Learning apps for autistic kids: how to choose & use them

What are learning apps for autistic children and teenagers?

There are many learning apps for autistic children and teenagers. Most are designed to help children learn new skills, especially in areas like:

physical development
communication and language
emotional development and regulation
thinking and learning
play and daily living.

Benefits and limitations of learning apps for autistic kids and teens

Benefits of apps

Apps can help your child learn by:

getting their attention – this can make it easier to teach new skills
letting them explore ideas, create things, complete tasks and learn through trial and error
letting them practise new skills in very consistent ways, both at home and at school
helping them focus on and practise a new skill without being distracted by other children in a classroom or therapy group.

Limitations of apps

Apps might be able to help your child learn skills, but they might not always be good at helping your child apply these skills to everyday life.

Your child might need other types of support for this part of their learning – for example, video modelling or visual supports.

Also, apps that help one child won’t necessarily help all children.

What to look for in learning apps for your autistic child

Good apps for autistic kids:

have been scientifically tested
are accessible and safe
can be customised to suit your child’s learning strengths and interests
engage your child without making them feel they need to ‘watch just one more’ or ‘play just one more’.

You can also ask the professionals who work with your child about the best apps for your child.

Good-quality apps can support your child’s learning. It’s always best to choose video games, online games and apps that are appropriate for your child’s age and stage of development.

How to choose and use learning apps for your autistic child

1. Set a goal

Knowing your child’s learning goals will help you work out what sort of app to look for.

So start by thinking about what your child wants to learn. It’s important for the goal to be realistic and for you to be able to see your child’s progress towards the goal over time.

For example, you and your child might decide that by the end of the school term, they will put on their school uniform without help.

2. Consider how an app will enhance your child’s learning

Once you know what you want your child to learn, think about what you’re already doing or could be doing to help your child learn this skill through play and everyday activities.

Then think about how an app could add to this learning.

For example, you already put your child’s school uniform on the bed each morning to remind your child to get dressed. You could introduce a scheduling app to help your child remember the steps to getting dressed. Or a getting dressed game app could help your child practise the skill in a fun way.

3. Check how the app will work with other therapies and supports

Some apps will work well with what your child’s teacher or therapist is already doing.

But others might work differently from the strategies your child’s professionals are using, which can make it harder for your child to learn. For example, your child might be learning to schedule their morning routine using a ‘first-then’ visual schedule. If you introduce a scheduling app that uses a different approach, your child might get confused or give up.

4. Plan how to use the app

You also need a plan for helping your child use the app. The professionals who work with your child might be able to help you develop a plan.

For example, you might spend the first week showing your child how to use the app as you help them get dressed. Then gradually give your child less support as your child gets used to using the app to get dressed.

5. Check whether the app is helping your child

You or your child’s professionals need to check whether the app is helping your child meet their goal.

For example, if you want your child to be able to get themselves dressed for school by the end of term, you could count the steps to getting dressed. Each day write on the calendar the number of steps your child does independently.

If this approach is working, you might try it for other goals and activities. If the approach isn’t working, talk with your child’s professionals.

How to check the evidence base for apps you’re interested in

Some apps are supported by scientific evidence that shows that they help autistic children and teenagers.

But most apps haven’t been tested, and testing would probably find that many of them don’t really help. This might be because the apps:

are poorly designed or don’t focus on the skills that they’re supposed to support
aren’t designed for teaching new skills and are better for reinforcing skills that children and teenagers are already learning
have been created by people who don’t understand how best to support autistic people’s learning.

You can find out more about the evidence behind an app by visiting the app’s website.

Internet safety precautions can protect your child from harmful content, conduct and contacts while they’re online. Find out more in our articles on online safety for preschoolers, online safety for school-age children, online safety for pre-teens and online safety for teenagers.