Early Childhood
AT Support for Early Childhood
A key to successful child achievement is active participation. In the highly formative years of early childhood, children participate in developmental learning activities primarily through play.
Most children can access the world of play because toys are often designed to be multi-sensory and accessible. For children with disabilities, though, play may be limited. Assistive technology (AT) can provide these children with opportunities to learn and interact with their environments in ways they might not otherwise be able to do. Using AT, children with disabilities can often learn the same things their nondisabled peers learn, but in a different way.
AT can be used to assist preschoolers in:
Engaging in play, literacy, and art activities;
Moving independently about their environments;
Communicating wants and needs;
Socially interacting with others, sharing and turn taking;
Improving attention span and self-confidence;
Participating in family, school, and community routines; and
Using classroom tools/materials.
A common use of assistive technology with young children is the adaptation of toys. Battery-operated toys can be adapted with switches that limit the amount of physical movement required for operation. Switches can be used to turn toys off/on, move riding toys and access computers/tablets.
AT & Motor Skills
Young children who have difficulty with large and fine motor skills can engage in play with adaptive equipment. A typical scooter used as an assistive support can allow a student with limited mobility to explore the environment. A child who cannot sit independently can be placed in the center of a social group with adapted seating. Large, triable or finger crayons that are easy to grasp can make coloring fun for children who struggle to hold traditional crayons. Frustration with building trains or towers can be reduced with magnetic blocks!
AT & Communication Skills
AT for communication skills is particularly important for young children since much of what they learn is through interacting with others. Emerging communicators can point to photos on a picture board to make choices, press a button on a voice output device to give a pre-recorded message, and follow visual schedules. Communication applications on devices or iPads can teach language structure and give nonverbal children active voices.
AT & Literacy
Interaction with books is critical for children, and not just for language development! Studies have shown that children, who are exposed to books at an early age, learn better in school. They learn by handling books, looking at the pictures and turning pages. For children who can’t turn pages on their own, page fluffers (separators), book holders, and digital books are available.
All children deserve the chance to play, have fun and learn. AT can help!
Resources
Tots’nTech http://tnt.asu.edu
Tots’n’Tech Newsletters http://tnt.asu.edu/home/news
A Positive Behavioral Development Strategy for Students with Autism or Behavioral Predispositions (Green Irene) http://www.redandgreenchoices.com/
Zones of Regulation (Leah Kuypers) http://www.zonesofregulation.com
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Connecting Young Kids (YAACK) http://aac.unl.edu/yaack/
Alliance for Technology Access http://www.ataccess.org/resources/wcp/endefault.html
Effective Practices in Early Intervention- Center for Parent Information and Resources: AT for Little Ones http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/effectivepractices-ei/#AT
Early Childhood and Assistive Technology on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/bgilormini/early-childhood-assistive-technology/
Apps for Young Children
Learning Games/Activities:
Tiny Taps (Tiny Tap, Ltd.)
Injini Child Development Game Suite (NCSOFT) [iOS]
Nighty Night! HD (Fox and Sheep, Gmbh)
Peg & Cat Big Gig (PBS Kids)
Preschool Learning Games Kids (CFC, sro) [Android]
Language and Literacy:
Puppet Pals (Polished Play, LLC)
ABC Videos by StoryBots (JibJab Media, Inc.) [iOS]
AlphaTots Alphabet (Spinlight Studio)
I Hear Ewe (Claireware Software)[iOS]
Signed Stories (ITV Broadcasting Limited) [iOS]
Communication:
GoTalk Now (Attainment Co.) [iOS]
SoundingBoard (AbleNet) [iOS]
Verbal Me (fishdog.net) [iOS]
JabTalk (JabStone, LLC) Android
BitsBoard (Innovative Investments Limited)
Switch Activities:
ChooseIt! Maker 3 (Inclusive Tech)
Switch Trainer (LIFEtool Solutions)