App Review: Model Me Going Places {Social Skills Training}

Model Me Going Places
by Model Me Kids LLC
Cost: Free

For iphone

For ipad

Social stories are a fantastic visual aid to help children to understand social situations...what to expect, what order events might happen, how they may feel and the people who may be involved.  Children learn from social stories and transfer what they learn into their own actions.  Model Me Going Places is an app with six social stories about visiting the hairdresser, mall, doctor, playground, grocery store and restaurant.

Each social story plays like a video with real-life photographs of each "step" and a voice over reading out the story. A child's voice is used for each story. Pages may be repeated or skipped using the arrows on the screen.  It is easy for children to navigate on their own.

Screenshots of "Model Me Going Places App", social story about visiting the hairdresser.

These social stories are well produced with clear photographs and sentences.  The app uses boys as the main character in each story with a boy's voice telling you what is happening.   {Note: This may be unhelpful when you are working with a girl.}   There is no capacity to tailor the social stories with your own photos, adjusting steps or entering your child's name. 

I use social stories to help children who may have difficulty coping with social situations. My Mr 4 has always hated having his hair cut.  I use social stories as well as other strategies (such has role play and a head massage) with Mr 4 to prepare him with what to expect in having a hair cut.  We repeat this regularly even though he "knows" what to expect, the social stories help to reduce his anxiety. The social stories are also useful to discuss emotions "How do you feel when you visit the hairdresser?".

Model Me Kids LLC have produced Model Me Going Places App as a part of their larger range of social story DVDS and another app {Autism Emotion}.  Whilst Model Me Kids is dedicated to producing high quality teaching tools for children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS and developmental delays, these social stories are suitable for preschool-age children and older children of all abilities.  The DVDs include topics such as Conversation Cues, Friendship, Tips and Tricks, Confidence & Bullying Prevention, Organiszation & Motivation, Time for School, Time for a Playdate, I can do it and Faces & Emotions.  There are also professional training DVDS as well as teacher and student manuals. You can find out more from the Model Me Kids website.  For Australian readers, these products may be purchased through My Diffability Australia. 

Have you used social stories?  Have you tried this app or the DVDs?

Note: I have not received remuneration for this review.  I have an affiliate partnership with Model Me Kids LLC.  All opinions and comments here are my own. 

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