This week I’m reviewing Smiling Mind, a mindfulness and meditation app. The premise of the app is that approximately ten minutes per day of mindfulness exercises can help reduce anxiety and stress while promoting greater health and wellness. There are specialized programs within the app for youth, adults, classrooms, families, and workplaces.
Intended Use: The app is intended for relaxation and wellness.
Target Audience: The app is listed as appropriate for users age four and up. The kids program is for children ages three to twelve, the youth program is for adolescents between 13 and 18 years of age, and the family program is designed for the whole family to listen together.
Usability: The interface is easy to navigate with text and supporting graphics. Users start with a well-being check-in, selecting their age group, and selecting the area they want to focus on (e.g. sleep, mindfulness, sports, school, stress management, relaxation, etc.). The app automatically keeps track of the user’s progress in the program so they can develop their skills in a logical progression. Users can also set up reminders to use the app at certain times of the day.
Cost: Free, there are premium programs available for the workplace (requires contact with the developers).
Technical Requirements: Available for iOS and Android.
Pro’s:
The app is free and there are no ads or in-app purchases.
Users can select light or dark mode. Users may prefer dark mode if they are using the app for help with sleep.
The app supports both guided and unguided meditation. It focuses on brief meditation (under ten minutes) which can be easily incorporated into a busy day which is good for beginners. There is also a section of extended meditations (15 to 45 minutes).
Although the app is in English there are meditations available in Arabic as well as native Australian languages (Dari, Kriol, Ngaanyatjarra, and Pitjantjatjara).
Con’s:
The library of meditations is more limited than some of the other apps on the market.
The meditations are audio only whereas other apps offer a video or other visualization on the screen. Depending on how you meditate, this may not necessarily be a negative.
Is it worth it? This is a great app for developing mindfulness practices. Unlike many apps that are on the market now, this one is free and appropriate for both children and adults.