20 Best Apps for Kids with Autism to Boost Communication, Motor, and Social Skills
Technology can be a great tool when it comes to helping children with autism develop their skills. From improving kids’ reading and writing to developing motor skills to learning social skills, there’s pretty much an app for everything these days!
Exposure to the right apps can give children with autism the confidence they need to learn and improve their skills. We’re going to share 20 of the best apps for kids with autism that can help children face the challenges that many on the spectrum deal with daily.
As we look at the 20 best apps for kids with autism, we’re going to break them down into different categories so that you can easily find ones that can best help your child with the areas you’re looking to help them improve.
Apps for Autism to Help with Social Skills & Communication
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Proloquo2Go
Price: $249.99 yearly subscription
Proloquo2Go is considered one of the best apps to help nonverbal children with autism. It is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC) app that can be used to support language skills and development.
As a communication tool, it is symbol-based and completely customizable. This makes it a great asset for children of all ages and at all different levels of development.
Currently, Proloquo2Go is only available in the App Store for Apple products.
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Speech Blubs
Price: Free
If you’re looking for an app to support language therapy, Speech Blurbs aims to help. The app is designed to give children with autism spectrum disorder the support they need to speak more effectively and confidently. The app features children to teach sounds, words, and sentences.
The goal is to get users to copy them. Kids can also take pictures with face filters designed for kids to become the words they practice. Speech Blurbs is geared towards children ages 1 to 6.
You can download Speech Blurbs for free for both Apple and Android devices.
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iCreate… Social Skills Stories
Price: $4.99
Helping autistic children become more comfortable in social situations is the goal of this app. iCreate...Social Skills Stories helps children learn what to expect and how to interact in different social settings.
The app is best suited for children ages 4 and up. It combines visuals, audio, and text to help children to create their own social stories. Everything is personalized to help children connect to the stories better.
iCreate...Social Skills Stories is available to download in the Apple App Store.
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ABA Flash Cards & Games – Emotions
Price: $0.99
ABA Flash Cards is among the great apps for children with autism because it provides them with fun ways to recognize 100 different emotions. Children learn how to understand and respond to these emotions once they identify them.
The app is geared toward kids ages 4 and up, and it also includes flashcards to demonstrate functional skills for kids like going to the store and cooking, among others. The goal is to help them become more confident with their skills.
You can download ABA Flash Cards & Games in the App Store for iPhone or is best for iPad.
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GoTalk NOW LITE
Price: Free
GoTalk NOW LITE is a free app that can help nonverbal children or those who have trouble speaking and are not already using an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device. The app is easy to use and is said to be as effective as an AAC app.
It has customizable navigation as well as recorded and text-to-speech capabilities. It allows users to have three personalized communication pages for more customization.
GoTalk NOW LITE is only available in the App Store for the iPad. It is best suited for children ages 4 and up.
Apps to Help with Daily Skills
6. Avaz
Price: $9.99 monthly subscription or $ 199.99 lifetime subscription options
Avaz is a picture-based learning app for children with autism and those with special needs and disabilities. Avaz is recommended for kids ages 4 and up, with most users being between ages 3-8.
It can not only be used as an educational tool but can also help children communicate what they want to eat at home. Avaz adapts to your child’s progress and creates new milestones as your child makes strides.
Avaz can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the App Store.
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GoNoodle
Price: Free
GoNoodle promotes physical activity, mental well-being, and self-discovery. It provides activities that are focused on dancing, stretching, and other fun things. It is recommended for kids ages 6-8.
There are also routines on the app that are geared towards helping kids with life skills like waking up and bedtime.
GoNoodle is an active way for children to work on their gross motor skills, body awareness, and coordination. GoNoodle is available to download for free in the App Store.
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Pokémon Smile
Price: Free
If you’re looking for an app to help your child with their daily skills, Pokémon Smile is certainly one to try. You can create reminders to let children know when they have to brush their teeth and for how long. Kids like to use it because they get to rescue Pokémon from cavity-causing bacteria while they do it.
Brushing regularly earns fun accomplishment awards. Pokémon Smile is a free app available in the App Store and through Google Play for ages 4 and up.
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Animals Puzzle for Kids
Price: Free
Animals Puzzle for Kids is an app with animated puzzle games for kids designed to them develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination as well as improve cognitive skills. Kids have to identify, match and arrange the different animal puzzles.
Animals Puzzle for Kids can be downloaded on Google Play and is best for kids up to age 6.
Educational Apps for Kids with Autism
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Otsimo - Autism Education
Price: Free
Otsimo is geared toward helping autistic children learn the fundamentals of education. They match objects, identify letters, and learn different shapes. It can also help with speech therapy and mental development.
Otsimo is a free app available on iOS and Android. It is best for kids ages 4 and up.
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Dino Tim Full Version: Basic Math for Kids
Price: $2.99
Help your child with geometric shapes with fun learning games. The Dino Tim app can also help them learn their vowels and consonants. Kids enjoy this app because they solve puzzle games while learning basic math skills. The app can also change languages to help children learn different languages at a young age.
Dino Tim is available in the App Store for iPhone and iPad, and on Google Play for Android devices. Dino Tim Full Version: Basic Math for Kids is geared for kids ages 3-6.
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Reading Eggs
Price: $9.99 monthly subscription
Reading Eggs is a fun education-based app that was designed by teachers. Phonics, spelling, math, and sight words are taught using colorful and interactive games and stories.
Kids ages 2-13 can use this app on Apple and Android devices.
13. Starfall
Price: $35.00 yearly subscription
Starfall can be a good app to use for school readiness. It covers everything from reading to colors and social-emotional development. Kids in preschool through third grade can use the Starfall app.
There are activities, games, songs, and more to guide children along their way. Children at all academic levels can use this app. It’s a free app that teachers often use as well to keep students motivated.
Starfall is available to download for Apple and Google products.
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Bitsboard Flashcards PRO
Price: $42.99
Bitsboard has more than 35 educational activities like flashcards, word builders, sequencing games, and more. It includes a variety of levels and learning speeds, so any child can use it.
There is switch control access as well as a customizable setting so all children can feel comfortable using it. Kids love it because they get to play games while learning. This app is recommended for children ages 4 and up.
You can download Bitsboard Flashcards PRO on the App Store.
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Autism Read & Write Pro
Price: Free
Autism Read & Write Pro is a free app that can help autistic children identify common items at home and school. It not only helps with reading and writing but also speech. It’s best for kids ages 4 and up.
Autism Read & Write Pro is available to download on Android devices.
Games for Kids with Autism
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Aquapark.io
Price: Free
Aquapark.io is a fun game for kids that helps than work on their motor skills. As they try to be the quickest and race to the finish line, they go down high-speed water slides before diving into a pool.
It is recommended for kids ages 12 and up, but the controls are simple and adaptable for kids of different developmental levels.
The app is free on Apple and in the Google Play Store.
17. Dr. Panda Beauty Salon
Price:
Let your child show off their creativity and fashion sense with this fun app. It allows them to do basic salon services like give a manicure or pedicure and personalize accessories. It’s not only entertaining but can help your child learn how to adapt to different environments. Available in the Google Play Store and App Store for a fee, this app is recommended for kids ages 4 and up.
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MouseTrial
Price: Free
This app provides a fun and exciting learning environment for kids to identify animals, food, letters, numbers, colors, and more. It can help ASD children improve their concentration and receptive language.
MouseTrial is available in the Google Play Store for ages 5 and up.
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Magic Fluids Free
Price: $3.99
Magic Fluids Free is an app that creates an interactive dynamic live wallpaper. It lets kids touch the screen and enjoy the motions of colorful water.
The relaxing stimulation can help kids calm down while they watch the colors flow. Kids ages 4 and up can get this app on Apple and Android devices for a small fee.
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Aiko & Egor Animation 4 Autism
Price: Free
Aiko & Egor Animation 4 Autism shows simplified animations and interactive characters that kids will enjoy playing with while learning about underwater characters. It is recommended that parents watch and play with this app with their kids to learn together. This app is best for kids ages 4 and up.
This family-sharing app available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
The Bottom Line on Apps for Kids with Autism
When it comes to the best autism apps for kids, you may have to try a few different ones before you find ones that work and that your child likes to use. If you are using an app, it’s a good idea to let any teachers, speech therapists, and other professionals who are working with your child know.
Many times, these apps can supplement the skill development your child is already receiving. Talk with those who are helping your child so that you can work together to provide the best pool of resources to help them socially, emotionally, and when it comes to their education.
When everyone works together, your child will reap the rewards.
