incoming zombies. The app keeps a record of all your teen’s runs and they can share them with their friends.

How can it help your child?

• Improves their fitness level
• Provides motivation for cardio fitness
• Encourages problem solving and creative thinking

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free (in-app purchases and ads)

Suitable for: ages 7 & under

How does the app work?

This simple app uses animation and video to help young kids stretch and breath with yoga poses. From beginning to end, kids learn basic movements while having fun. The repetitive structure makes it easy for them to get the hang of it.

How can it help your child?

• Gives children a basic understanding of stretching and breathing
• Explains why movements are good for their bodies
• Encourages them to get moving

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free

Suitable for: all ages

How does the platform work?

Calm is helping kids around the world fall asleep. Sleep Stories are bedtime tales that include a soothing mix of words, music and gentle sounds to help children drift off into dreamland. Calm includes a collection of meditations, sleep stories, mindfulness tools, nature scenes and music for focus, relaxation and sleep.

Suitable for: all ages

How does the app work?

Children’s Sleep Meditations features a number of stories for children of all ages to encourage mindfulness before bed. With the stories, children are also taught meditation techniques. Story topics range from controlling anger to easing exam stress.

How can it help your child?

• The range of available meditations means your child is likely to find a story to help with whatever issue they’re facing from lack of confidence to school anxiety.

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free (in-app purchases)

Suitable for: ages 3-17

How does this app work?

Dreamy Kid can be used for sleep or during the day to practise mindfulness. It covers a variety of topics ranging from issues-based meditations to healing exercises using video and audio recordings.

How can it help your child?

• Children learn how to manage issues they may be having trouble with
• They learn relaxation techniques that aid sleep
• Practising mindfulness can be something they take with them into adulthood

Suitable for: all ages

How does the app work?

Through different characters and worlds, Moshi helps children who are struggling to sleep, experiencing anxiety or feeling stressed. With over 85 hours of stories for children up to 10 years old, the app is a great option for a calmer bedtime.

How can it help your child?

• The soothing voices help children calm their minds and fall asleep more easily. As stories progress, they also become quieter to ensure children aren’t awoken once asleep.
• There are topics to encourage mindfulness and include kindness, gratitude, positive thinking and more.

Available for: iOS and Android users.
Cost: Free to download. Subscription required to access content at £44.99 annually or £7.99 monthly with a 7-day free trial.

Suitable for: ages 12 & under

How does the app work?

Designed by leading yoga teacher Christiane Kerr, children are guided to the creative part of their minds through a number of carefully scripted story meditations. Each meditation story has an underlay of subtle sound effects and gentle music which make them irresistible and deeply relaxing.

Suitable for: ages 12+

How does the app work?

MindDoc, formerly Moodpath, lets users log their mental health and moods in real time. Over time, the app allows users to recognise patterns and pinpoint triggers. There are also a variety of courses and exercises to help users learn more about emotional wellbeing.

Developed by clinical psychologists and researchers, MindDoc can help those suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia and eating disorders.

How can it help children?

• Teens can use the app to monitor their emotions and pinpoint what triggers these emotions
• It can help them recognise and learn about their emotions along with coping mechanisms to benefit their wellbeing

Suitable for: ages 12+

How does the app work?

MindShift uses strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help reduce anxiety. It encourages users to check in with their emotions and adjust their thinking through guided meditation and exercises. Users can set goals and track their progress.

It is designed to help those who struggle with worry, panic, perfectionism, social anxiety and phobias.

How can it help children?

• Teens are made more aware of their emotions and given quick activities to do to help cope with high-stress or anxiety-inducing situations
• They can track their progress and see their improvement over time.

Suitable for: Teens 13+

How does the app work?

7 Cups uses text chat to talk about how you’re feeling. Users can chat one-on-one to trained listeners and take part in supportive chat rooms and community forums. They have specialised support for users who are 13-17 years of age.

How can it help your child?

• Teens can talk anonymously to trained listeners, which is an easier way to open up for some.
• They have access to information on a variety of topics including LGBTQ+ issues and studying.

Available for: iOS and Android users

Cost: Free (in-app purchases)

Suitable for: ages 12+

How does the app work?

MindShift uses strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help reduce anxiety. It encourages users to check in with their emotions and adjust their thinking through guided meditation and exercises. Users can set goals and track their progress.

It is designed to help those who struggle with worry, panic, perfectionism, social anxiety and phobias.

How can it help children?

• Teens are made more aware of their emotions and given quick activities to do to help cope with high-stress or anxiety-inducing situations
• They can track their progress and see their improvement over time.

Suitable for: ages 8-11

How does the app work?

Created by Parent Zone, the Ollee app aims to help children process their experiences with support from parents and carers.

Children are first asked about what they’d like to talk about before diving into how they are feeling and what is causing that emotion. They are then given advice or ideas to help them work through their emotion.

Suitable for: All ages/children in care 8 and younger

How does the app work?

This app is designed for carers to support children in their care. Carers can find advice on how to support these children with common problems such as how it feels to go to a new home and how you can support children in your care. There are also soothing tasks that children can do to find calm if they are upset.

How can it help your child?

• Because their carers will be better informed, it will help ensure they feel supported if they feel scared or sad.
• Various activities can help children calm down if stressed or anxious.

Available for: iOS users

Cost: Free

Suitable for: All ages/children 8 and younger

How does the app work?

A series of family-based games designed to help kids practice understanding and communicating their feelings and developing skills to calm down in challenging situations. There’s a family check-up to see how the family is tracking and further resources, tips and videos aimed at building resilience.

How can it help your child?

• Helps develop skills in identifying emotions, solving problems and improving communication
• Helps to build family resilience as a whole through gameplay.

Available for: iOS users

Cost: Free

Suitable for: All ages

How does the app work?

When parents install the app, they are asked to register for the anxiety course. Then you add your kids and install it on their device. In the course, child and parent receive weekly goals to complete together. Other parents can join as well, and children over 12 receive check-ins to check their progress.

How can it help your child?

• It involves the whole family in managing your child’s mental health, which can help them feel supported and understood
• Children are provided with journaling opportunities and a chatbot that provides CBT-based exercises.

Available for: iOS and Android users.

Cost: Free