Smartphones have become a modern-day rite of passage — teens and tweens find freedom and connection through their phones the way earlier generations did by earning a driver’s license. Just like a car, phones open up a whole new world to teens but come with inherent dangers.
While there is a risk posed by smartphones, especially to a child’s mental health, it can also have a positive influence. There are now more tools than ever that promote mental, physical and emotional wellness.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite apps for younger users that tap into their creativity, promote curiosity and boost positive mental health.
What’s Up
The app gamifies mental health strategies and even creates a “Catastrophe Scale” to help put their real-life problems into perspective. Designed for iPad
Think Ninja
Think Ninja was created to boost the emotional and mental wellbeing of ages 10-18 and help them deal with anxiety, fear and uncertainty. AI tools allow kids to develop skills tailored for their own specific needs and offer
positive strategies for dealing with life’s difficulties.
Happify
The app helps teens set goals and find healthy ways to achieve them. The games on Happify are fun and engaging and help users identify and deal with negative thoughts, cope with anxiety, build confidence and recognize positive victories in daily life.
Three Good Things
(oatmealapps.com/three-good-things)
Gratitude isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a powerful tool often overlooked by teens who are constantly comparing themselves to the impossible standards they see on social media. Three Good Things is a simple app that encourages users to reflect on the positive aspects of day-to-day life.
Marvel Move or Zombies, Run!
Get your kids moving and have some fun along the way with Zombies, Run! Or they can walk, jog and run alongside superheroes like the X-Men, Thor, Hulk, Daredevil and Doctor Strange in thrilling interactive audio adventures.
Strava
Encourage your teen to get outside and get moving with The app tracks exercises like cycling, running, swimming and more. Users can track their progress, connect with other users like family members and friends for different challenges, and more.
FitOn
FitOn is a digital wellness platform that offers so many ways to get moving—from dance to yoga to Pilates, and even classes run by celebrity trainers. While there are paid subscriptions, there’s also ample free content.
Nike Training Club
It’s hard to believe the Nike Training Club is free. The video library offers an impressive variety of workouts for any fitness level. In addition to exercises, it also features educational content on topics such as nutrition and
mindfulness.
StarChart
(Google Play)
StarChart wasn’t developed as a mental health app, but gazing at the cosmos and learning about what lies beyond Earth’s atmosphere is a great way to get your kid out of their own rushed thoughts and daily pressures.
iNaturalist
If your teen is the outdoorsy type, iNaturalist is a great resource for identifying what they see on hikes, connecting with other nature lovers, and even finding citizen scientist projects to get involved with.
Paper by WeTransfer
(wetransfer.com/explore/paper)
Encourage creativity and creation with Paper by WeTransfer, a digital drawing app. Designed to feel like a physical notebook, the free drawing tool is a great way for kids to access their creativity anywhere they are.
SkillShare
An app for older kids to explore potential career
opportunities and skills through engaging online learning. Their catalogue of thousands of courses includes topics such as digital illustration, creative writing, animation and more.
