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Mind Yeti
Pros: Fun visuals and characters help kids pick relaxation scripts to fit their needs.
Cons: Most relaxation scripts are audio only, which some students may find inaccessible.
Bottom Line: If you're someone who needs mindfulness-based approaches, Mind Yeti's characters could be the right fit.
Teachers can begin by letting students watch the instructional video that introduces the Mind Yeti and the group of Hububbles, which are thoughts that can cloud the mind. After whole-group instruction, teachers can introduce students to the expectations of where to sit or stand for these sessions. After a few practice sessions, assign a weekly Mind Yeti leader to a corner of the room to practice leadership and communication skills with a small group. Use a debriefing method to ask students to check in after the session, to encourage conversations about social and emotional well-being. Feel free to use this as a settling activity after students return from recess to get ready for whole-group instruction. Finally, encourage students to try a session or two before bed to assist in calming thoughts before drifting off to sleep.
Mind Yeti is a platform that provides mindfulness instruction and meditative scripts for a variety of moods and needs. The experience begins with a tutorial that introduces the concept of the Mind Yeti. Log in to save your favorite sessions and videos. Most videos are three to five minutes in length, and usually have an audio-only component. Featured sessions appear on the home screen and change daily. Several themes (e.g., calm, focus) have three to six sessions built in, so you can check off the scripts you listen to. Users can also pick to focus on several "powers," or skills, that are essential to the foundations of meditative practice. Click the heart on the bottom of each session to save it to your favorites so that you can return to it again and again.
As of July 2021, Mind Yeti is still active but not accepting new subscribers.
Mind Yeti actively engages and guides the learner through best practices in mindfulness instruction. From short scripts that encourage accepting a moment of energy to a longer progressive muscle relaxation script (which guides learners through tension reduction), wellness is built into this experience. The characters may help students link higher learning abstract concepts -- such as competing thoughts -- into real-world, more concrete experiences to build on their own background knowledge.
Overall, Mind Yeti is good for learning how to engage in mindful moments throughout the day and with any mood. However, it may be important to consider that some students who require a visual component or who aren't comfortable closing their eyes may benefit from an additional visual aid. Students learning English may also find additional visual aids would assist their learning.