Stop, Breathe & Think Kids – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Stop, Breathe & Think Kids

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2013

88%

WISE Score

3.7

App Store

Sesame Street teaches toddlers to literally stop, breathe, and think—actual emotional regulation skills disguised as monster-helping fun.

Stop, Breathe & Think Kids

app

Everyone, 2013

88%

WISE Score

3.7

App Store

Sesame Street teaches toddlers to literally stop, breathe, and think—actual emotional regulation skills disguised as monster-helping fun.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

This is one of those rare apps that actually does what it promises: teaches emotional regulation skills to very young kids in a way that's engaging, research-based, and free of all the garbage that usually comes with kids' apps.

The 'Breathe, Think, Do' framework is simple enough for toddlers to grasp but genuinely useful—parents report their kids actually using the strategies in real life, which is the whole point. The Sesame Street branding and interactive monster-helping premise make it feel like play, not a lesson.

The main limitation is that it's designed for parent-child co-use with a narrow age band. This isn't something to hand your kid for solo entertainment, and once they hit kindergarten, the scenarios will feel babyish. But for that sweet spot of ages 2-5 when tantrums are frequent and emotional vocabulary is emerging? This is legitimately helpful.

Just make sure you have good wifi when you download it, because apparently the technical side can be finicky.

Age Fit

Perfectly calibrated for ages 2-5, when emotional regulation is a brand new skill and Sesame Street characters still hold magic. By 6 or 7, kids will likely have outgrown the simple scenarios and monster aesthetic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Built on Sesame Street's research-based emotional learning framework, teaching kids to pause, breathe, and problem-solve through everyday challenges. Models healthy emotional regulation and resilience without chaos or manipulation. The personalized encouragement feature and calm pacing make this genuinely supportive.

Imaginative

Interactive tap-and-touch mechanics with playful animations and bubble-popping activities keep young kids engaged, but the app follows a structured 'Breathe, Think, Do' framework that's more educational than open-ended creative play. Five pre-set scenarios limit exploration compared to truly imaginative apps.

Safe

No ads, no in-app purchases, no social features. Designed for parent-child co-use. The app is part of Sesame Street's educational initiative and appears to have no monetization concerns. Only minor deduction for technical issues noted in the description (requires strong wifi, occasional installation problems).

Enriching

Teaches concrete emotional regulation skills (deep breathing, problem-solving strategies) backed by Sesame Street's research. Builds emotional vocabulary, self-awareness, and resilience in ages 2-5. Bilingual English/Spanish. Parent section provides additional resources. This is skill-building that actually transfers to real life.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Research-backed emotional learning that teaches real coping skills (deep breathing, problem-solving) kids can actually use when they're melting down
No ads, no in-app purchases, no data harvesting—just pure Sesame Street goodness designed for parent-child co-use
Bilingual English/Spanish with personalized encouragement your kid records themselves, making it genuinely engaging for 2-5 year olds
Parent section with additional resilience resources extends learning beyond the app
Parents and mental health practitioners report positive real-world results—kids actually using the 'breathe, think, do' strategy

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What to Watch For

Designed for parent-child co-use, not solo screen time—this works best when you're sitting with your toddler, not handing them the iPad
Technical quirks: requires strong wifi for download, some users report installation issues or getting stuck on loading screens
Five preset scenarios mean limited replay value once your kid has worked through all the challenges

Conversation Starters

"Can you show me how the monster breathes when they're upset? Should we try that together?"
"What would you do if you were feeling frustrated like the monster? What are some plans we could think of?"
"When was a time today you felt like you needed to stop and take a deep breath?"
"Which challenge in the app was hardest for the monster? Have you ever felt that way?"

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