TOP PICKS | 15 TOOLS
Emotional Intelligence Apps and Games
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Bouncy the People Trainer
Thorough, thoughtful multimedia social-emotional learning experience
Bottom line: Important info for all kids is especially helpful for at-risk students.
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
Sesame Street winner teaches kids how to keep calm and carry on
Bottom line: Highly effective tool for whole-class instruction or one-on-one intervention.
Calm
Relaxing and serene app helps incorporate peace into daily life
Bottom line: If you're looking for a captivating app to teach relaxation and calming skills to students, Calm is an essential tool to add to your toolbox.
Touch and Learn - Emotions
Free app helps kids identify emotions, recognize body language
Bottom line: Bridges the gap between feeling or witnessing emotions and using words to describe them.
Social Adventures
Expert-approved activities nurture students' social skills
Bottom line: A treasure chest of social-skills-building activities created by speech and language pros that are worth the high price and need for facilitation.
Peekapak
Complete social-emotional learning units in a neat and tidy package
Bottom line: These 10 SEL units provide teachers with almost everything they'll need to spark positive character development in their students.
Grades: K–5
Price: Free, Paid
Zoo U
Research-based social game has terrific assessment potential
Bottom line: A powerful and focused social problem-solving game designed to reach kids who need direct instruction.
Grades: K–5
Price: A one-time license fee of $7 per student. Individual, classroom, school, and district licenses are available; free trials are also available.
Mind Yeti - Mindfulness for Kids and Their Adults
Calming app with cute characters helps center kids
Bottom line: If you're someone who needs mindfulness-based approaches, Mind Yeti's characters could be the right fit.
Hall of Heroes
Responsive game helps students prepare for transition to middle school
Bottom line: Wonderful and fun social-interaction game designed to teach cooperation and friendship skills needed for middle school and beyond.
Grades: 5–8
Price: Free to Try, Paid Free trial for up to three students. There is a one-time license fee of $7 per student.
Stop, Breathe & Think
Appealing app guides meditation, promotes compassion
Bottom line: An accessible, well-designed tool for making meditation an approachable daily practice for kids and adults, alike.
Character Playbook
Realistic comic book-style stories help build healthy relationships
Bottom line: A valuable series of modules to get kids thinking about how their choices help build strong character.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
The Mood Meter
Well-designed tool encourages kids to reflect on and manage emotions
Bottom line: Appealing, thought-provoking tool builds emotional intelligence.
Pairin
Robust personality survey for students results in real-world insights
Bottom line: For educators who have the time, drive, and buy-in, this program is a great data-analysis and character-development tool.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free to Try, Paid Pairin offers discounts to educational organizations, and a more robust program is included in the subscription price. The educational subscription includes discounts for multiple users, training for staff, student and teacher tips, a curriculum focused on 55 social skills, teacher professional development, and at-risk analysis.
Smiling Mind
Quick and easy meditation practice for busy classroom lives
Bottom line: This easy-to-follow meditation program can help reduce stress and support social and emotional learning.
Mitra - track what matters most
Insightful, minimalist app gets students tracking emotions and values
Bottom line: A practical tool to use in combination with discussion about emotional intelligence and character development.
