Toothbrush Timer App

Visual timers can help with compliance and task completion, especially in children with autism. I just came across Toothbrush Timer, which is a basic visual timer app for a specific activity - tooth brushing!  

This app runs for two minutes, with 30 seconds for each quadrant of the mouth. It provides a visual cue for which quadrant of the mouth to brush and even breaks each quadrant into outside, top, and inside, as you can see in the screenshots below. That level of precision might be difficult for some children to understand, but I think it is still useful if the child just brushes each quadrant for the desired time.

After the 30 seconds are up, the app makes a beep and then the next quadrant is highlighted. When the timer runs out completely, there is an applause, which might serve as a motivator for some children.

App Information

Name of App: Toothbrush Timer
Publisher: Ryan Newsome
Compatible with: iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.2 or later.
Price: Free from the Apple iTunes App Store.

Information was correct at the time of publication of this review, but is subject to change, so please confirm prior to downloading.

Have you had success with this app? What other apps to you find helpful for completion of self-help tasks?

Tips for teaching shoe tying {+ Easy Tie Laces giveaway!-GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

I received some Easy Tie laces from www.tyingisasnap.com to try out, and let me tell you, these are a great find! I'm always trying to tie two different colored laces together to teach shoe tying, and now I don't need to do that anymore. Easy Tie has done it for me - with a nice, easy to use, plastic snap in between the two laces.

Features of Easy Tie laces include:

• Dual colored laces remove lace confusion
• Dual textures aid in tying
• Smaller laces for smaller hands
• Stiffer laces don't flop
• Lace material and texture provides a secure tie
• Laces always stay even in length
• Fun colors!

Laces are $9.99 for one pair or $16.98 for two pairs can be purchased at www.tyingisasnap.com.

Shoe tying is a skill that is generally mastered by age seven. But we know all children are different, so your child may be ready before age seven, or your child may need a little more time. Below are some tips for teaching your child to tie shoes.

Tips for teaching shoe tying to your child:

• Practice lacing or making friendship bracelets prior to teaching shoe tying.
• Use two different colored laces (like Easy Tie laces!)
• Find a time to practice when you are not rushing out the door.
• Use a rhyme to break it down into steps, such as the bunny ears rhyme.
• Sit next to or beside your child when modeling the steps for shoe tying, so they don't have to try to mirror your movements.
• Use backward chaining. This means complete all of the steps, except the very last step, for your child. Then teach your child to do the last step. After he has mastered the last step, teach him the last two steps together. Continue this until he is able to complete all of the steps of shoe tying.
• Repetition, repetition, repetition. As with all motor tasks, learning to tie shoes takes practice, which means your child will require lots of repetition to master shoe tying. Be persistent, but patient. Practicing a few minutes per day will eventually get you the desired results - independent shoe tying!
• Use a shoelace board, such as the one below to practice tying before trying on a real shoe. The child can place this board on his or her lap and practice at the correct angle to the laces.

Wondering how I made that shoelace board? It's really simple! Visit Caroline at Salsa Pie for her DIY Shoe Tie Practice Board.

Now for the giveaway!!!  GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

Two lucky readers will receive a pair of Easy Tie laces. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me how you would use these laces (e.g. with your child, in your therapy clinic, etc). Winners will be chosen at random and I will do my best to get your preferred colored laces to you. Contest is open to US residents only. Contest is open until 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. Winners will be announced on Friday, October 19, 2012 on my Five Friday Features. Good luck!

Disclaimer: Easy Tie laces were provided free of charge for this giveaway. All writing and opinions are my own.