Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 36 years experience in AAC. OMazing Kids AAC and app consulting. Creator of several AAC Feature Matching resources (https://omazingkidsllc.com/omazing-kids-aac-resource-links/). Includes info about unique features to support Gestalt Language Processors
Personal Professional Facebook Page (linked to OMazing Kids): https://www.facebook.com/angela.moorad (adding“friends” who have a direct role in AAC or Assistive Technology – AAC / AT app or product developers, AAC / AT consultants, SLPs who specialize in AAC, other professionals who specialize in AAC or AT, etc.)
Here is a list of 170 iOS apps that are currently FREE that pediatric Occupational Therapists may find helpful to use in therapy or as carryover activities to share with families. Some of the apps could target multiple goals but I’ve tried to generally organize them in the list. Most of these apps are not just for use by OTs. I used most of these apps but for different therapeutic reasons as a SLP. And many of them can just be used for fun. I downloaded and tried out all apps before adding them to the list. All apps prices and availability were verified in the USA App Store at the time I wrote this post at 6:00pm CST on 5/13/20. You can save the PDF of this post in the iBooks app on your iPad and then tap on each link to go to that app in the App Store (it’s an 8-page PDF). I only have access to the USA App Store so be sure to check prices before downloading in other countries.
Tips:
Many of the apps have IAPs (in-app purchases) to add extra features or have unsecured links so make sure the iPad is in “airplane mode” and toggle off the ability to download IAPs in the Settings area BEFORE opening the app. Even apps with “secured links” could be hacked by some kids so it’s always wise to go ahead do these two things before using apps with kids. I typically avoid apps with ads (some can be blocked via “airplane mode” but others cannot). It’s also wise to use Guided Access to prevent exiting the app you are using.
If you like a “lite” version of an app, it is always a good idea to see if there is a full paid version of the app to purchase vs. using an IAP to upgrade within a free lite app. I’ve had enough problems with IAPs and trying to restore IAPs to avoid them as much as possible. Also most schools & public agencies have purchasing regulations that make it difficult or impossible to purchase items via IAP but can purchase a full paid app. This is the same reason that I typically avoid apps that require a subscription.
If you are looking for Android apps, the quickest way to see if an app has an Android version is to copy the name of an app and then paste into the search area on the Google Play app store or Amazon app store. If the app is available it may not be free on those platforms and/or may contain ads so look closely at each app description. Also look at reviews to see how well apps function since Android versions of apps may not be updated as frequently as iOS apps.
Disclaimers: I’m an SLP not an OT. But I worked with enough fabulous OTs and COTAs over my career and connected virtually with a few others to have a general idea of the types of apps that may be helpful to them. Of course every app that I share will not be a good fit for every child so it’s up to you to determine the ones to use with your particular patients. The purpose of this list is to share free resources but I also want folks to know there are hundreds of fabulous apps that are often very affordably priced or may even be free on a particular day. Please see this blog post and follow OMazing Kids on social media: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/12/31/the-ipad-the-slp-in-2017-app-list-for-slps-sorted-by-goal-area/. I plan on updating that huge post soon.
Veggie Bottoms Kitchen Helper – Timer & Converter by Red Card Studios, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/veggie-bottoms-kitchen-helper-timer-converter/id1120279485 (I liked the content enough to share it but be sure iPad is in “airplane mode” to block ads. Also has links to other apps in App Store so be sure to toggle off ability to purchase apps or IAPs)
(I didn’t find any other free dot-to-dot apps that have enough useable content, are well designed, didn’t have ads and/or are still available in the App store. I’d love to add to this section if anyone knows of any. But there are several good affordably priced dot-to-dot apps in the App Store.)
Drawing & Coloring (may want to consider using a stylus or adapted stylus as the writing tool):
Coloring Games: Painting, Glow by RV AppStudios LLC. Includes fun paint, color fill, drawing, glow pen, number paint & water art (a swipe to uncover watercolor) activities. Completed art is saved to an art gallery within the app. Nice settings options to toggle off background music, select language, choose which activities you want visible as options, toggle off the “show more apps button”, etc. Has links behind parental gate. They have free printable coloring pages on their website, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/coloring-games-painting-glow/id1480696573
Zen Studio meditation for kids by EDOKI ACADEMY, A unique geometric finger painting app designed to help children relax and focus. Calming instrumentals play as you tap or swipe. Nice Parent and Teacher Guide in the app, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zen-studio-meditation-for-kids/id1051358262 (be sure to get the in-app purchase to upgrade to the full app while it is free).
Crayola Color Camera by Crayola, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crayola-color-camera/id1481094201 (turn any picture into a coloring page that can then be saved to the Camera Roll for importing into a coloring app or printed for coloring with real crayons)
DRAWING FOR KIDS Games! Apps 2 by Bini Bambini Academy, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drawing-for-kids-games-apps-2/id908698556 (Love how it guides you through the tracing and then your drawing is animated. Lite app with IAPs for additional content. You’ll have to be very careful to avoid accidentally tapping on the IAPs or subscription. An adult will need to get it to the screen you want and then lock it in via Guided Access. Also be sure to use in “airplane mode and toggle off the ability to purchase apps or IAPs in your iPad settings. The full paid version is only $4.99: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drawing-for-kids-learning-apps/id908695341)
Drawing Educational Kids Games by Bini Bambini Academy, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drawing-educational-kids-games/id1225122654 (Love how it guides you through the tracing and then your drawing is animated and dances. Lite app with IAPs for additional content. You’ll have to be very careful to avoid accidentally tapping on the IAPs. So be sure to use in “airplane mode and toggle off the ability to purchase apps or IAPs in your iPad settings)
A new free cause-effect drawing app that plays classical music as soon as you start drawing and stops as soon as your finger is off the screen. Plain black background & rainbow colored drawing. If you don’t want it to save the drawings to your camera roll be sure to tap “no” when camera permissions pops up (or toggle off saving in the app settings (in iPad Settings area, scroll down to app name). You can also pick a different background color, etc. I played with the app for awhile and did not see any ads. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rainbowy/id1467288651
Monster Coloring Book. Includes “tap to fill” option, stickers, paint with patterns, etc.. There are four options for classical background music and options to adjust the levels of music and sound effects in the settings area. Includes an in app art gallery to edit, save and share the creations. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/monster-coloring-book/id435676573
Hidden Pictures Puzzle Play by Highlights for Children, Inc., https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hidden-pictures-puzzle-play/id1462177299 (Has one free hidden pictures puzzle every day. You’ll have to be very careful to avoid accidentally subscribing. I’d suggest the adult navigate to a free puzzle and then use Guided Access to block exiting that area.)
(I didn’t find any free hidden picture apps that have enough useable content, are appropriate for kids, are well designed, didn’t have ads and/or are still available in the App store. I’d love to add to this section if anyone knows of any.)
Looking for apps to make your own jigsaw puzzles for specific high interest areas? Here are three apps that allow you to import pics to create your own puzzles:
For all of three you’ll need to save pics that you want to use to create puzzles to the Camera Roll on your iPad. The downside of these apps are the ads & IAPs but you can block them by putting the iPad into “airplane mode” after you are done downloading pics & before you open the app. It can be expensive to buy the in-app purchases to remove the ads. You’ll also want to toggle off the ability to purchase IAPs as an extra safeguard in the Settings area on your iPad.
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Want to suggest a free iOS app to be added to this list? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page. I’m pretty picky so they need to be well designed apps and be transparent/honest about any IAPs or subscriptions. Please send the link from the USA App Store so I can download and try it out.
It took me quite a bit of time to compile this list so please “tag” OMazing Kids when sharing it on social media and do not copy/paste it onto other blogs or documents or upload it to servers. I have it available here on my blog and plan on keeping my blog up for the foreseable future.
Thanks,
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC
Mindful Kids: 50 Mindfulness Activities for Kindness, Focus and Calm by Whitney Stewart and Mina Braun
Be still my heart! This is the best new kids mindfulness product that I’ve seen in a long time. The boxed card deck includes 50 creative mindfulness games, visualizations and exercises divided into 5 categories to help children feel grounded, find calm, improve focus, practice loving-kindness and relax. Whimsical full-color illustrations on both sides of the cards break down each practice into easy-to-follow steps. Tips on individual cards plus an 8-page instructional booklet show modifications that make these activities inclusive for children of all abilities.
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What I love about these cards:
* Large 5″ X 7″ sturdy cards with a protective coating. The size will be helpful in groups as well as 1-on-1 sessions and the two sided card format is easy to “grab and go”.
* Whimsical colorful illustrations depicting kids of diverse ethnic backgrounds and abilities participating in the activities. The color and style of illustrations are not childish. This makes this card set useable for a wide range of ages (says “ages 4-104” on the front of the storage box)
* The front of each card has a large illustration, activity category with color coded edge, activity title and brief description.
* The back of each card has illustrated step-by-step simple instructions. I love how simple the wording is. Some cards have additional tips or challenges.
* Many of the cards deal with a wide range of emotions…. this set is a perfect addition to any SEL (social emotional learning) program!
* A few cards address “dealing with change”…. this is often difficult for my patients with Autism, OCD and other special needs so I’m especially excited about these cards.
* There are no religious images, words or symbols. This will make this card set usable in a wide range of environments.
* The instructional booklet has simple kid-friendly explanations about mindfulness and the five categories of activities. Also includes tips for modifying activities.
* The cards come in a sturdy storage box with hinged lid covered in whimsical colorful illustrations.
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List of cards included in each category:
Start Your Day: Stay Grounded. Feel strong, focused and confident as you begin each day.
* Mindful Breaths
* Mindful Mood
* Mountain Rising
* Rooted Like a Tree
* Inhaling the Universe
* Cloud Burst
* Mindful Jungle Movement
* Reflection Pond
* Words to Yourself
* Rings of Light
Find Calm: Ride Your Waves. Learn to handle tricky or challenging emotions.
* Shake the Sillies Out
* Balanced Breathing
* Tummy Ride
* Mind Bubbles
* The Power of Blue
* Joyful Jellyfish
* Happy Hum
* Fist Squeeze
* Finding the Pause
* Peaceful Place
Focus: Strengthen Your Mind. Wake up your brain, build concentration and sharpen your sensory awareness.
* Tap and Wiggle
* Finger Fiddle
* Mind Castle
* Wise Old Owl
* Mental Snapshot
* Mind Magic
* Open Ears
* The Nose Knows
* Sharp Eyes
* Mindful Munch
Open Your Heart: Accept Life with Kindness. Feel a sense of self-acceptance and connection to the world.
* Sharing Friendship
* Everything Changes
* Sitting With It
* Name That Feeling
* Finding Feelings
* The Inner Me
* Cooking Up Connections
* Breath by Breath
* Loving-Kindness
* Heart Garden
Rest & Relax: Unwind Your Tangles. Reflect, relax and ease your busy mind.
* Animal Dance
* Swaying Trees
* Figure Eights
* Rain Shower
* Safekeeping
* Rock, Roll and Rest
* Squeeze and Release
* Floating Smiles
* I Am Thankful
* Folding Flower
I work with Autistic kids who often have great difficulty with self-regulation. This is one of the main things that caused me to be drawn to kids yoga & other relaxation techniques to help them. It was heartbreaking to witness one of my six year old patients have a total meltdown last week. She often has these episodes of total disregulation the day after an evening field trip or event. Like many girls her age she is highly interested in the movie Frozen. So I made the following visual supports to help teach her breathing and relaxation techniques that should help with self-regulation.
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I’m sharing it here as a free printable so others can benefit from it as well. The small blue arrow indicates where to start on each visual.
Have you seen the new line of Ladybug Girl board books? Board books are a great option when doing 1-on-1 activities. The sturdy pages and shortened text lend themselves well to repeated use with kids with special needs. I love this newest book in the Ladybug Girl series! It has a great message of gratitude and is filled with lots of opportunities for kids yoga: ladybug, dog, bumblebee breath, grasshopper (for Grasshopper Girl), crescent moon, standing star, tree, book (easy pose and open/close legs like turning pages in a book, pumpkin (child pose with hands at head for stem), pie making sequence (see details below) & ending with the Gratitude Relaxation guided relaxation and activities from the Yoga 4 Classrooms Activity Card Deck. I also include coloring as part of relaxation.
Get the free printable coloring page that I made for the yoga poses in this book:
roll out the pie dough (lay on belly & kids choose if they want their arms, legs or back rolled out with a pool noodle “rolling pin” or a real rolling pin – be mindful of kid’s sensory needs and always ask their permission before touching. Some kids may prefer to roll out their own arms or legs with the pool noodle)
easy pose legs as bowl, put in pumpkin, eggs, spices, etc., mix (stir the pot & do “washing machine” for mixer)
pie pose (seated angle)
tick-tock-toes timer (point-flex feet while saying “tick tock” as the pie “cooks” on your oven)
smell & “mmm” breath
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Fun idea:
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See this post for more ideas for teaching kids about gratitude and thankfulness. Includes lesson plans for several books, crafts, Gratitude Relaxation card and a music playlist:
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
This lovely new superhero-themed kids yoga & mindfulness iPad app helps children wind down and let go of all the “stuff’ from their day. Activities are short (each less than 10 minutes) so it’s easy to squeeze into a bedtime routine or to use as a calming break during the day and is nice for kids with shorter attention spans.
Features:
– 3 yoga sequences with detailed guidance to help encourage safe alignment
– 5 guided relaxation journeys
– 2 calming breathing techniques
– A Superhero Scoreboard to track minutes and days of practice
– Superpower badges to reward regular practice and inspire discussion around qualities like empathy and resilience, developing emotional literacy
This app is a bargain at $2.99 (current price in the USA App Store, prices may vary in other countries based on the exchange rate).
My only suggestions for a future app update would be to find a way to compress or reduce the app size. It’s currently a large app (1.16 GB). It would also be nice for it to eventually be a universal iOS app so parents could use it on an iPhone as well as an iPad.
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
Review: Imaginations 3 – Guided Meditations and Yoga for Kids
Book Description
The third book in the Imaginations Series, Imaginations 3: Guided Meditations and Yoga for Kids is an essential resource for every parent and teacher who wants to help children learn to calm their bodies and relax their minds.
The benefits of relaxation for kids include:
• Reduced stress
• Better concentration and focus
• Enhanced ability to learn
• Improved behavior and sleep
• Increased self-esteem
Relaxation Story Titles:
Tight and Soft
A Bird’s-Eye View
Fish
On a Farm
Pumpkin
The Apple Tree
Superhero
Bicycle
Mountaintop
Your Island
Riding a Comet
Moonbeam Blanket
Flying Carpet Ride to India
See the Music
Unicorn Friend
Earth Tour
Peaceful Body, Peaceful World
Loving Kindness
. What I LOVE about this book:
Includes 18 relaxation scripts specifically written for kids. The scripts are short and based on kid-friendly themes. Most of these are themes commonly used in kids yoga classes so this book is sure to become a loved & well used resource!
These relaxation scripts will also be helpful in my work as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Many of the kids I see have high levels of anxiety and often have difficulty sleeping. I often incorporate relaxation techniques into my sessions, especially for kids with Autism, Asperger’s, ADHD & Stuttering.
The scripts are free of any wording that have religious connotations which makes them easy to use in any setting.
Each 2-page spread has a script & a full page illustration. The illustrations capture the essence of the script and many have a “retro” feel to them. I love having a picture to show kids before I read a relaxation script. Many of the kids I work with have special needs and relate well to visuals.
Large easy to read text.
Great additional info in the introduction sections. Love the simplified intro written specifically for kids!
Includes pictures & instructions for four yoga poses as prep for relaxation (knee hug, happy baby, legs up & starfish savasana) and five breathing games (Hoberman Sphere, heart breath, yawning breath, humming breath & buzzing bee breath)
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A sneek-peek inside the book. Since there were not any pics on Amazon of any of the actual 2-page spread relaxation stories, I took these pics but masked out most of the text. It will at least give you a “feel” for what the stories are like:
I love fall & pumkins so this relaxation story was definitely a fave 🙂
{New Free Kids Guided Relaxation App} Very well done! Great hand painted illustrations, five short guided relaxations (sleep, focus, feelings, centering & kindness) with pleasant voiceovers & gentle music. No religious messages or undertones. Will definitely be recommending and using this new FREE app at OMazing Kids:
Okay this new app from Wellbeyond is worth it’s weight in gold! I used it today with great success. I am a speech-language pathologist and kids yoga teacher who works with kids with severe disabilities. Many are nonverbal and have limited means of self regulating. One was so upset this morning that she was engaging in self injurious behaviors. I got her into a quiet room, laid her on a bean bag chair and turned on the “sleep” guided relaxation in this app. Within less than a minute she calmed down, quit banging her head and fell asleep. This app has earned a rare permanent spot in the valuable limited memory real estate on my therapy iPad. 🙂
You can use the website on a computer or on an iPad via the Safari browser over WiFi. Wouldn’t it be totally awesome if they developed a stand alone app that did not need a WiFi connection? Would be awesome for self regulation on the go 🙂
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is a tester for educational & therapeutic toys, books, apps & technology and loves sharing info about products to use with kids of all abilities.
I am SUPER excited to have these amazing products to use in OMazing Kids speech-language therapy and kids yoga classes! EQtainment generously sent me the Q Toys Bundle to try out and review. They have been a HUGE hit with my patients. The bundle includes the Q’s Race to the Top Boardgame, Q’s Race on the Go Pack, Q’s Wild Ride Read-Along Storybook & CD, Q’s Coloring & Activity Book, and the Q-Time Buddy weighted plush doll. [price: $59.99 (an $8.00 savings over purchasing all of the items separately): http://shop.eqtainment.com/products/q-toys-bundle].
Here’s what I LOVE about these amazing products:
The Q’s Race to the Top Boardgame has an oversized dice and game pieces (both nice for younger kids or for those with fine motor challenges) and a sturdy colorful game board that is easy to understand and short enough to get to the end within a typical speech-language therapy session.
The cards in the game have a wide degree of difficulty and social skills targeted. The game was designed and tested with kids ages 3-12 years old. Younger kids or those with special needs may need the therapist or parent to preselect cards before the start of the game to best suit their kids needs. The adult could also simplify the wording as they read the cards. The “Do” cards contain a mix of physical actions ranging from simple to pretty challenging. Some also incorporate emotions and facial expressions. Again I would suggest preselecting the ones that will best suit your kids physical abilities and developmental level. The adult may need to simplify these activities or modify them for kids with special needs. For kids that need a visual support to help them understand what the motion would look like, I will incorporate video modeling and pictures. The selfie camera mode on my iPad will also come in handy.
The Q’s Wild Ride book included with the game is fun to read to introduce kids to the loveable yet quirky character Q before playing the game. (Q is “a dusky leaf monkey”…. thanks for including the specifics! The first question my patient with ASD asked was “what kind of monkey is that?”). The Read-Along Storybook & CD is exactly the same story but in a larger book format and includes a CD with two tracks (with and without page turn signals). The narration and sound effects are very well done in the CD and the illustrations in the book depict emotions well through exaggerated facial expressions and body language. I took a couple of pics of interior pages since none seemed to be available online and this will help folks make purchasing decisions.
The Q’s Race to the Top – On the Go Pack are the same cards as contained in the board game but are sized a little smaller and are in a durable metal tin.
The Q-Time Buddy weighted plush doll is super soft, is wearing a cute green hoodie and is the perfect weight and size to be used in belly breathing. I had several patients who immediately relaxed, closed their eyes and began belly breathing when laying on their back with the Q-Time Buddy on their belly. The instructions are printed on the back of the box. My only suggestion for improvement would be to include a separate card with the belly breathing instructions since most folks usually don’t keep the box when they get a stuffed animal. I am including some pics below that I found on the Kohl’s website so I will be able to share the instructions with parents later.
The Q’s Coloring & Activity Book is filled with great tie-ins to the book & game. It also includes several pages that are unique to just the coloring book and also includes fun activity pages (dot-to-dot, finish the picture, maze, find the same, drawing emotions on faces, etc…). I scanned a couple of interior pages since none seemed to be available online and this will help folks make purchasing decisions.
All of the products are very well designed and of high quality materials. Is is very obvious that a lot of thought went into the design of these products. I love that they offer them as individual items so parents and therapists can pick and choose the ones to best fit their needs or get the entire set as bundle.
These are definitely destined to become “faves” in OMazing Kids speech-language therapy and my kids yoga classes!
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See this video for more info about this relaxation technique.
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Interior page samples from the storybook:
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Interior page samples from the coloring book:
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See this video for info about the game:
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Where can I purchase these amazing products? (plus a discount code!)
All of the products are available for purchase on their website at: http://shop.eqtainment.com/& they are offering a 20% off discount for OMazing Kids fans(the discount is only available only when purchasing directly through their website. Enter “QFRIEND20” when you checkout on their website. This discount code is set to expire one month from this post. Please contact the company directly with any questions you may have about the discount code: http://eqtainment.com/contact-us/ or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/eqtainment/)
A few additional purchasing options:
I’m including links from Amazon.com for those who like to take advantage of free shipping through their Amazon Prime membership and for Kohl’s for those who may have some Kohl’s cash they’d like to spend…..
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 