Smiling Mind is a free meditation tool in app format that can bring calm to the classroom that students can then take into their lives.
The idea is to offer meditation, focused on thought and breath work, as a tool that students can learn from and access when they need it and support SEL. By offering private coaching, you can help students of all ages, abilities, and emotional levels access a moment of calm right there in the room.
The app is designed to be very easy to use and offers guidance for beginners as well as more advanced techniques for experienced students. This guide aims to clarify how the app works, how it can be used in the classroom, and why it could be a useful tool for your class.
What is the Smiling Mind?
smiling mind
(Image credit: Smiling Mind)
Smiling Mind is aimed at kids, so it’s simple, offers guidance from the most basic levels, and provides enough virtual support to ensure that even the least focused students can enjoy the benefits of social-emotional learning. Since it is prepared with psychologists specialized in certain age ranges, each of the exercises is adapted to the children who use it.
This comes from an Australian non-profit organization that aims to improve the mental health of the young people of today and tomorrow. As such, you will be able to enjoy a relaxing Australian accent as you are guided through the various lessons that aim to bring children to a stage of learning where they can meditate, little by little.
How does Smiling Mind work?
Smiling Mind is a free to download and use app that is available on iOS and Android devices. Teachers can use the app with the class, through a speaker, or have it on individual devices so each student can meditate privately.
(Image credit: Smiling Mind)
Meditations last between 2 and 10 minutes and have plenty of guidance to keep the student interested. These may use breathing exercises as well as body scans and visualizations to help students find a state of mindfulness.
It’s worth noting that setting up the account may take a bit of time initially, so if you plan to do it across all devices, it’s worth setting aside that time to make room for actual meditation. It may be best for parents or guardians to set up the app so it’s ready to use in class, and since those under 13 will need an adult account, this is the easiest.
As many of these exercises are for individuals, it is also worth thinking about setting aside time to talk about what was experienced and learned after the meditation.
What are the best features of Smiling Mind?
Smiling Mind offers some fantastic tools that are intuitive and easy for most students, and because it’s app-based, it can be used beyond the classroom.
(Image credit: Smiling Mind)
Smiling Mind can be used as an excellent conflict resolution tool, giving students a quiet space to reset and reflect before returning to the group.
A useful offline option allows teachers to download exercises so they can use them anywhere, inside the classroom or in a quiet space in nature, without the need for an Internet connection. Students who don’t have a decent internet connection at home can also do meditation exercises to use outside of class.
Students have the option to choose favorite exercises for easier access later, allowing them to repeat work to help improve. A reminder notification option is really helpful to stay on track and progress with regular exercises.
How much does Smiling Mind cost?
The smiling mind is free to download and use. Again, it’s run by a non-profit company, so you won’t find ads or have to worry about the security of your data. You can choose to make a donation to help support the service, which is run through the kindness of others.
TO link on Smiling Mind website
Top Smiling Mind Tips and Tricks
start slow
Give “work” to home
Work in group
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