Free Handwriting and Yoga Story App

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.

The post Free Handwriting and Yoga Story App appeared first on Your Therapy Source.

Free App Friday - Fingerfun and Toca Hair Salon Me

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

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FREE Interactive Alphabet App

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.

In my opinion, this is a must add for a pediatric occupational therapist and it is FREE for now.  Check it out at Interactive Alphabet - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/interactive-alphabet/id383967580?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

One more thing - works on iPhone and iPad.

 

 

 

 

Your Opinions on the Effects of Tablet Use on the Overall Development of Young Children

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.

To view the complete results visit http://www.yourtherapysource.com/surveytableteffects.html

Please respond to the current survey on using social media for professional reasons.

Would love to hear your thoughts about these results...

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Drawnimal App - Combines "Real" Drawing with Animation

I love when an app comes along that is different than every other app.  Drawnimal is a new type of app although simple.  It is currently free today (3/28/14).  Basically, you put paper down underneath your iPad, draw the simple images it shows you on real paper (see picture above tail and mouse ears).  Then tap the iPad and an animated surprise occurs for each letter animal.  

The drawings are mostly pretty simple so this may be a good fit for some basic visual motor skills.  The novelty factor is a big hit.  The big bonus is alphabet review while you are drawing.  Maybe add in some movement, and have the child move like each animal after each one is drawn.  Throw in handwriting practice and the child can write the name of the animal on the paper.

I give this app a big thumbs up.  I love any apps that combine "real" life skills with the iPad.  

Get more information about Drawnimals at  http://www.yatatoy.com/#/drawnimal

 

Free App Friday - Some Fun Apps

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.



 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Free Friday Apps!!!!!

Free Music and Picture Schedule App

Here is an interesting, unique app to be used as a schedule throughout your child's day. It is Everyday Grooves and is currently free. 

Basically, it is a set of songs that can used to help children go through the daily routine. There are songs to wake up, brush teeth, get dressed, take a bath, read a book, go to bed and more. You can set an alarm for each song to start playing at a certain time of day. 

This would be a fun app for those kids who love music or to song to help then stick to the daily routine. 

Free Music and Picture Schedule App

Here is an interesting, unique app to be used as a schedule throughout your child's day. It is Everyday Grooves and is currently free. 

Basically, it is a set of songs that can used to help children go through the daily routine. There are songs to wake up, brush teeth, get dressed, take a bath, read a book, go to bed and more. You can set an alarm for each song to start playing at a certain time of day. 

This would be a fun app for those kids who love music or to song to help then stick to the daily routine. 

Free App to Help with Self Regulation, Deep Breathing and Motor Planning

Here is a nice FREE app for little ones who needs some guidance with self regulation and motor planning.  It is called Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street.   

There are 5 different scenarios that include showing a monster getting frustrated with completing a skill.  The child has to tap, pop bubbles and more to help the monster calm down and think of a plan.  

The best way to check out this app is to download it and explore.  It has some great tips on teaching a child to deep breathe to calm down, to stop and think of a plan and then to act on that plan.  To me, it is like an interactive social story. 

You can get more information here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breathe-think-do-with-sesame/id721853597?mt=8

Self Calming Strategies

Self Calming Strategies provides 16 helpful strategies to encourage self calming skills in children.  There are a variety of strategies offered including sensory, visual
imagery and more.   

Find out more.

Free App Suggestions for OT and PT

Here are three free apps today, mostly for the OT crew, until 10 pm at least if interested:

Gappy's Mystery Letters https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gappys-mystery-letters/id691260469?mt=8
You can practice letter formation following the dots, match up mystery letters and draw.








Counting Dots https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/counting-dots-preschool-toddler/id484775327?mt=8
Excellent basic practice for counting, visual tracking, visual motor and finger isolation skills.





Buzzle - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/buzzle-kids-free-educational/id452974777?mt=8
Cute app combining visual perceptual puzzles with sound

Free App Today Alphabetical Order

This Alphabetical Order app is free today from ABCya.  You can find out more information here https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alphabetical-order/id548411302.  It is only available on the iPad.  

This app packs a lot of punch from an OT perspective.  It encourages visual motor skills, letter identification and cause and effect.  The app provides visual cues as well as auditory cues to match up letters or letter sounds.

You can play with the app several different ways.  You can put the letters in ABC order, you can draw a line matching the letter case, the letter sound or the letter name.  After you draw the line you touch the scissor to cut the chain and the letter slides down.  It takes a few tries to get the hang of where to draw the line.  It needs to be under the hanging letter so it will drop and slide to the correct answer.

You can also just play with the blocks stacking them in different ways.  Draw lines and put the letters on the lines.  There are many other open ended ways you can play with the letter blocks on the screen.
  

Jump Jump Froggy App for iPhone and iPad

Here is a fun FREE app called Jump Jump Froggy.  Download the app and open it up.

There are 4 ways to play -

Graph Hopper: Jump in place and it raises the graph.  Great activity to combine math (graphing) with movement!  Also, nice visual to show children progress over time with jumping skills.

Jump Jump Froggy: Jump up and down with the iPad to catch flies. Difficult to use.

 Pushing Ants: Do push ups over the iPad and it counts the push ups adding up ants.  Fun game to add some motivation to doing push ups. 

 Sit Up Snake: Do sit ups holding the iPad and the snake moves along the bottom.  Another fun visual to increase motivation to complete sit ups.

This app adds some novelty to the regular old exercise routine for kids.  The only complaint is the catching flies game - very hard to do so kids may get frustrated.  All the others are quite simple and work well.  The push up counter is really fun but just make sure the kids don't cheat on the push up form.  The sit up counter works well but many kids who receive pediatric therapy services can not do a full sit up holding an object so it will be tough. Forgot to mention the music is really peppy and fun.

If you want to race against another person there is a paid version and the other person has to have their own device.  I did not try this out.

You can watch this YouTube video to get a better idea of how the app works: