Young children often struggle to identify and manage their emotions, and it's not a skill they naturally develop without guidance. Caregivers may not always have simple tools or language to help kids navigate those moments, like how to label a feeling, validate it, or guide a child toward calming down. Without that support, it can be hard to know what to say or do when a child is overwhelmed.

According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, early emotional development plays a critical role in shaping long-term mental health, behavior, and learning. Another study published in Child Development found that children who can identify and regulate their emotions show stronger peer relationships and perform better academically.

But emotional development doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Families without access to mental health resources, stable routines, or time for consistent one-on-one support may find it harder to provide this kind of guidance. Creating an easy-to-use phone app is one way to make emotional tools more widely accessible, especially for families who may not have the time, money, or bandwidth for more formal support systems.

Many emotional wellness apps for children are cluttered with features, in-app purchases, or overly broad content that can feel overwhelming, especially during moments of distress. They often combine tools like sleep stories, meditation tracks, and behavior charts in ways that don’t meet a child where they are emotionally. These platforms frequently miss the core need: a simple, soothing way for kids to check in with themselves and process what they’re feeling.

My goal is to design a calm, age-appropriate tool that helps children understand their emotions and build healthy habits around emotional regulation, with or without adult support. I aim to encourage habits and language that can be used at bedtime, in the car, or during any everyday moment, even without the app.