Best Video Games For Preschoolers Download For Personal
Best Video Games For Preschoolers Free And Acts

Toca Hair Salon features six different characters with lifelike hair that kids can cut, color, comb and style.

Mobile devices like the iPad, enable children with developmental delays and other special needs to acquire life skills, engage in self-directed play, and perhaps most importantly facilitate communication with their caregivers.

The ultimate equalizer in all this, however, is the almighty app.

Theres been a democratization of communication and learning software, says Howard Shane, PhD, except now we just call them apps.

Im extraordinarily excited about whats going on with this technology and how its changing the very nature of the kind of work that we do, says Dr.

Shane, Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement in the department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement at Bostons Childrens Hospital.

The rapid-fire speed in which apps are being developed has made it difficult to distinguish the good from the bad, he says.

Google special needs apps and the sheer volume of search results might leave you reeling.

Special needs experts including Dr.

Shane recommend that parents identify the childs needs and capabilities first and then try to match them with an app.

We really have no Consumer Reports strategy where theres an evaluation that comes up with some systematic way of telling whether an app is useful, he says.

Theres just no decent reasonable filtering system, which is an issue that at some point needs to be addressed.

With thousands of apps and no recognized industry paradigm to evaluate them, how does a parent know which ones to choose Enter the Apps Consideration Checklist that can aid parents and caregivers in this very process.

This list is featured in a new book, Apps for All Students: A Teachers Desktop Guide.

Best Video Games For Preschoolers Download For Personal

Dr. Shane and his Boston Childrens Hospital colleagues have created something similar called Feature Matching that you can download for personal use.

Best Video Games For Preschoolers Free And Acts

Free vs. Fee Many apps offer a lite version, which is free and acts as a teaser to the fee-based one.

This (marketing) technique usually works if the fundamental app is solid but the options in the robust feature-rich paid version are exponentially better.

Theres much more depth to the paid versions, says Dr.

Bausch, associate professor in special education at the University of Kentucky, adding, You usually get what you pay for.

Fee-based versions allow customization as well as more options in terms of colors and font, and number of games and exercises.

For children with disabilities, youre going to want to individualize an app for their particular need, adds Dr.

Ault, assistant professor in special education at the University of Kentucky.

All the experts interviewed for this article were hesitant to recommend specific apps because of their shared belief that each child needs to be assessed on an individual basis although Dr.

Shane did cite some of his favorite free apps: Singing Fingers, Puppet Pals, Fireworks Arcade, and Virtuoso.

Care.com asked Shannon Des Roches Rosa, mom to a son with autism and an expert app reviewer in the special needs community at large, to suggest some of the better apps.

For additional apps, check out her sought-after spreadsheet of reviews and recommendations.

Helps foster a childs independence while also promoting positive behavior and emotional regulation.

Helps children with developmental delays anticipate and better prepare for transitions.

Specifically helps teach problem solving and friendshiplife skills, critical thinking, emotions, and consequences.

Milo is an animated mouse that performs over 100 actions such as bounce, count, and play.

Great for infants, toddlers and children with language delays.

Originally designed for and tested by children with autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome as well as general preschool aged kids.

Best Mac Video Games For Preschoolers