Social Adventures is a self-contained resource to teach social skills and friendship. Developed for kids between the ages of 3 and 13, it can be used to teach learners how to initiate interactions, maintain interactions, negotiate, advocate, interpret non-verbal communication, negotiate personal space, and experience humor. The app includes over 80 activities that can be used in the classroom, on playdates, or at home. Each section has detailed parent tips to assist with understanding how to help kids apply the skills they are learning. And if you’re not sure where to start, Social Adventures has a sample eight-week beginner program to get you off on the right foot.

Website: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/social-adventures/id468235375?mt=8

What Users Love About the App

“This is a GREAT app for supporting social-thinking type speech and language therapy goals. Consider it a resource. It has ideas for social learning activities, separated by goal area- initiating interactions, maintaining them, advocating and compromising, and so on.”

“There are visuals to go along with some of the activities, and even a fun game called “What’s in the Bag”- like a 20 questions type game- built into the app. I have used this not just with students working on social skills, but also with students who have language goals only.”

“The app is a great e-guide with detailed information on activities one could use to target social concepts using “catch phrases” (always great for carryover at home) within engaging communication activities for children. The app really uses the iPad well by providing an always-at-your-fingertips guide.”

“I’m an elementary classroom teacher and have found it necessary each year to address students’ communication/ social skills, regardless if they have a specific disability related to pragmatics or not. Many of the skills that Social Adventures addresses are exactly what some of my kiddos need.”

“What I like about The Social Adventures app is that it gives me direct, consistent language to help my students carry over these skills. The catch phrases and visuals are fantastic in helping students to grasp these concepts. I have noticed that an ideal time to work on these skills is during transitions or much need movement breaks.”

What Users Dislike About the App

“Not what I was expecting. Thought it would be an interactive app that pulls the child through scenarios… Nope, the parents have to come up with all the scenarios on their own, I’m not good at that.”

“It is basically directions in how to role play with your child, without providing ideas for scenarios… Definitely not worth the $19.”

“After reading several rave reviews, and paying a fairly stiff price, I expected more than a tease. This app is more of a brief pamphlet on social tips that doesn’t make use of the iPad interactive potential.”

“Even though this app has some good ideas for intervention, it lacks in many critical ways and does not use the functions of the iPad.”

“It is not interactive and the games are redundant. I would like to see this company develop this app to be more useful as a clinical tool.”