Small Brains. Big Ideas.

Every child deserves to thrive and feel understood

We connect neuroscience to real life — making mental wellness accessible, playful, and empowering for every kid, regardless of their background or experience.

8,200+
Children Reached
Latest from the Blog
New research, every week
Why Kids Worry: A Brain-Based Explanation
Five Ways to Talk About Big Feelings
Breathing Exercises That Work for Kids
47
Active Chapters
Evidence-Based Practice
Pediatric Neuroscience
Emotional Regulation
Family-Centered Resources
Inclusive Education
School Mental Health
Child Development
Trauma-Informed Care
Evidence-Based Practice
Pediatric Neuroscience
Emotional Regulation
Family-Centered Resources
Inclusive Education
School Mental Health
Child Development
Trauma-Informed Care
8,200+
Children Reached
47
Active Chapters
12
States & Growing
Free
All Resources, Always
What We Offer

Tools for little minds
and big feelings

Mindfulness & Calm

Breathing exercises, body scans, and guided relaxation made accessible for children of all ages and abilities.

Feelings Journals

Creative prompts that help children identify, name, and process their emotions in a safe and structured way.

Interactive Learning

Science-backed activities that build emotional intelligence, resilience, and healthy coping skills through play.

Family Guides

Resources for parents and caregivers to support meaningful conversations about mental health at home.

From the Blog

Recent articles

View All Articles →
Anxiety5 min read
Why Kids Worry: A Brain-Based Explanation

Understanding the amygdala helps us respond to anxious children with more empathy and less frustration.

Parenting4 min read
Five Ways to Talk to Your Child About Big Feelings

Simple, science-backed conversation starters that build emotional vocabulary and trust between parent and child.

Mindfulness3 min read
Breathing Exercises That Actually Work for Kids

Four evidence-based techniques adapted for children ages 5–12, with tips on making them stick as daily habits.

Get Involved

This movement is youth-led.
Join us.

Whether you want to start a chapter in your city, join one already running nearby, or step into a national leadership role — there is a place for you here.

Start a Chapter
Launch Synap Kids in your school or community
Apply now →
Executive Team
Join national leadership — open to under 25s
Apply now →
Join a Chapter
Find an existing chapter near you and volunteer
Find one →
Why It Matters

Mental health is a child's right

The earlier we support children's mental health, the stronger their foundation for a healthy, full life. The numbers make the urgency clear.

See Our Resources
1 in 5
children experience a mental health challenge each year
50%
of all mental illness begins by age 14
80%
of children with mental health needs go without treatment
better outcomes with early intervention programs
Resources

Tools for every child's journey

Age-appropriate, science-backed activities covering the full range of emotional wellness — free for children, parents, and educators.

Browse Topics

What's on your mind?

Explore resources tailored for children and families. Every topic is evidence-based and age-appropriate.

01 — Anxiety
Anxiety & Worry

Learn what anxiety feels like in the body and discover tools to calm the nervous system.

02 — Emotions
Sadness & Grief

Explore activities and ways to honor difficult feelings with care and gentleness.

03 — Regulation
Anger & Frustration

Find healthy outlets for big emotions and understand what anger is trying to communicate.

04 — Social
Friendship & Connection

Build confidence, empathy, and communication skills to nurture healthy relationships.

05 — Identity
Self-Esteem & Confidence

Discover personal strengths and learn to approach challenges from a grounded sense of self.

06 — Attention
Mindfulness & Focus

Simple practices to quiet the mind, improve attention, and stay present in the moment.

Featured Guide

The Big Feelings Toolkit

Our most-used resource — a comprehensive illustrated guide for children ages 6–12 covering emotion identification, coping strategies, and self-compassion.

48
Pages of Activities
Illustrated & Research-Backed
Articles

Insights for curious minds

Research-backed articles written for parents, educators, and anyone who cares about children's mental wellbeing. Plain language, real science.

Browse

All articles

Showing 12 articles
Our Story

We believe every child deserves to flourish

Born from a passion for neuroscience and a love for children, Synap Kids bridges the gap between mental health research and everyday family life.

Our Mission

Where science meets childhood

We started Synap Kids because groundbreaking research in child psychology wasn't reaching the families who needed it most. Our mission is to make pediatric mental wellness accessible to all children, regardless of their background or experience.

We believe every child deserves the tools to understand themselves, manage their emotions, and build a resilient, joyful life. That belief shapes everything we create.

Meet Our Staff
What We Stand For

Our core values

Every Child Matters

We create resources with radical inclusivity — every child deserves support, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance.

Evidence-Based, Always

Everything we publish is rooted in peer-reviewed research and reviewed by licensed mental health professionals.

Joy Is the Gateway

Learning about emotions should feel engaging, not clinical. We use creativity, play, and storytelling to reach young minds.

Families First

We partner with parents and caregivers because the home environment is the most powerful learning space a child will ever know.

Our Team

Built by young people,
for young people

Synap Kids is proudly youth-led. From our national executive board to our chapter presidents on the ground — the people closest to the problem are leading the solution.

Youth-Led Organization
Over 85% of our leadership is under 25 years old.   We believe young people should lead the mental health movement — not just participate in it.

Three Tiers of Leadership

Our structure is simple: a national Executive Board sets strategy, General Members do the programmatic work, and Chapter Presidents lead on the ground in their communities. Every role matters equally.

4
Executive Board members guiding national strategy
9
General Members powering programs & content
47
Chapter Presidents leading locally across 12 states
Executive Board

The four-person board responsible for organizational strategy, partnerships, and national direction. They set the vision — the rest of the team makes it real.

4 Members
MC Founder
Dr. Maya Chen
Founder & CEO
Licensed child psychologist turned nonprofit founder. Started Synap Kids at 24 with a mission to make mental health research reach the kids who need it most.
Founded at age 24
AT Age 22
Alex Torres
Executive Director
College junior managing day-to-day operations across all 47 chapters. Joined as a chapter leader at 19 and grew into the national ED role by 21.
Age 22
JP Age 20
Jordan Park
Director of Communications
Sophomore at Howard University running all external communications. Built our social presence from 0 to 80k followers in two years.
Age 20
MR Age 23
Maya Rivera
Director of Chapters
Oversees all chapter relationships and expansion strategy. Former chapter leader in Houston who scaled the program from 8 to 47 chapters.
Age 23
General Members

Clinicians, researchers, educators, and creatives who develop our programs, review our content, and power our day-to-day work.

9 Members
AH
Clinical
Dr. Amir Hassan
Clinical Director

Child & adolescent psychiatrist specializing in anxiety, ADHD, and trauma-informed care. Ensures all our content meets rigorous clinical standards.

LO
Clinical
Dr. Leila Okonkwo
Licensed Family Therapist

Brings family systems therapy to every resource. Believes healing happens best in community, not isolation.

JR
Research
Dr. James Rivera
Pediatric Neuroscientist

Translates cutting-edge brain science into age-appropriate content. Believes every child is a natural scientist of their own mind.

SN
Research
Dr. Sophie Nakamura
Developmental Psychologist

Studies emotional regulation across development stages. Her research directly informs our content for each age band.

ST
Education
Sam Torres
Head of Education Programs

Junior at Michigan State designing our K-12 curriculum. Piloted the first Synap Kids school program in Pontiac, MI.

MW
Education
Marcus Webb
School Curriculum Specialist

Former school counselor building classroom-ready programs that teachers genuinely love to use.

GK
Education
Grace Kimani
Early Childhood Educator

Specializes in social-emotional learning for ages 3–7. Makes big concepts tangible and fun for little ones.

PP
Creative
Priya Patel
Creative Director

Design student creating the visual identity of Synap Kids. Former chapter member who found her voice through our programs.

DO
Operations
Dana Osei
Director of Operations

Keeps everything running on time and on budget. Making sure the mission translates into real action every day.

Chapter Presidents

Youth leaders who founded and run active Synap Kids chapters in their communities. Each one is the face of this mission where it matters most — on the ground.

12 Chapters Shown
ST
Sofia Tran
Pontiac Community Chapter
Pontiac, MI
K–8Founded 2024Age 20
KJ
Kofi Jackson
Detroit Metro Chapter
Detroit, MI
High School4 SchoolsAge 22
LM
Lucia Mendez
Houston Heights Chapter
Houston, TX
All AgesWorkshopsAge 21
DW
DeShawn Williams
Chicago South Side Chapter
Chicago, IL
Elementary3 CPS SchoolsAge 23
AN
Aisha Nakamura
Oakland Unified Chapter
Oakland, CA
K–12BilingualAge 24
TP
Tariq Patterson
Atlanta Youth Chapter
Atlanta, GA
Youth-LedSummer CampAge 20
RO
Remi Okafor
Columbus Central Chapter
Columbus, OH
Middle SchoolFounded 2023Age 19
ZH
Zara Hussain
Brooklyn Bridges Chapter
Brooklyn, NY
K–82 SchoolsAge 22
CL
Carlos Leal
Miami Shores Chapter
Miami, FL
BilingualWorkshopsAge 21
NB
Nia Brooks
Phoenix Desert Chapter
Phoenix, AZ
All AgesFounded 2024Age 23
MK
Marcus Kim
Seattle Eastside Chapter
Seattle, WA
High SchoolPeer MentoringAge 20
FD
Fatima Diallo
Nashville Harmony Chapter
Nashville, TN
ElementaryFounded 2025Age 19
35 more chapters across 12 states

Every chapter president starts the same way — by applying. Could the next one be you?

Start a Chapter →
Programs

What we actually do

From school curricula to community workshops to online tools, Synap Kids runs programs that meet children where they are — in classrooms, living rooms, and everywhere in between.

Our Programs

Six ways we show up for kids

Flagship
Synap Kids School Program

A semester-long curriculum delivered inside partner schools by trained chapter leaders. Covers emotional regulation, mindfulness, and self-compassion for grades K–8.

Ages 5–14In-Person8 Weeks
Community
Family Wellness Workshops

Free two-hour workshops held in libraries, community centers, and faith spaces. Parents and children attend together to build shared emotional vocabulary and tools.

All AgesIn-PersonFree
Digital
Online Resource Hub

A growing library of downloadable guides, activity sheets, and video lessons — free for any child, parent, or educator anywhere in the world, at any time.

Self-PacedOnlineAlways Free
Peer Support
Youth Peer Mentor Program

High school students trained as mental health peer mentors for middle schoolers. Mentors receive 12 hours of training and ongoing supervision from our clinical team.

Ages 12–18In-PersonYear-Round
Educator
Teacher Training Institute

A one-day professional development program equipping teachers with trauma-informed classroom practices and mental health first aid skills.

Educators1-Day PDCertificate
Summer
Summer Wellness Camp

A week-long summer day camp where children ages 8–14 explore emotional wellness through art, movement, storytelling, and structured reflection.

Ages 8–14SummerIn-Person
Our Impact

Numbers that matter

Every number here is a real child, a real family, a real moment of connection.

8,200+
Children directly served through our programs
47
Active chapters running programs nationwide
340+
Educators trained in our institute
96%
Of families report improved communication after workshops
Voices

What families are saying

My daughter used to shut down whenever she felt overwhelmed. After the school program, she started naming her feelings out loud. That is huge for us.

Parent, Detroit
Synap Kids School Program

I went in skeptical — another wellness thing. I left with real tools I actually use with my students. The training is practical, not fluffy.

5th Grade Teacher, Chicago
Teacher Training Institute

Being a peer mentor changed me more than I expected. I learned as much as the kids I was supporting, maybe more.

High School Peer Mentor, Austin
Youth Peer Mentor Program
Get Involved

Ready to join the movement?

Whether you want to start a chapter, join one, or step into a leadership role — there is a place for you here. Choose what fits you best below.

Choose Your Path

How do you want to get involved?

Start a Chapter Application

We review every application within 5 business days and follow up personally. Takes about 10 minutes.

Step 1 of 3 — About You
About You

Application Received!

Thank you for applying. Our team will reach out within 5 business days to schedule your intro call.

Executive Team Application

We are a youth-led organization and actively recruit young people into national leadership. Open to anyone under 25 with passion and drive.

Personal Information
Role Interest
0 / 600

Application Submitted!

We are excited to learn more about you. Our hiring team reviews applications on a rolling basis and will be in touch within 2 weeks.

Find a Chapter Near You

Browse active chapters and request to join as a volunteer, member, or peer mentor.

Michigan
Pontiac Community Chapter
Serving K–8 students at Jefferson Elementary and Lincoln Middle School. Active since 2024.
In-PersonK–8Recruiting
Michigan
Detroit Metro Chapter
Running the peer mentor program across 4 Detroit high schools. Looking for college volunteers.
High SchoolPeer MentoringRecruiting
Texas
Houston Heights Chapter
Family wellness workshops every other Saturday at the Heights Community Library. All ages welcome.
WorkshopsAll AgesRecruiting
Illinois
Chicago South Side Chapter
School program running in 3 CPS elementary schools. Seeking education volunteers and curriculum helpers.
In-PersonElementaryRecruiting
California
Oakland Unified Chapter
Embedded in Oakland Unified School District serving 6 schools. Seeking bilingual volunteers (Spanish/English).
K–12BilingualRecruiting
Georgia
Atlanta Youth Chapter
Youth-only leadership team running summer camp and peer mentor programs across metro Atlanta.
Youth-LedSummerRecruiting

Don't see your area? Start a chapter and become the first leader in your community.

Get Help

You are not alone.
We are here.

Whether you are a child looking for support, a parent seeking guidance, or an educator needing resources — we are ready to listen.

Let's connect

Reaching out takes courage. No question is too small, no feeling too big.

(800) 555-MIND
Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm EST

In crisis? Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

Send us a message

We read every message and respond within two business days.

Crisis Resources

Need help right now?

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out immediately. Help is always available.

988
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 any time, day or night. Free, confidential support for people in distress.

741741
Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Available 24 hours via text.

Find a
Therapist Near You

Use the Psychology Today therapist finder to locate licensed child therapists in your area.

All Chapters

Find a chapter near you

47 active chapters across 12 states — run by young leaders making a real difference in their communities. Search, explore, and connect.

Spread

12 states and growing

Every chapter starts with one person who decided to show up. The next one could be in your town.

Start a Chapter in Your City →
Donate

Fuel the next generation
of mental health

Every dollar goes directly toward free resources, school programs, and training for the young leaders running this movement. 100% of donations fund programs.

$15
provides a full activity kit for one child
$50
trains one peer mentor for a full semester
$200
funds one family wellness workshop
$500
launches a brand new chapter in a community
Choose Your Impact

Every gift makes a real difference

Pick a giving tier below, or enter a custom amount. All donations are tax-deductible. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Custom amount
$
Your donation
$50 /one-time
Secured by 256-bit SSL encryption. Your card is never stored.

Synap Kids is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN 12-3456789. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

Why It Matters

Your dollars at work

100%
Goes to Programs

Administrative costs are covered by separate foundation grants, so every dollar you give funds direct services.

8,200+
Children Served

Donors like you have helped us reach thousands of children with free mental wellness tools and programs.

501(c)(3)
Tax-Deductible

Synap Kids is a registered nonprofit. Every gift is fully tax-deductible and comes with an official receipt.

Corporate Sponsorship

Partner with us to invest in kids' mental health

Sponsoring Synap Kids puts your brand behind a movement that reaches thousands of children, educators, and families. Choose a tier — or work with us to build something custom.

View Sponsorship Tiers Talk to Our Team
8,200+
children your brand reaches directly
47
active chapters across 12 states
80K+
social media followers and growing
501(c)(3)
fully tax-deductible sponsorship
Why Synap Kids

What your sponsorship stands for

Authentic CSR

Mental health is one of the defining issues of our time. Aligning your brand here is meaningful, credible, and deeply relevant to employees, customers, and communities.

Real Visibility

From classrooms to social media to our national summit, your brand appears in spaces that matter — reaching parents, educators, community leaders, and young people directly.

Youth Connection

Our audience skews young — the very generation that cares deeply about brand values. Sponsoring Synap Kids signals that your organization walks the walk, not just talks the talk.