#29DaysofAwareness February 26th

For this post in my series of #29DaysofAwareness, I would like to share some apps with all of you that Gelli uses. As she grows up, we will add more apps to this list, but right now, these are her favorites. (and mine)

I try to limit the time Gelli spends on the iPhone and the iPad.

Usually, she plays on my iPhone for a little while before school. She also gets a little time on iPhone after dinner while we are winding down before bath.

I try to limit her time on these electronics to 1-2 hours a day. I did not let her on these devices until she was 2 years old, and much as I try to keep her off them, some days she might spend a little more time than I would really like playing with technology.

Recently, I find myself looking for apps to help with some of the goals we have for her. 

We are still working on potty training. She hasn’t shown much interest in using the toilet despite all of my begging and pleading, and bribing.

I know that using social stories for the kids with special needs is a great way to prepare them for skills they need to master.

Social stories outline the desired behavior we want to see from Gelli.

This way she can play out what needs to happen in her head so that she can learn to use the toilet. I can model the behavior I want her to see, but it’s also important for her to process how to use the toilet and why she needs to use the toilet for herself.

Social Story apps are great because Gelli can read along, and listen, and watch the behavior through the story being told on the iPhone.

This one is our current favorite. It lets Gelli follow along by going thru step by step for using the toilet, washing her hands, and then even going back to play. There is an explanation for everything.

Gelli is also pretty adept at using the iPhone and calling (or Face Timing) people she loves. She’s very clear when she wants to call her Ninang, and even clearer when she wants to speak to her Mama and her Papa. 

This app is fun way for her to interact with Elmo on the screen and I love the belly laughs I hear when she is playing peek a boo with him.

Truth be told, Gelli still can’t recognize all of her letters. We have this great app that I bought the whole package for when I got my first UNIONBANK credit card here in the Philippines. (That was only a short while ago.) Prior to my new credit card, I would only allow the kids to download FREE apps. 

This was my first purchase from the APP store because it was a great way for Gelli to work on her hand eye coordination, letter and shape recognition, and her fine motor skills.

Plus, it has a cute OWL.

This last app, I just downloaded the other day. Even though she can’t fully recognize her letters, it’s never too early to start her working on sight words. This app was quite expensive when you compare it to the others, but there are varying levels of learning that can take place. 

This app starts with matching the photo to the other photo while it says the word aloud. I find that Gelli repeats the word as well. This is good. Then when the match is made, the virtual cards turn over to reveal the word written out in capital letters. This way, Gelli can make the connection between the word and the picture eventually.

As she masters each level of difficulty, she can match the picture to word, the word to a picture, and then the word to the word all by herself. This process might take a little longer….

I supplement this sight word app with homemade sight word flash cards. I simply found the Dolch Sight Word List online, formatted the paper to 4X6 index card for the printer and printed them out on index cards I bought in National.

What apps do you use with your child?