Baby's Musical Hands

While I don't agree with using apps purely to distract or to keep a baby busy, I do think some apps have therapeutic value for babies. Baby's Musical Hands by Streaming Colour is one of those apps! This simple cause and effect app contains 15 brightly colored squares that provide audio and visual feedback when touched. The red squares make drum sounds, the yellow squares play piano notes, and the blue squares play guitar notes.

Screen prior to activation.

Bubbles appear after screen is activated.

How I use Baby's Musical Hands in therapy:

Since this is a basic cause and effect app, I frequently use Baby's Musical Hands to encourage reaching, especially in infants/toddlers with hemiplegia. Since most babies love music, this app can be a motivator for babies with hemiplegia to reach with their more affected arm.

Toddler reaching with affected hand.

I've also used this app as a motivator for weightbearing. I simply lay the iPad flat on the floor and then have the infant place his or her hands on the iPad screen while maintaining a crawling position. The baby can look at the screen and the screen continues to activate (making music and lighting up) while the baby is weightbearing through his arms.

Other possible therapy uses:

• Encourage visual tracking in infants with visual impairment
• Encourage head turning in infants with torticollis

What I like about this app:

• Activates easily, doesn't require precise fine motor movements
• Engaging and motivating to babies
• Can turn down the volume to allow for visual feedback only

Room for improvement:

This is a basic app that does what it sets out to do. I think it is great just the way it is and I don't see any reason to change the app!

Best for ages:

• Infants and toddlers

Bottom Line:

Would I recommend this app? Absolutely! For the price, this app is well worth it. In my experience, babies and toddlers are drawn to its music and bright lights, making this an engaging and motivating app.

Baby's Musical Hands App Information:

Name of app: Baby's Musical Hands

Publisher: Streaming Colour (www.streamingcolour.com)

Compatible with: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android. Requires iOS 4.1 or later. Android 2.3 and up.

Price: $0.99 available in the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store for Android devices.

Do you use Baby's Musical Hands? What therapeutic uses have you discovered for this app?