In brighter news, this is a very good app for focus! I often gush about Hank Green‘s excellent work on YouTube and beyond. Recently he dropped a secret project: an app called “Focus Friend.” Besides how adorable the illustrations by Honey B Games are, it might just help your children self-regulate their screentime. [Note that Focus Friend does not claim to help with screentime; I’m suggesting it’s worth a try based on my experience. – CMJ]

You set timers to focus for a specific amount of time, then put down your phone. if you don’t pick it up or interrupt your bean, they will knit you new decor for (your) bean’s house. The more you focus, the more they knit, the more you decorate.

My kid was attracted to the app’s sweet illustrations and the game play is easy to recognize and start. Last I checked, his bean’s house has lots of posters and plants, and he’s already completed a two-hour focus challenge. My bean home still strongly resembles my first apartment out of college, so I guess I should go focus more.

My oldest gave it five stars!

Image Credits: Focus Friend