Going Shopping Social Story App Review
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App Overview
If you are a parent than you have probably experienced the struggles of taking a child to the grocery store. At times, I have avoided going to the store even if we are completely out of food. I have opted to shop at midnight while my husband could be home just to avoid taking the kids. Strolling through the overcrowded aisles, waiting in the long lines, and dealing with the tantrums when I say “no” to something my child wants can definitely take a toll. The Going Shopping Social Story app is a fantastic visual tool to help the child understand what is expected of them at the store. Now, just this last week I went to the store with my 5 year old son and he had a very hard time. We ended up leaving the store without purchasing anything. The next day, I showed him this app, we discussed it, and read the social story together. I made sure we read it a few times before returning to the store. When we went back, I brought the iPad with the app. I opened it up while we were in the store and showed him the social story one more time. He did so much better! He enjoyed looking at the pictures and helped me find the items on my list. He wasn’t perfect but we followed through and made it through the store with all of the items on our list. I was grateful for the Going Shopping Social Story app. This app was created right here at Touch Autism. I am lucky enough to be a small part of the Touch Autism team. They are dedicated to making the best apps for kids with Autism.
App Features
When you open to main menu, you can read the social story, study the instructions for use, and show the child whether they can pick something out or not pick something out at the store. One thing that I love about all of the Touch Autism apps is their simple and very visual interface. Navigating this app is easy. Understanding it’s purpose is simple. The bright colors and fun illustrations are engaging. There are few, if any, distractions within the app. You will find no in-app advertisements or in-app purchases.
You may be wondering, what is a social story? That’s a great question. Social stories break down tasks into small and simple steps. They are almost always accompanied with pictures or some sort of visual support. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders or Downs Syndrome respond really well to social stories. I also have found them to be very helpful for typical children as well, especially toddlers and preschoolers. This social story which goes over grocery shopping is very positive, and is easy to understand. Once you choose to start the social story, you do have the option to have the child read the story themselves or have it read to them. I tend to read the social story with my kids multiple times before expecting them to understand or implement it. The story is 9 pages long. It doesn’t take more than 10 minutes to read so you could prepare the day before a shopping trip and have them read it a few times.
In this app, you will also find some great advice on how to use the app and get through the store successfully with kids. You will find the “Instructions For Use” button on the main menu. When you click it, you will see a simple list of ideas and steps to help the parent follow through and have a successful shopping trip with their child. The main discussion within the social story is about helping prepare the child for whether they can pick something out at the store or not. While that is often a big struggle with kids, I don’t believe it’s the only big challenge. I would love to see an app or another social story that discussed a few other challenges that happen at the store like waiting in line or not opening anything until it is paid for.
What’s Great About This App
Overall, I would definitely recommend this app for children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old. Children with special needs like Autism, Aspbergers, Anxiety disorders, or ADHD have been known to respond well to visual social stories. For that reason, I think this would be a great app to consider if they struggle at the store. It is full of bright colors, and beautiful illustrations. The simple interface makes it perfect for kids. I would love to see a more in-depth social story about other challenges at the store with kids but I do think this covers the general concerns, especially for a child who wants to buy something every time. My son with Autism did respond well to this app. Also, my preschooler without Autism responded well to this enjoying more successful trips to the store.
The Touch Autism website contains other apps for Autism, Social Stories, and Behavior Strategies. At the time of writing this review Going Shopping retailed for $2.99.
Buy Going Shopping Social Story in the App Store
A social story for teaching appropriate behavior when going to the store and helping children understand whether they can pick something out to buy or not.
