Posts Tagged ‘sensory ipad apps’
Suggested Apps from Dravet Families – Part One
May 17, 2013 | 
Author Apps suggested by Dravet Families
Thanks to modern technology, devices such as iPad tablet computers have revolutionised the way we can play with and educate our children. Moreover, touch-screen devices are especially useful for children with additional learning needs, such as those with Dravet Syndrome and autism.
There are so many apps around, and lists of apps(!), it was great to receive this list that was suggested by parents of Dravet children on facebook.
This list from Dravet Syndrome UK which covers some of the best iPad apps available for kids and young adults with Dravet Syndrome. Whether you are looking to strengthen their vocabulary understanding or just let their creative side loose, there’s an app to keep your child entertained and stimulated.
These apps may of course be useful for other children with learning disabilities and autism.
Pre-School Classroom Range
The Pre-School Classroom range of software offer a number of educational titles that cover basic subjects such as maths and English. Each app is created with simplicity in mind, and an added bonus is that none of the apps include any “in-app” purchases – which can become annoying and confusing for little ones using apps.
Pre-School Classroom – The Pre School Apps Academy
Pre-School Phonic Crosswords – The Pre School Apps Academy
Fun Sums HD – The Pre School Apps Academy
Pre-School Maze – The Pre School Apps Academy
Pre-School Maths Class – The Pre School Apps Academy
Mr and Mrs Potato Head
These Mr and Mrs Potato Head apps are based on the classic children’s toy we all knew and loved as children ourselves. The app is simple yet fun, allowing your child to decorate and dress Mr or Mrs Potato Head with only the touch of the screen. The ability to change the facial expressions and outfits will hopefully allow your child to learn more about emotional differences and help them to express their own feelings through the app.
Mr. Potato Head Create & Play – Callaway Digital Arts Inc.
Mrs. Potato Head Create & Play – Callaway Digital Arts Inc.
Splat the Clowns
Splat the Clown is a simple and amusing target game, involving clowns and… custard pies! The game features a number of settings to change the difficulty and speed of the target, and will help your child develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination whilst having lots of fun. Splat the Clown is switch compatible.
Splat The Clowns – Inclusive Technology Ltd
Peeping Musicians
Peeping Musicians is another targeting app that helps children to develop their looking and observation skills. A number of bright and furry characters will hide from the user, and when they “peep” out the child must simply touch them on the screen and they will be rewarded with a centre-stage musical number from the character. This app includes 20 different characters and instruments to find.
Peeping Musicians – Inclusive Technology Ltd
Crazy Cats Inc Range of Fun Food Apps
The team at Crazy Cats Inc have created a number of apps which are all based on the same idea, yet each with a different theme. Each app allows children to concoct their own culinary creation – including doughnuts, cookies, pizza, cupcakes and more!
In each app your child can choose from a number of ingredients and colourful (and tasty-looking!) toppings to produce their own dream dish. The basic apps are free, and will involve in-app purchases to provide further toppings and options.
Donut Maker! – Crazy Cats Inc.
Cookie Maker! – Crazy Cats Inc.
Cupcake Maker! – Crazy Cats Inc.
Pizza Maker+ – Crazy Cats Inc.
My First App Range
The My First App range of games are simple and colourful apps that cover all subjects from matching, building, sorting, music and more.
Each app is super-colourful and easy to use, yet still providing your child with hours of fun and entertainment. The simple touch screen usability and eye-catching animations will capture your child’s imagination whilst teaching them some of the most fundamental learning skills needed for building language and numeracy.
Match it up 3 – MyFirstApp.com
Sort It Out 1 – MyFirstApp.com
MatrixMatch 1 – MyFirstApp.com
Part 2 of our apps suggested by Dravet families can be found on the next post.
We have many more apps aimed at children with special education needs on this blog. There is a click here for a series suggested by Ian Bean an education and technology specialist.
Posted in useful apps | 
Tags: apps for sen, dravet syndrome, sensory apps, sensory ipad apps, special educational apps, touch apps | 
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Making Music iPad Apps
Creativity Comes Forth with Musical Sensory iPad Apps
After your child has explored the apps that encourage touch skills, musical ipad apps are a smooth progression. Little ones love to make music; whether it’s a keyboard concerto or simply a percussive performance using your pots and pans, these fantastic iPad apps provide the perfect sensory stimuli whilst allowing your child to sharpen their skills as a mini maestro!
GlowTunes This unique app combines art and music, by allowing your child to draw a picture using brightly coloured pixels, which is then transformed into an extraordinary tune, using 1 of the 12 high quality instruments on offer. The compositions can then be save and shared amongst friends and family to enjoy.
Virtuoso Piano Pro Classic This musical app is modern take on the traditional piano, offering 7 octaves of sampled concert piano and a choice of effects, offering a truly authentic piano sound. The Virtuoso also features an adjustable keyboard size, perfect for little or large fingers alike.
Songify Songify is a rather novel yet endlessly entertaining way of producing unique musical tracks; this iPod app records sections of speech and via autotune, and then transforms the recorded words into a bespoke song. There’s many different styles of song included with the basic Songify app, with plenty of others available at an extra cost, so no matter what sort of rhythm rocks the boat of your child, there’s a song style to suit.
GarageBand – Apple If your child is looking to create a full-on and layered musical masterpiece, then Garage Band is the perfect iPad app. The simplicity of on-screen gestures can be used to create magnificent instrumental audio that might be difficult via an ordinary instrument, and the multi-touch keyboard makes tapping out drum beats or melodies as easy as can be. This app can also be used via WiFi or Bluetooth with up to 3 other mobile devices (such as iPad, iPod or iPhone) which is perfect for group musical sessions.
iPads are a fantastic way for providing your child with a creative outlet, and the Trabasack range of sensory iPad tray bags are the perfect addition to your child’s playtime – each iPad bag features a built-in lap tray with ‘connect’ surface, which allows you to attach electronic devices such as iPads with ease – offering safety and security whilst in use. The Trabasack iPad lap tray bags also fit comfortably on wheelchairs and buggies, providing the ultimate practical play-space on the go.
This creative collection of iPad apps were showcased at the TES Resources show in Manchester by Ian Bean, former teacher and ICT coordinator at Priory Woods School, Inclusive Technology’s Consultancy and Training Manager now Independent Special Needs ICT consultant and trainer specialising in the use of ICT and assistive technology to support learners of all ages with severe and complex additional needs.