9 Apps to Help Kids Manage Back to School Challenges Infographic

9 Apps to Help Kids Manage Back to School Challenges Infographic

The new school year can be a challenging time for kids with learning and attention issues. Assistive technology can help, and not just with reading, writing and math, but also with organization and social skills. Here are nine apps that can help kids manage back to school challenges.

myHomework

When kids start middle school or high school, they have to get used to getting homework from multiple teachers each day. myHomework is a “digital backpack” that can help kids manage homework and other assignments. It tracks classes, schedules and upcoming due dates. Teachers, students and parents can use the app to communicate. It works on multiple devices, like smartphones, Chromebooks and computers. Check with your child’s school before using this app, as the school may already have a digital backpack app it wants kids to use. (You can also hear from a teacher on how myHomework can help in the new school year.)

Flocabulary: Educational Hip-Hop for K–12

Flocabulary: Educational Hip-Hop for K–12 uses catchy songs and rhymes to help kids learn. The app covers several academic topics, like language arts, vocabulary and math. It also includes videos on challenges kids may face in the new school year, like managing anxiety and bullying. The videos are broken down by grade. There’s also a companion website schools can subscribe to so all students can access Flocabulary.

Bear in Mind App: To-Do List, Reminder, Tasks

Bear in Mind App: To-Do List, Reminder, Tasks can help grade-schoolers get organized in the new school year. The app lets kids set reminders and make to-do lists with the help of cute animations and unique icons. These include icons for tasks like taking medication, doing homework and remembering a lunchbox. When kids finish all their tasks for the day, a friendly cartoon panda appears and gives them a positive message.

Headspace

If your child is dealing with back-to-school stress, meditation could help. Headspace teaches kids how to meditate. The app has a sleek interface, and uses fun cartoon videos to show kids how meditation works. The guided meditations in this app are read in a British accent. Headspace is one of a number of available meditation apps for kids.

Peppy Pals Sammy Helps Out

Peppy Pals is a series of animated children’s books that teach young kids about kindness and good behavior. In Peppy Pals Sammy Helps Out, a pony named Sammy and his friend Reggy the dog try to cross a stream. The story highlights friendship, emotions and working together. The narration can be turned on and off. As the story is told, the app suggests questions to ask kids about the characters and what they’re feeling. It’s a good way to practice social skills as your child heads back to school or starts school for the first time.

Bookout Read More

Bookout Read More is a reading log app that helps kids keep track of books they read. This can help if your child has more reading assignments this year than he did in a previous grade. Kids simply enter the book name or scan its ISBN number, and the app pulls up information about the book. It lets kids take notes and save key quotes from books. And it keeps track of reading statistics, like pages and time read.

TinyTap

If your grade-schooler or middle-schooler is struggling with an academic or social skill in the new school year, TinyTap could help. This app lets parents and kids create lessons, games or quizzes on any topic. Kids can also access dozens of lessons and games created by other people. There are several popular ones made by teachers to help kids learn to make inferences and understand social situations. It offers reading and math lessons, too.

High School Story

High School Story is a simulation app that lets kids set up a virtual high school. It can help teens who are having a tough time adjusting to high school. In the made-up high school, kids have to navigate tricky social situations, including dating, bullying and problems related to self-image. As kids complete quests in the app, they get positive messages about kindness and being true to themselves.

Go Noodle Kids

Go Noodle Kids encourages kids to move and be mindful throughout the day. The app has games and videos with different activities. For example, there are stretching routines to jump-start the morning, games to get kids “pumped up” for the day, and breathing exercises to help beat school stress. The app is connected to the popular Go Noodle website, which many schools use with students.