Not all screen time turns their minds to mush. Here’s how the Super Chill app is helping kids learn mindfulness.

Technology and kids – it’s a topic that sparks endless debates among parents, teachers and experts. Is all that screen time frying their brains or could it be helping them become smarter? Believe it or not, science shows that technology (when used thoughtfully) can provide enriching experiences that promote learning, creativity, and emotional wellbeing. A shining example of this is Super Chill. With its app, it’s proving technology can not only be good for kids, but transformative.

The power of mindful technology

While some research has shown endless hours of video games can have a negative effect on the brain, not all tech is bad. When used for educational benefits, technology can be an effective way of helping children become independent learners more quickly. According to the most recent GoStudent Future of Education report, 75% of children see technology as the key to learning anything. In a world where apps have become the smart solution to so many issues - it does pose the question: if you can’t beat them, why not join them? Since kids are increasingly connected to devices, replacing gun-heavy games and social media with educational apps seems like a worthwhile trade-off. The key to a healthy relationship with technology lies in the content they consume. Rather than focusing solely on entertainment and social interaction through fast-paced games, Super Chill has tapped into a format that kids are drawn to anyway (technology) to introduce mindful practices. 

Now, you may be thinking ‘not another app’, and we hear you. However, whilst reading and studying books will forever be a fantastic method of learning, technology is proving more and more to be an equally effective way of digesting information. Duolingo, for example, has become a fun and convenient way for adults to learn. It’s a lesson in your pocket, something to do on the train instead of watching Netflix. This is exactly the kind of opportunity Super Chill is presenting for children, a simple, accessible and enjoyable way for children to learn new skills.

Building mental resilience

The lesson they are teaching? Mental resilience. “Since 2017, emotional and behavioural problems among children in the upper grades of primary education have increased enormously,” explains Levi van Dam, Professor at Amsterdam University and board member of Super Chill. “Girls experience twice as many emotional problems and boys almost one and a half times as many” he says.

According to a report by the NHS, one in five young people aged 8-25 in England had a probable mental disorder in 2023. “Alarmingly, almost half of the students in grade 8 report using social media or online games as an escape from unpleasant thoughts,” says Van Dam, “With the Super Chill app, we aim to harness the positive potential of technology, teaching children from a young age how to manage the pressures of today’s world effectively." 

The Super Chill app

Super Chill’s free app is aimed at children ages 6+. From struggling to sleep, to feeling nervous about an exam, it has recognised lots of the social situations that children might find difficult and has tailored exercises to help them work through those trickier times. When you log on, the app asks how you're feeling and the children can select between nine different emotions (happy, angry, scared, fine, nervous, tired, sad, busy and grumpy). After that, they’ll be led to a selection of exercises that can help them feel better. All the videos are only a couple of minutes long and can be done with both children and adults together. Their aim? To help children see their mind as their superpower, something they can use to turn moments of discomfort into moments of chill.  

To give you an example, one of the most popular exercises is called ‘Calm Robot’. If the child is having trouble sleeping or switching off in the evening, the guided audio instructs them how to relax each part of the body – sort of similar to a meditation. Other exercises teach them stretches, or pressure points on the body that can trigger a release of tension, have a calming effect on the body, or even help to ease aches and pains. "My daughter used to have nightmares and was afraid we would die,’ explains dad Rene. “We started practising relaxing exercises (like Sleep Well) with Super Chill before bedtime. Now, she finally sleeps through the night and doesn’t have nightmares anymore."  

Why it works

Building mental resilience isn’t something kids are taught in school, and many of us adults are still figuring out how to navigate our own difficult situations. Super Chill is more than just an app, the app is the vehicle to drive home important life lessons. Once these simple and snackable exercises have been done lots of times, the children will have mastered the techniques. These tools can then be used at any time without the app. Super Chill’s end goal? To build a future generation of mentally resilient children, with a positive and happy mindset.