Super Chill Founder Niki Schilling: Why a Mom Created the Most Popular Relaxation App for Kids

The inspiring story behind the free “Super Chill” app helping families across Europe

It all started at a kitchen table and on a yoga mat with a concerned mother: Niki Schilling wanted to help her children, Charlie and Linus, manage their emotions. Today, thousands of families use the free Super Chill app to bring more calm and balance into their daily lives. As a mother of two and Chief Impact Officer at Rituals, Niki has created a movement with Super Chill that helps children aged 6 to 12 process emotions and reduce stress.

The origin story: From yoga mat to free meditation app for kids

“I wanted my kids to learn emotional regulation early on. Not like me – as an adult,”

Niki tells us with a smile.

What began in summer 2019 with a former teacher friend at the kitchen table has since evolved into Super Chill, a free and ad-free app that teaches kids how to manage stress, anger, and worries in a playful way. Through simple breathing exercises, meditations, and relaxation techniques, children learn to recognize and regulate their emotions. As a certified yoga teacher, Niki brought her own experience with emotional processing into the app’s development. But Super Chill is more than just another app in the digital world.

Why a mother became an app developer: The personal drive

When Niki turned 30, she trained to become a yoga instructor and, for the first time, truly learned how to manage her emotions.
“I should have learned this as a child. It would have spared me a lot,” she thought at the time.

The final push came when her own children started school and she saw the flood of stimuli and emotions they faced.
“I realized not every parent has the tools to help their child when they’re angry or frustrated. Many parents get angry themselves when their kids are upset,” Niki explains. That insight sparked the vision for an app that helps both kids and parents better handle tough emotions.

Super Chill: A non-commercial app with maximum impact

Unlike commercial offerings, Super Chill is ad-free, secure, and run by a non-profit foundation.
“The app is not the goal,” Niki says, scrolling through the colorful exercises on her tablet.
“It’s just a tool – eventually, you won’t need it anymore.”

This philosophy is what makes Super Chill so special. It’s not about keeping kids glued to screens, but teaching them lifelong skills.

Niki is especially touched by the flood of positive feedback she receives.
“The impact Super Chill has had is incredible,” she beams.
“Sometimes we get spontaneous messages from kids that make you incredibly proud and happy.”
She tells of a boy who wrote:
“I didn’t want to go to school anymore because I was bullied, but now with Super Chill, I can go again.”
And a girl with sleep problems:
“I couldn’t fall asleep for so long. But now, when I hear Super Chill, I fall asleep right away.”

Scientifically backed: Why mindfulness training is crucial for children

Prof. Dr. Nina Kolleck, a renowned education researcher at the University of Potsdam, confirms the effectiveness of early interventions:
“When children learn to meditate or relax early, it becomes easier for them to integrate these practices into daily life as adults.”

Prof. Dr. Nina Kolleck, Professor of Education and Socialization Theory, University of Potsdam

Science is clear: Mindfulness exercises in childhood not only support mental health but also build resilience – a trait increasingly vital in our fast-paced world.
“We know from studies that kids who regularly do relaxation exercises even perform better in school,” says Prof. Kolleck.

“My mom did something cool” – kids share their experiences

The story becomes especially authentic when talking to Niki’s son, Charlie. The 11-year-old was one of the app’s first testers and is now an avid user.

“I think it’s cool that my mom made Super Chill. And it really works,” he says with the proud confidence only a child can convey.

For him, the exercises are now part of everyday life:
“I usually do them with my mom in the evening. Then I feel more relaxed and talk more.”

His younger brother Linus, 10, is proud that he has internalized the techniques so well he can use them anywhere.
“At first, I used the app a lot. Now I don’t need it as much because I know the exercises. Sometimes I even do them secretly on the soccer field – like the breathing exercise.”

Relaxation exercises for all kids – regardless of family income

What mattered most to Niki from the beginning: Super Chill should be accessible to every child, no matter their family’s income.

“Super Chill is non-profit so it can stay completely neutral. It’s free so every child can participate,”

she explains.

The exercises are kept deliberately simple. No prior knowledge of meditation or yoga is needed – just the willingness to try something new with your child. Rituals Cosmetics supports the app as an exclusive partner to keep it fully independent and free.

Children’s meditation strengthens parent-child bonds

Perhaps the most beautiful side effect: Super Chill connects parents and children in a new way. These quiet moments together spark conversations that often get lost in hectic family life.

“What I find so beautiful is how Super Chill improves the relationship between kids and parents,” Niki says joyfully.
“We didn’t expect this, but the fact that parents suddenly know what to do when their child is stressed, and that the exercises are fun for both – it’s wonderful to see.”

Niki smiles.
“And the best part: The exercises don’t just help the kids – they calm the parents too. Taking three deep breaths helps everyone. It’s not just the kids who benefit.”

“I’m proud that with Super Chill we’re reaching so many families – and maybe even making the world a tiny bit better,” Niki says at the end of our conversation, as her son in the background already queues up the next exercise.

Download and try Super Chill for free

Want to see how Super Chill can transform your family life?

🔍 Learn more: How simple mindfulness rituals ease family life

📲 Start now: Download Super Chill today – the free, ad-free app with mindfulness exercises to help kids find calm, focus, and inner strength. Available in the App Store and Google Play.