14 Best Speech Therapy Apps For Toddlers And Preschoolers

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One of the major indicators of cognitive ability in toddlers is speech development. However, some toddlers might find it challenging to express their feelings, thoughts, and emotions using words. Thus, speech therapists recommend using speech therapy apps for toddlers to encourage them to start conversing and help improve their communication skills (1) (2).

Read this post as we list the best speech therapy apps that you can use to get your little one talking and conversing with you.

In This Article

14 Speech Therapy Apps For Toddlers

Speech therapy refers to the techniques used to improve the overall communication skills of toddlers by addressing disorders, such as articulation, apraxia of speech, or stuttering. Some toddlers might also have trouble putting words together or using language (2). Here are a few speech therapy apps that you may use for your toddler.

1. Articulation station

This comprehensive articulation app developed by Little Bee Speech helps toddlers improve their pronunciation, enunciation, and phonology. It also provides a function where your toddler can record their voice and listen to it, which helps them work on their communication development.

Available on: iOS

2. Khan Academy Kids

This is a comprehensive app that can help toddlers learn about language, phonics, and writing skills. It helps improve their emotional-social skills. This app can be used from preschool until second grade as it contains age-appropriate content for all. It also lets children engage in fun physical activities, such as dancing and yoga.

Available On: Android, iOS

3. Monkey preschool lunchbox

Image: Thup Games, LLC.

This exciting app is a collection of seven games that may help your toddler improve their skills colors, words, counting, letters, differences, and matching skills. Kids may love the animated monkey that helps them easily navigate the learning activities and have lots of fun while playing with it.

Available On: iOS, Android

Do remember

Speech therapy apps offer interesting animation and music that can attract and hold a child’s attention and help them improve their communication skills.

4. Itsy Bitsy Spider

This is an interactive musical book developed by Duck Duck Moose. Itsy Bitsy spider takes the toddler on a journey with the spider as it goes up the water spout, comes down with the rain, and then watches the sun dry up the rain. It plays the familiar nursery rhyme in the background that the child may enjoy. This app also helps children develop a wide range of vocalizations and vocabulary while enjoying the story.

Available On: Android

5. NACD Apraxia

NACD Apraxia, speech therapy apps for toddlers

Image: NACD International

This app was developed by the National Association for Child Development team and is useful for children suffering from childhood apraxia of speech/ dyspraxia. Speech therapists also recommend the use of this app to engage children in practicing vocabulary.

Available On: iOS

6. Seasonal Directions

This is a colorful and visually attractive fun game that targets the comprehension and speech skills of children. There are also different animals present in the app which will keep your toddler engaged for longer periods.

Available On: iOS

7. Wh-Questions Island

Image: Virtual Speech Center, Inc.

This app was created by the Virtual Speech Centre Inc. It helps children with sentence formation, syntax, and articulation, promoting literacy. Another interesting fact about this app is that the questions used here were developed by a certified speech and language therapist for children. So, your toddlers are sure to learn and improve their language skills.

Available On: iOS

8. Magical Concepts

This app was created by a certified speech-language pathologist who wanted education for toddlers to be fun and motivating. This app contains more than 2000 colorful photos, and each one comes with individual audio instructions. Your toddler can earn stars for each correct response they give and eventually get rewarded with a magic show.

Available On: iOS

9. Reading aphasia

Image: Virtual Speech Center, Inc.

The reading aphasia app was created specifically for children who have difficulty in reading. This app contains 12 stimuli-related organized semantic categories that will greatly help toddlers practice their speaking skills and vocabulary at various levels.

Available On: iOS

10. Outdoor fun

This app was designed with the idea of providing a fun and receptive tool to speech pathologists to help toddlers practice their vocabulary and expressive skills better. It is not a pre-recorded app and the parent/guardian will have to sit with the toddler and guide them through every step. The app allows a better understanding of the concept and also increases human interaction.

Available On: iOS

Point to consider

Speech therapy apps are easy to access and can be used anytime. Most of these apps are priced reasonably, so you do not have to burn a hole in your pocket to develop a skill in your child.

11. Farm Academy

Farm Academy speech theraphy apps for toddlers

Image: Virtual Speech Center, Inc.

Farm academy is another app created by the Visual Speech Centre and a certified speech and language therapist. This app teaches toddlers the difference between big and small in farm-related terms. It also helps them learn their first vocabulary in learn mode and practice whatever they have learned in practice mode. It is a visually appealing and interactive app that may keep your toddler hooked for a certain time.

Available On: iOS

12. Splingo’s language universe

This app developed by the Speech and Language store contains high-quality interactive games for toddlers to help improve their listening, language skills, and fluency. It is also easy for the kids to navigate the app as Splingo the alien guides them all along. Your toddler can practice their language and listening skills by interacting with the app’s images and by responding to Splingo’s instructions.

Available On: iOS

13. Speech Blubs: Language Therapy

This app for speech therapy, operated through voice commands, is tailored to assist children in acquiring new sounds and words while engaging in an enriching educational setting. With a repertoire of over 1500 activities, it has been employed more than a million times to stimulate the production of sounds and words in toddlers, those with delayed speech development, and individuals with Apraxia of Speech, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Autism, and Sensory Processing Disorder.

Available On: iOS, Android

Parv K. Jessy, a mother and blogger, recounts her experience with the Speech Blubs app and its positive impact on her daughter’s speech development. She remarks, “Recently, I came across the app Speech Blubs, which is focused on improving a child’s speech, especially for late talkers. I tried this app with my daughter and I was surprised how fast she learned new words (i).”

14. Ostimo

Otsimo is an app that helps children with special needs. It is especially useful for children with autism and ADHD. Otsimo also facilitates the process of attending public schools and gives the necessary fundamental education at home. The activities in the app are customizable according to the needs and wants of your child. Parents can also track the progress of their children’s learning. This exciting app helps reveal the true potential of your children and is completely safe. It includes games and activities that help improve the focus. Moreover, children can play this game on their own without
the need for any instructions.

Available on: iOS, Android

speech theraphy apps for toddlers_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes speech delay in toddlers?

Various factors can trigger speech disorders in toddlers, including problems in the structure of the oral cavity (such as tongue or palate), developmental delays, brain development problems, and hearing problems or ear infections (3).

2. Can a child overcome speech delay?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, mild speech delays could be short-lived and easily manageable with appropriate interventions and support (4). However, do not hesitate to seek professional help if your child shows signs of any delays in speech and language development.

3. How do speech therapy apps for toddlers differ from other educational apps?

Speech therapy apps focus on language development, while other educational apps cover various topics, including math, logic, and science. Moreover, speech therapy apps often include features that allow quick speech development and tools for correcting a child’s pronunciation. These apps are usually built with the advice of experts, and they can provide personalized feedback about your child’s speech development.

4. How much time should my child spend daily using speech therapy apps for toddlers?

Although no conclusive research shows how much time your child should spend on speech therapy apps, a small-scale study states that three sessions lasting 10-15 minutes each daily might positively impact toddlers (5).

5. How can I find reviews or recommendations for speech therapy apps for toddlers?

You can find reviews for speech therapy apps online by doing in-depth research on the web. Some medical research papers also list the best speech therapy apps for toddlers. In addition, on Google PlayStore and App Store, you can get actual customer reviews about these apps.

6. How do speech therapy apps for toddlers address cultural sensitivity and diversity issues?

Speech therapy apps might address cultural sensitivity and diversity issues prioritizing customization features and incorporating multiple languages to assist children in learning in their native languages. These interventions can help families teach children a language they are most comfortable with while instilling their cultural values and beliefs.

7. How can I track my child’s progress when using speech therapy apps for toddlers?

Several speech therapy apps require active parental participation. Moreover, these apps provide a personalized report of your child’s speech abilities. As a result, you can easily track your child’s progress through these apps.

Speech therapy apps for toddlers should be introduced when their speech skills are developing and they are in the learning stage. These apps help children improve their understanding of words and language and thus better their pronunciation. But remember not to depend on these apps for their speech development completely. According to speech language therapists, it is not the technology that makes the connection but the techniques in the technology that help better the communication skills of your toddler (2).

Infographic: How To Choose A Speech Therapy App For Your Child?

There are many speech therapy apps, as evident from the list above. So how do you choose the best from the best ones? In the infographic below, we’ve listed the essential features of an ideal speech therapy app to help your toddler achieve the desired improvements.

what to look for in a childs speech therapy app (infographic)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Pogg for Communication is one of the best speech therapy apps for children. Learn how this app can help your child improve their communication skills by teaching them verbs and spellings.

Personal Experience: Source

MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.

i. Speech Blubs : proven speech therapy app for kids.
https://medium.com/kidsnclicks/speech-blubs-proven-speech-therapy-app-for-kids-aeeccdc084b9

References

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