Fun Apps

There are MANY speech and language apps available. Unfortunately, they can also be quite expensive. Some apps have a "lite" version for free that allows you to "try before you buy." FREE apps are best whenever possible! I am recommending apps that I have actually used. Check back here frequently, as I will add more to the list as I discover new, great apps!

Sago Mini apps (iPhone, iPad, Android)--These are not specific for speech and language, but are wonderful just the same. They are great for encouraging your younger child to tell stories, learning cause and effect, practicing basic concepts, and many other great early-learning skills. Most are $3.99 each, but you can purchase bundles and save a little. My favorites are Sago Mini Ocean Swimmer, Dress Up and Road Trip. Sometimes they feature an app for free for a limited time.

Toca Kitchen Monsters (iPhone or iPad only)--This is a FREE app and is so much fun, especially for preschool or kindergarten students. Your child can choose from 8 different foods and prepare the food by slicing, microwaving, boiling, frying, mixing, or a combination of methods, and then feed the monsters! It's great for learning cause and effect, sequencing, inferencing, or basic concepts.

Epic! (iPhone, iPad, Android)--This is a reading app that we use in speech class very often. Books are available for virtually any subject and all reading levels. You can find stories for your child to read aloud to practice speech sounds. You can also use the stories for improving language skills by having your child make inferences (what do you think will happen next?), answer who, what, why, when, where, or how questions about the text, sequence the story parts after reading, etc. This is a free app.

Word Vault Essential (iPhone, iPad only)--This is a free app that has word lists for most speech sounds in all positions of words. There are also activities to target MANY language skills and social skills. This app is useful for all ages. The PRO version has more features but is very expensive. I recommend sticking with the free version.

Blue Whale Apps Inc. Speech Therapy for Apraxia (iPad or Android)--This is my FAVORITE app for children whose speech is hard to understand or who are just beginning to work on their speech sounds. It is a suite of 4 apps, from beginning to advanced, and works by repetition of syllables of increasing complexity. Each app is $4.99, or you can purchase apps 1 and 2 for $7.99, or all 4 for $16.99.

Autism iHelp apps (iPhone, iPad, or Android)--These apps are NOT only for children with autism, but are great for any child who is learning early language skills. Apps are available for Wh- questions, colors, shapes, same/different, opposites, language concepts, rhyming, and a host of other skills. Free versions are available for most of the apps, and the full app for each skill is $2.99 or $3.99. Some bundles are available, as well, with 5 apps for $9.99.

10 Ways (iPad ONLY)--This is a free app geared for social skills, but is good for practicing general speech and language skills, too. It's a "Jeopardy" style game that can be played with one or more players.

Mobile Education Store apps (iPad ONLY)--These apps are designed for language skills. These are very good apps, but they are somewhat expensive ($5.99-$7.99 each). Question Builder, Story Builder, and Rainbow Sentences are especially good.

Apps developed by Erik X. Raj (iPhone or iPad only)--Mr. Raj has many apps specifically designed for speech and language skills. They are $4.99 each. Multiple Choice Articulation and Silly Sentence Articulation are good for practicing carryover of correct sounds. Open-Ended Articulation is also good for practicing language skills as well as articulation.

Fisher Price Laugh and Learn apps (iPhone, iPad, or Android)--These free apps are wonderful for early language learning.

AbiTalk Sentence Builder (iPad only)--This is a free app with a full version available for purchase for $5.99. It helps with learning the rules of syntax (ordering words correctly to form sentences) and also improves comprehension. The free app has 2 levels.

Brainy Skills (iPhone or iPad only)--These apps are very inexpensive and target a number of language skills, including wh- questions, inferencing, understanding idioms, multiple meanings, and several others. The apps are $0.99 or $1.99 each, or you can purchase a bundle of 9 apps for $7.99.