Family apps that make healthy habits actually fun
Building healthy habits with kids can feel like herding cats. But a few clever apps can turn a daily struggle into something that’s fun for the whole family. From mindfulness to movement, sleep to screen time, here’s a round-up of tools that help you all thrive together. Find them all in your device app store.
DAILY HABITS & MOTIVATION
Habitica
Chores and homework become RPG-style quests in this gamified habit tracker. Kids and teens earn points, level up, and tackle their “daily boss” (yes, that’s laundry) with a grin. Family-friendly and addictive in a good way.
Streaks
Beautifully simple, Streaks helps you track up to 12 daily habits. It’s perfect for older kids and parents who respond to visual motivation — nothing fancy, just results with a great interface.
Remente
A hybrid of habit tracker, goal setter, and mental wellbeing coach. Family members can check in daily, track moods, and celebrate wins together.
SLEEP & REST
Sleep cycle
Tracks sleep patterns and wakes you up gently at the best moment. Useful for teens who struggle with early mornings… or parents who don’t.
Moshi sleep
Sleep sounds, white noise, meditations and sleep stories for kids, narrated by soothing voices — yes, even Goldie Hawn.
MINDFULNESS & EMOTIONAL CALM
Smiling Mind
This Australian gem offers age- specific mindfulness programs, from little ones to teens and adults. Short sessions make it easy to slip into the day, and it’s evidence-based, so you know it’s actually useful.
Headspace for Kids
Mini meditations for focus, sleep, and managing big feelings. The playful animations make mindfulness relatable, even for children
who usually roll their eyes at “quiet time”.
Calm
Calm has a dedicated kids’ section alongside the features for adults. Dive in to sleep stories, meditations, and gentle breathing exercises. Even parents will find it hard to resist a “just five minutes” meditation.
MOVEMENT & ENERGY
Nike Training Club
Free workouts for all ages and levels, from parents wanting a quick sweat to teens building stamina. Family workouts? Totally doable.
Sworkit Kids
Short, fun, guided workouts for children. No pressure, just movement that makes them giggle while they get fit. There’s a whole lot of content for adults too so everyone can get involved.
Zombies, Run!
For older kids and teens, this makes running or walking into a story adventure. Nothing motivates quite like zombies chasing you.
SCREEN TIME & DIGITAL BALANCE
Opal
Block distractions, track screen time, and set healthy limits. A non-judgmental approach that encourages awareness rather than punishment.
Forest
Stay off your phone, grow a tree. Sounds simple, but turning focus into a game works beautifully for older kids and parents alike.
Google family link / Apple screen time
Boring? Maybe. Effective? Definitely. Keeps everyone accountable while teaching digital balance.
NUTRITION & MINDFUL EATING
Mealime
Family-friendly meal planning with quick, healthy recipes. Makes dinner less chaotic and more collaborative.
EatRight Now
Eat Right Now is an evidence-based app offering guided lessons, mindfulness exercises, and community support to help you build healthy eating habits that last.
