Here are a few free app suggestions for pediatric OTs and PTs for 8/12/16. This week there is a pretty simple and straightforward handwriting app and an app that adds some physical activity to a child’s day – my favorite when kids are moving instead of just hunched over their devices. (This post does include affiliate links). So here we go:
This handwriting app is Intro to Letters, by Montessorium. It has nice, clean lines and an uncluttered background. The bonus to this app is you can record your own voice for the letters.
Yuvi – Story Aerobics for Kids includes one free video (9 minutes long) where Yuvi goes on an adventure in Africa where he has to squat down, balance and more to find hidden balls. This app is a nice way to sneak in some fun exercise in a small space.
Handwriting Heroes is a new handwriting app developed by Cheryl Bregman who is an occupational therapist. You may be familiar with her from another amazing app she created Abilipad which is a customizable keyboard and adaptive notepad, with word prediction and text-to-speech. I asked Cheryl to answer a few questions about her career and her development of apps from an OT perspective. (This post contains affiliate links).
Q: First just tell a little bit about yourself – job experience, years on the job, etc.
After qualifying as an occupational therapist from UCT in South Africa, I moved to the US and have been working as a pediatric OT for the past 20 years. I love being an occupational therapist for the flexibility that one has to facilitate learning in non-traditional and multisensory ways. I am married, and have two gorgeous children.
Q: What made you come up with the idea of creating apps in addition to being an occupational therapist?
It was not planned. I developed my handwriting methodology over many years and had excellent success helping children. Given that it is that it is based on interactive stories, I felt that it would be well presented in an animated form. So, when iPads were first introduced, I found a programmer to work on it. At the same time, I was working with a young student who had autism, who enjoyed writing on the iPad but would become “stuck” because the keyboard keys were in upper case and his words were being typed in lower case. I decided to hold off on my handwriting app, and to “quickly” make a lower case keyboard, named Abilipad. Abilipad ended up taking three years because users kept asking for additional features. Once Abilipad was completed, I was able to refocus on Handwriting Heroes. It has been tremendously beneficial to my therapy and to my apps to be able to do both in sync.
Q: Your previous app, Abilipad, was a real game changer are you hoping for the same with Handwriting Heroes?
Abilipad’s impact in the world of assistive technology was to significantly decrease the cost of literacy support (i.e. word prediction, text-to-speech, adapted keyboards). Since it was the first adaptive notepad and keyboard on the iPad, larger companies had to follow suit with their pricing.
Handwriting Heroes is my absolute treasure. For fear of being overstated, it encompasses over a decade of practice-based research and development, and every ounce of creative energy that I have. My hope is that Handwriting Heroes will revitalize handwriting instruction, by making it easier to teach handwriting.
Q: You have been in the “app business” for several years which is considered a long time. Have things changed considerably since you first started?
The ability for users to find one’s apps is significantly harder because the app store has become far more congested.
Q: If a therapist has an idea for creating an app, what is your number one tip to get it developed?
Marry a programmer! Unfortunately it is becoming extremely hard to find and afford experienced developers. I have sourced most of my developers (and artists, animators, voice-over artists, composers, etc.) from upwork.com.
Q: Handwriting Heroes only addresses lower case; is there a reason for that?
Most of the students who are referred to me with handwriting problems write with upper case letters or mix their upper and lower case. So, my goal in focusing on lower case is to avoid confusion by solidifying the students’ knowledge of lower case before introducing upper case. Since lower case is used in 95% of writing, I feel strongly that it ought to be prioritized.
Upper case is often taught first because these letters are easier to form; and therefore it is also no surprise that students would defer to upper case. Lower case letters are however more efficient to produce since there are far fewer pencil lifts.
Q: You describe Handwriting Heroes as being suitable for children of “all abilities”. Is handwriting important (relative to other interventions) for children with delays?
Yes! I like to distinguish between handwriting and letter formation though. With handwriting one produces letters by hand using a writing implement. Letter formation, on the other hand, relates only to the stroke sequence used to produce a letter. Some of my students, who have significant motor delays, may never be fluent at handwriting. However, it is still important for them to learn the steps for forming the letters – whether following the animations with their eyes, writing the letters in the air or tracing large letter models with their finger. It is my, as-yet-untested theory that the benefits of handwriting including – “better perception of letters which transfers to reading, training the orthographic loop and improved serial organization” (Virginia Wise Berninger, Strengthening the Mind’s Eye) – applies to letter formation as well.
That said my app does provide three levels of difficulty. The easiest allows the user the lift their finger from the screen while the hardest requires the user to complete the letter using a continuous stroke i.e. without any finger lifts.
Q: Where can we find more information about your apps?
A small study examined five children (ages 3-5 years old) participating in three conditions (15 minutes each) in randomized order:
1) playing with traditional age appropriate toys to simulate free play environment (e.g. drawing/crafts, trains, toy cars).
2) playing with iPad2 with a range of age appropriate apps.
3) viewing television with a range of age appropriate programs.
During the different conditions mentioned above three variables were measured: mean and variation in dominant arm hand movement using an ActiGraph GT3X+, wrist, thorax and head posture with Vicon motion analysis and upper trapezius muscle activity with an EMG system.
The results indicated the following:
the most hand movement occurred during traditional play followed by tablet use with television viewing being the least
greatest mean and variation in upper trapezius muscle activity during playing with traditional toys followed by tablet play and than television viewing.
mean neck flexion during tablet play was greater than the other conditions.
the thorax was also more flexed during tablet play than when playing with toys or watching television.
In summary, tablet computer use by young children results in less movement, muscle activity, repetitive wrist movement and poor spinal posture than toy play. All of these issues may put children at risk of musculoskeletal symptom development.
Remember to offer children ample time for typical play time to avoid overuse issues from excessive tablet use. Need ideas? Check out Play Move Develop.
Play Move Develop includes 100 reproducible games and activity ideas to encourage motor skill development and learning in children. Great resource for fun, home exercise program activities. FIND OUT MORE.
Reference: Straker, L et al. Movement, posture and muscle activity in young children using tablet computers. Retrieved from the web on 1/31/16 at http://ergonomics.uq.edu.au/iea/proceedings/Index_files/papers/1899.pdf
There are two free apps today (11/14/2014) that are worth taking a look to add to your pediatric therapy tool kit. The first one is Toca Hair Salon Me. Personally, I love any Toca Boca app but this one is super cute. Kids can add their own pictures and style the hair. The step by step actions work well in a therapy session as a motivator - if the child completes an activity they can add to the hair style. You can download it for free today at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-hair-salon-me/id730873197
The next free app today (11/14/2014) is Fingerfun HD which is only available on the iPad. Kids have to press all the circles on the screen at on time to reveal the picture under the circles. It is a little tricky when many circles are on the screen so excellent motor planning and finger isolation skill practice. The nice thing about this app is that the progression is based on how well the child complete each puzzle. So if it is too difficult or takes too long to complete, the number of buttons decreased at the next picture. It is available in several different languages as well. You can download Fingerfun at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fingerfun-hd-multilingual/id586215504
Sometimes a new app comes along that I have to recommend. Interactive Alphabet is one of those apps for sure and it happens to be FREE right now (8/6/14). This app offers so much in terms of differentiated instruction. I know there are letter tracing apps out there but this one offers just a little something different. For example, Interactive Alphabet includes more customization than most letter formation apps, letter sounds as you practice tracing and keyboarding practice!
1. Choices - Choose from baby where it is read to you, explore, sing, type, trace and customize.
2. Letter Tracing - fun light up letters that also speaks the letter sound as you trace.
3. Typing - type words or customize your own words as in the picture at the top of this post. You can type in any name or word, add your own photos and it will be saved automatically into the word list in alphabetical order. You can record your voice speaking the word out loud as well.
We asked and 264 of you responded on what effects you think tablets and smartphones have on the overall development of young children. Here are the highlights:
61% of the respondents were pediatric OTs.
53% of all respondents think that tablet/smartphone use delays social development in 0-5 year old children.
36% of all respondents think that tablet/smartphone use delays speech development in 0-5 year old children (although 34% responded no and 30% responded not sure).
56% of all respondents think that tablet/smartphone use delays fine motor development in 0-5 year olds.
69% of all respondents think that tablet/smartphone use delays gross motor development in 0-5 year olds.
46% of all respondents that that tablet/smartphone use creates behavioral problems in 0-5 year olds.
There are a few good apps that are free today, 2/28/14. Here they are:
1. Toca Boca Doctor: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-doctor/id424209938?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 - This is a great app for young children. It challenges visual perceptual skills, visual motor skills and eye hand coordination. It works well as a reward - complete a certain number of tasks and the child is rewarded with a mini game that only lasts less than one minute.
2. Creating Character in Kids: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id700942891?mt=8. I just tested this app out on the ipad and give it a big thumbs up to use as a token economy system for therapy sessions or suggest to parents. It comes preloaded with many behavioral expectations but it has the ability to create your own goals, with your own rewards or consequences. It may work as a great motivator for certain children to accomplish their goals. I love all the ideas for parents to offer as rewards ie - extra hour with parents undivided attention, pick the dinner or dessert, have a chore free day, etc. The list of consequences are also preloaded with some good ideas ie do a chore for a sibling, no electronics, write an apology letter, etc. You can add more than one child to track progress.
3. Tiny Firefighters: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id632012899?mt=8. For those little ones who love firefighters and police this is a cute visual perceptual app. You could ask the child to find certain objects. When they do and touch on the object there is some nice animation. Again, this may be a nice reward type app or with adult guidance a visual discrimination app.
Check out the results from the Winter 2014 survey on tablet and smartphone use among pediatric OTs and PTs. There were over 300 responses. You can view the results at http://yourtherapysource.com/surveytablet.html
Check out the results from the Winter 2014 survey on tablet and smartphone use among pediatric OTs and PTs. There were over 300 responses. You can view the results at http://yourtherapysource.com/surveytablet.html
If you follow this blog at all you know I am always on the look out for apps that get kids and adults moving. I have been use this freeTabata Timer app for quite some time now and really like it. Tabata is an exercise protocol based on the work of a Japanese scientist named Izumi Tabat and his colleagues on high intensity interval training. Basically you exercise for 4 minutes going as hard as you can for 20 seconds followed by a 10 second break repeating this 8 times. I have had great success with children combining the Tabata 4 minute exercise routine with physical activity cards.
Start out by selecting at least 4 exercises to complete (you can repeat each one twice) or pick 8 different exercises. I use exercise cards for the children to choose the activities from. I usually pick through the cards for what each specific child needs to work on and then allow the child to choose from that pile. Once the exercises are chosen, if they are new I teach the child the exercise first. If not, we get started. Place the cards on the table and start the Tabata Timer app. It will count down to start with three beeps. Begin the first exercise. As the 20 seconds counts down the timer also provides a visual image of the time elapsing along with the number count down. For the last 3 seconds it beeps. You then rest for 10 seconds. Turn the first card over. Get ready for the 2nd exercise for 20 seconds. Repeat the process until all 8 exercises are completed in 4 minutes.
Here is what is so great about this app:
1. Kids are much more motivated to complete the exercises. There is a start and stop time.
2. The visual timer of the time elapsing let's the child see that the exercise is almost completed.
3. The rest period is just short enough for the child to be ready for the next exercise.
4. Kids who are very hesitant to complete aerobic exercise are completing this 4 minute work out without complaint. If I asked them to run for 4 minutes or jump rope for 4 minutes some children just would not participate.
5. Great little app to build endurance. Start a session out with the 4 minute workout and finish up with a 4 minute work out.
Lately, I have been using a free metronome app on the iPhone to help teach gross motor skills. There are several metronome apps so pick the one that works best for you. I downloaded this one since it was free and it works fine for my purposes.
Basically you can set the beat on the metronome to a fast or slow speed. The tick tock on the metronome is an excellent way to teach children stop and go, self control, rhythm and motor timing.
After setting the metronome to a slow speed I instruct the student to only step, jump or hop on the beat. I usually put tape, circles or use a floor ladder to designate where to step or jump. On each tick they are to jump but only on the tick. It forces the child to listen and to stop and go on a beat. Sometimes I will also move the iPhone back and forth as it ticks to provide a visual cue along with the auditory cue. For some children we stay at this level for awhile - practicing different skills (clapping, stepping, jumping, hopping, etc) to the beat encourages motor planning, motor timing, reflexes and self control. When they master moving to the beat, we progress to higher level skills that require similar motor timing - ie jumping jacks, skipping and jumping rope. The kids seem to enjoy the predictable rhythm of the metronome. In my opinion there appears to be immediate carry over of the isolated skill to other functional skills.
Sensational Brain LLC has released a new app to go along with their online tools to create sensory diets. I received a free copy to review for this blog post. This app is quite comprehensive when it comes to creating sensory diets for home, school and the community.
If you are not familiar with the BrainWorks system, it is an online resource to create sensory diets using picture cards to help supplement sensory diets. A tachometer is used as a visual image to help children determine if their bodies are just right, slow and sluggish, fast and stressed or fast and hyper. This system is carried over on the app as well.
The BrainWorks app was very easy to set up. I did watch the available YouTube videos to get a jump start but if you are comfortable with app usage you may not even need the video. If you are a parent you will benefit from watching the videos since Gwen Wild (the creator of BrainWorks) offers some helpful tips.
Basically, you set up user accounts with appropriate activities on each account. For this example, I set up an account for a "John Doe". I can go into settings and deselect activities so that only the activities that are available for John can be selected. Once that is all set the app is ready to go. You can add other users and customize the activities for that user.
You would give the child the iOS device and he can select himself, "John Doe". Once selected, John can choose to use the timer or not. The next step is to choose your location (picture 1. above). Once the location is selected John can pick how he feels (picture 2. above). Now John can pick activities based on how he is currently feeling (picture 3. above). For this example, the cross crawl activity was picked (picture 4. above). You can see the timer counting down in the cross crawl activity.
I tested this app on the iPhone and the iPad. The images shown above are all from the iPhone. The only difference is on the iPad up to 16 activities can be shown at one time whereas the iPhone shows 4 activities at a time.
All the above features are customizable. You can add your own activities with images from your photo library or take a picture. You can remove any activities that are not suitable for the child on the settings page. Also, to change the settings require a password to prevent children from altering the app once you have set it up.
Here are the pros for the BrainWorks app:
Easy to set up.
Many activities provided with new ones being added.
Images are appropriate for all ages, not just young children.
The ability to have an unlimited number of users is great for occupational therapists, teachers and parents who have more than one child with sensory needs. You could set up different accounts for children in the same classroom. If a sensory break is needed the student could access an iTouch, iPhone or iPad independently and follow their own, personal sensory diet. No printing and cutting out picture cards required.
The step by step choices allow children to be more independent in following a sensory diet.
You can add your own activities - if you have specialized equipment or other simple activities you can simply snap a photo and add it to the sensory diet.
The timer offers nice visual support to indicate how much time is left and to help the child transition following the sensory break.
This would be a great app for older elementary students through adulthood. Once the student was instructed in how to carry out the activities, he/she would be able to carry out the sensory breaks independently.
I had no problems with the app crashing - worked properly every time I tried it.
It provides activities for at home, school, community and desk/table all in one location.
Here are the cons for the BrainWorks app:
Although each activity has a written description in the settings section is does not show up with the picture image. It would be helpful to have an easier way to access the written description especially when teachers or parents are supervising the sensory activities.
This app would require extra instructional time for younger students to be completely independent in carrying out the sensory breaks.
The iPad version shows up to 16 activities at a time which may be too many choices although you can easily decrease the choices in the settings.
I was financially compensated for this post but the opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Overall, I definitely give this app a thumbs up. Personally, I love the features of unlimited users for pediatric therapists to be able to customize an iTouch, iPhone or iPad to share in the classroom or clinic. It offers a wide range of activities to choose from. In addition, the tachometer images are very helpful in reinforcing getting the body into a just right state. It would be an even better app if the written description of the activity could pop up if necessary. One other idea that would be great is if they added a push reminder. Perhaps a sensory break reminder every hour for children to take a sensory break. That would be wonderful during homework time or even for adults who need reminders to step away from their desk top work.
Get more information about the BrainWorks app and purchase it for $11.99.
