Today, everyone has a smart phone or tablet, even kids! Recent Studies have suggested that on average kids and teens spend between 4 and 9 hours a day in front of a screen (not counting schoolwork). Most of the time, they are using social media apps or playing games. Limiting screen time is a great way to encourage them to spend time on other activities. However, even after limiting screen time, if they are still attached to their devices and you simply can’t get them to put the phone or tablet down, we have a few apps that you can suggest they use that will encourage exercise and mindfulness, teach them good nutritional habits, and keep them safe.
Fitness
Fitoons– Fitoons app is great for promoting healthy habits and lifestyles in kids. The app allows kid to dress up characters, choose from twenty different sports/activities, and start exercising. In addition to promoting fitness, Fitoons also promotes healthy eating. The app lets kids explore a virtual kitchen and create meals to feed their character.
Sworkit Kids– Sworkit guides kids through fun exercise routines demonstrated by other kids! The exercises combine interval training with randomized exercises, plus it incorporates fun moves like crab crawl or hopping on one foot, so kids never get bored!
GoNoodle- Kids spend almost 3 hours a day with screens. Use that screen time for good! The GoNoodle App gets kids up and moving to fun engaging content. Every dance party, yoga session, and mindfulness activity is an opportunity for kids to wake up their bodies, engage their minds, and be their best! All GoNoodle videos are created by our team of child development experts working with choreographers, athletes and mindfulness experts who specialize in kid content.
Superstretch Yoga- Using storytelling, animation and video examples, kids enjoy making namaste a part of their day. Namaste is The Adventures of Super Stretch’s secret code to help kids learn to find balance and strength in their lives. Be the best you can be! Practice poses, collect 12 stars and get a team photo.
Each of Super Stretch’s friends helps us learn how to use movement and breathing to make every day balanced. Then, real-life kids demonstrate the pose. So easy and entertaining we forget that it’s exercise.
Features-12 yoga poses for all skill levels and ages-Animated flashcards to live action with real kids showing how to do the poses-Breathing breaks. Can you take 3 deep breaths?-Inspiring music with each pose
Zombies, Run!- Zombies, Run! is an ultra-immersive running game and audio adventure, co-created with award-winning novelist Naomi Alderman. Every run becomes a mission where you’re the hero, with our immersive audio drama putting you at the centre of your very own zombie adventure story. While you run to the perfect mix of heart-pumping audio drama and pulse-pounding songs from your own playlist, you’ll collect supplies to grow your base back home.
Meditation
iChill- iChill is perfect if your kids and teens are stressed out, not acting like themselves, or they express concern over a friend or family member. iChill can help by teaching them the Community Resiliency Model, a set of self-help skills. In addition, they will learn simple info about how stress affects the mind and body.
Insight Timer- Insight Timer provides guided meditations and talks led by the world’s top meditation and mindfulness experts, neuroscientists, psychologists and Professors. Insight timer helps calm the mind, reduce anxiety, manage stress, sleep deeply and improve happiness.
Headspace- Headspace is your guide to health and happiness. It’s the simple way to let go of stress and get a better night’s rest. Learn to relax with guided meditations and mindfulness techniques that bring calm, wellness and balance to your life in just a few minutes a day. Plus, Sleep by Headspace helps you create the ideal conditions for a good night’s rest. There are exercises on topics including managing anxiety, stress relief, breathing, happiness, and focus.
Stop, Breathe & Think, Stop Breathe & Think Kids, – Meditation and mindfulness made easy and fun for kids and teens, to help them discover and develop their superpowers of sleep, being calm, learning to breathe or to resolve conflicts. Stop Breathe & Think Kids can check into how they are feeling using fun emojis and try recommended mindful missions and meditations tuned to those emotions. Stickers reward their progress and keep the mindful activities engaging.
Nutrition
Plant Nanny- Plant Nanny combines health with fun to remind kids (and even adults) to drink water regularly. A cute plant keeps you company every day by living in your phone. Plant Nanny keeps track of how much water you drink — each glass also waters the app’s plants so you both can thrive!
Fooducate- Fooducate is more geared towards teens and adults. It offers personalized nutrition and ingredient analysis for hundreds of thousands of foods. Fooducate also gives healthier recommendations for some of the foods you eat that might not be the best for you.
Eat & Move-O-Matic- Kids can learn learn about the foods they eat and how they help fuel their bodies for their favorite activities. Kids can use the Eat & Move-O-Matic to make new discoveries about their favorite foods and get interesting tips on how small changes can make big differences.
Safety
Safe2Tell- Safe2Tell Colorado is the next generation tip management system allowing students, parents, and community members to submit secure & anonymous safety concerns to the statewide Safe2Tell strategic prevention model. Secure intel, ongoing two-way dialog, and image and video upload features sent to a live 24/7 answering point enable Colorado school administrators and law enforcement to receive the most accurate information in order to create effective interventions and prevent violence and tragedies.
My3- Stay connected to your network when you are in a time of crisis with MY3. With MY3, you define your network, and your plan to stay safe. With MY3 you can be prepared to help yourself and reach out to others when you are experiencing your darkest moments. Remember, there is hope and a life to look forward to, this app can help you get through the difficult moments.
