Here is a list of apps that help target skills addressed through occupational therapy (self-regulation, handwriting, executive functioning, visual perception, visual motor, fine motor, gross motor, and self-help skills). Kids are spending more time than ever before on screens. Help make your child’s screen time a little more productive and get in some extra OT practice with these fun and engaging apps for all ages.
Visual timer:
- Visual Timer Countdown (free with in app purchases; iPhone and iPad)
Self-regulation
- Breathe Think Do by Sesame Street (free)
- Great for kids that need help learning how to calm down when upset; help the monster calm down when he’s upset: push on his belly to take deep breaths, pop the bubbles to think of a solution, then choose 1 of 3 solutions for the monster to do
- Daniel Tiger for Parents (free)
- Includes songs and videos to learn social emotional skills
- Go Noodle (free)
- Includes videos for dancing, exercising, how-tos, yoga, stretching, deep breathing, and mindfulness
- PBS Kids (free)
Handwriting
- Letter School (free demo version; full alphabet $6.99)
- Engaging way to learn correct formation of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, shapes, and words first by showing correct formation, then tracing, then complete on your own
- Handwriting Heroes (free; iPad only)
- Engaging app to target correct letter formation; breaks down letters into categories
- 123s ABCs Preschool Learn HWOTP Kids Handwriting (free)
- Practice tracing letters on 3-lined “paper” using Handwriting Without Tears technique; includes uppercase, lowercase, numbers 0-9, and shapes
- Trace Letters & Sight Words (free)
- Trace letters and sight words with colored chalk
- Squigglish (free)
- Great for drawing prewriting strokes
- ABC Alphabet Phonics (free)
- Great for letter identification
- IWriteWords Lite (free)
- Tracing words
- Wet Dry Try (free demo version, $5.99 full version; iPad only)
Executive Functioning
- Inspiration Maps (free demo version; full version $9.99)
- Great for graphic organizers for middle school through college
- Kidspiration Maps (free demo version, full version $9.99; iPad only)
- Great for graphic organizers for elementary school
- com (free)
Visual Perception/Visual Motor
- Tap-N-See Now (free; full version $2.99)
- Great for low vision kids and younger kids; works on visual tracking
- Educational Learning Mazes (free)
- 30 levels of free mazes with different themes
- Animal Maze (free; iPad only)
- 20 free mazes
- Heyduda! Dot to dot (free set includes 6 pictures; each additional set is $0.99)
- Simple connect the dots
- Dot to dot- Ocean (free demo; full version $2.99)
- Connect the dots to create ocean animals
- Sorting Puzzles for Kids (free demo; full version $4.99)
- Targets sorting colors, shapes, seasons, and animals
- Match it- Find the matching (free)
- Similar to Spot It game; find the matching object on 2 or 3 sets of cards
Fine motor and sensory
- Fireworks Arcade (free)
- Tap and create colorful fireworks
- Popping Bubbles for Kids and Babies (free)
- Enjoy popping bubbles to save the animals inside
- Baby Bubbles Babble (free)
- Fun app for toddlers to work on finger isolation by popping bubbles
- Baby Drums Kit (free)
- Play drums to sing-along nursery rhymes
- Peek a Boo Barn (free demo; full version $2.99)
- Play peek a boo with farm animals
- Sensoy Just Touch (free)
- Visually stimulating app with colors
- Sensory Magma (free)
- Calming and relaxing visual app
Gross motor
- Go Noodle (free)
- Includes videos for dancing, exercising, how-tos, yoga, stretching, deep breathing, and mindfulness
- Super Stretch (free; iPad only)
- Engaging yoga poses using storytelling, animation, and video examples
ADLs
- Brush Up (free demo; $0.99 for monthly subscription)
- Real time video of your child brushing their teeth along with Budd, the Toothbrush Tutor; great for kids that do not enjoy brushing teeth
- Peter Pig’s Money Counter (free)
- Targets sorting coins, adding coins, and adding 2 sets of values to determine which is the most; earn “money” to dress up Peter the Pig at the end!
- Money—(free)
- Targets adding dollars and coins