Summer heat getting you down? It's supposed to get up to 36 C (97 F) here in Toronto tomorrow. That's without the humidex! Instead of sitting in a bucket of ice however, I have arranged an extremely cool giveaway of some great apps for you.
The link above takes you to a tab on my Facebook page which some people have reported trouble viewing. My friends at iHelp SN Kids have therefore been kind and put all my Rafflecopters on their blog as well. So, if you're having trouble with the link above – try this one.
Here's all the apps you can win:
Two copies of So Much 2 Say. This AAC app is perfect for – first time AAC users, those who respond to photos more than symbols and those with limited mobility and/or vision. It's a bargain at the newly-reduced price of $19.99 and I highly recommend it. This developer is extremely responsive to the needs of parents, therapists and educators and their last upgrade introduced all sorts of new features including drag and drop sharing between iPads! Their next update will add the capacity for sentence building. Thank you Close 2 Home Apps for giving me TWO codes for this great app to share with my readers.
Mandy at Welcome to Their World Apps also has copies of this app to giveaway so increase your chance of winning a copy by heading over to her Facebook page and entering her giveaway as well.
I have FIVE copies of the brand new app from one of my favourite developers, @Reks. Another developer who is extremely responsive to feedback, @Reks developed Abacus: Augmented Reality following a developer chat at AppAble. They actually created an app in response to a need voiced by parents!
Happi Papi was a recent Developer of the Week at AppAble and I was lucky enough to get a couple of extra codes as a result. I have TWO copies of Happi Papi Spells HD, a crossword app with pictures that helps children learn words and reinforces spelling skills.
I also have TWO copies of Happi Papi 123 which, as you can see from the picture below, uses great visuals to help support learning to count and basic math.
I have for CANADIANS ONLY a copy of TeachMe: 1st Grade and TeachMe: 2nd Grade by 24x7digital. These apps are simply must-haves if you have children who are at this level academically. Covering math and spelling these apps have a character-recognition feature that enables a child to hand-write their answers to questions. The apps also include a number of built-in rewards and reinforcers. If you don't win a copy of these apps then they are incredibly good value so I do recommend purchasing them. You can read my review of TeachMe: 2nd Grade at Smart Apps for Kids.
Well, some additional developers have been kind enough to donate some more codes so that the giveaway just got cooler!
If you're looking to work on sight words over the summer holidays, as well as once the new school year starts, then this pair of apps from SoGaBee would be great to add to your collection. The developer is extremely responsive to feedback and these two apps complement each other really well.
Sight Words Hangman includes over 300 words and two levels of difficulty and is based on the traditional game of hangman. I have THREE copies of this app to giveaway. Sight Words & Spelling with Pixopop uses adorable characters that kids love, contains 240 words (but enables you to create your own word lists as well), has three different modes of play and tracks results. I have TWO copies of this app.
If you're forced to stay indoors due to the sweltering heat or bad air quality, what better time to learn to read music? Jellybean Tunes is a fun app that teaches children many of the classic nursery rhymes and kids songs, allowing them to sing-along, record and then playback their versions. Children can learn the basics of reading music and can also compose their own tunes. Very cool!
Little Learning Tots is joining the fun with their app My 1st Songs Collection for iPhone – perfect for little ones to learn and sing-a-long to classics like Incy Wincey Spider. I have THREE copies of this app to giveaway.
I'm so excited about these next three because not only are they all great apps from Learning Touch that it's so wonderful to be able to giveaway, they are ALL apps on MY wishlist!! Oliver and Owen both love Learning Touch's First Words apps – if you're familiar with my boys then you'll know that's a big deal as Owen takes a long time to warm up to apps. Given that both boys are also on the autism spectrum, an app that helps them to not only spell the words, but recognize the feelings that are associated with those words, well, that would be perfect. I have THREE codes for First Words Feelings for you lucky people to win a copy of this app!
Would you like to win a copy of an app that Carisa at Digital Storytime rated 4.75 (out of 5)? I would! I have the Bob Books #1 which I bought a couple of weeks ago when it was on sale and I think it's awesome. If you'd like a copy of Bob Books #2 Reading Magic HD then enter the rafflecopter – I have THREE copies of this app to giveaway and don't worry, I will give them all away… even though I really want to keep one. 😉
Last, but by no means least, I have TWO copies of First Sight Words Pro, a $10 app which pairs sight words with MINISPEAK icons to help convey the meaning of the word to the child. Most apps that teach sight words focus on just teaching spelling and don't worry about meaning, because that is typically picked up by children contextually as they learn to read. For special needs children that's not always the case which is the reason this app is on my wishlist. I'm happy for my readers that they get a chance to win this app. Not jealous. At all.
Thank you Learning Touch for giving me codes for $40 worth of apps – this is awesome!
Exhausted from his new app launch, the wonderful Scott from Little Bit Studios still found time to send me a code for BUGS AND BUBBLES the eagerly anticipated follow-up to Bugs and Buttons. I bought it as soon as I saw it in the app store. I only had time to play 4 games this morning but the graphics, music and learning opportunites looked amazing.
I have ONE copy of this to giveaway. If you're not lucky enough to win it, $2.99 for 18 high-quality games is a pretty sweet deal.
What do I need to say about this one other than – puzzles? trucks? Sold. I bought this one when it came out and the boys have not been disappointed. Thanks to Apps Kids Love, I have FOUR copies of Trucks Jigsaw Puzzles to giveaway.
If you've been reading my blog for a while then you will know that an app we love very dearly here is Zoo Train. Busy Bee Studios have been extremely generous and sent me codes for all four of their apps! I love that I get to share these apps with people who may not yet have them.
You can read here my thoughts about Zoo Train. I have to tell you that the love affair continues to this day – both boys still play this app, the very first one I purchased (before we even got iPads). I have TWO codes to giveaway – this app is universal.
I have TWO codes for the iPhone version of Bug Games. As far as this app goes, think Zoo Train, but with adorably cute bugs.
Perfect for Halloween; Oliver actually plays this game year-round. Giggle Ghosts is a very cute (I know I'm using that word a lot but look at that ghost's face!) app in which you bounce ghosts safely off the screen using bursts of air. You then count the ghosts into place and once the Haunted House is full, everyone has a party. Simple and fun. I have THREE codes for this iPad-only app.
Busy Bee's latest app was a departure for them – an ebook – but Even Monsters Get Sick didn't disappoint. The story is lovely and the artwork has that sweet, Busy Bee feel. Smart Apps made it a Top Pick! I have THREE codes for iPad to giveaway.
I have five copies to giveaway of Grimm's The Frog King from JustKidsApps. I admit that I'm biased as I co-authored this app but I really like it. It's a fun way to introduce children to a traditional version of a fairy tale and to discuss with them the ways that how these stories often seem strange to modern readers.
Night & Day Studios have sent me codes for two of their apps. Owen is a huge fan of Eric Carle in general and The Very Hungry Caterpillar in particular. I would say that he likes 'My Very First App' even more than 'Counting with the VHC', but both are Owen-approved.
We don't have a copy of Go Away, Big Green Monster but it's an Ed Emberley classic that you get to hear read by the man himself which is likely to be worth the price of admission.
A really big thank you to ALL the developers for sharing app codes and good luck to the entrants!
(Top tip: don't lick ice, enter and share the giveaways instead!)
Small But Kinda Mighty 
Really hoping to win So Much 2 Say for my daughter’s school therapist. We have this app and it has done a lot for my daughter as we use it as a choice board and to make stories at more interactive. I know our therapist would get a lot of use out of it.
Would love to win a copy of @Reks New Abacus Augmented Reality App…. My son does really well in math using an abacus and I have been waiting for an app like this for a long time… 🙂 Thank you @Reks for making this app and giving us an opportunity to win it through Small But Kinda Mighty…. Cheers!!
I would love s copy of happi pappi spells or happi pappi 123… I don’t have either yet!
And or bugs and bubbles, first word feelings, or the ones from night or day studio- the hungry caterpillar, counting with vnc
I feel stupid. Until I went on a real computer I missed all the raffle choppers… Oh well…
Oh no! Hopefully next time. 🙂
I would love to win a copy of So Much 2 Say for my son. I have heard very good things about it. I have been told you can use it as a choice board and this would be a way for him to be able to tell us want to needs.
Hi! I am a speech pathologist working in public schools. I have a good number of nonverbal to minimally verbal students who would benefit from So Much 2 Say! We are in need of AAC apps for our students! Thankyou for this opportunity!
That Teach Me series is Toot’s favorite. He has so many coins from hours and hours of play! I think it was one of his best teachers. And silly me – I never looked for a copy for 1st grade – we have the kindergarten version! Thanks for all the great app suggestions! Very excited to check them out! 🙂
I have a few friends that aren’t online regularly who’s kids would really benefit from having such an adaptable AAC like So Much 2 Say. They would all have to cook me dinner & I would give the best chef the code!!!!!
I love your give away my 7 year daughter is non verbal on would love to test these out. I’m Aldo from the GTA and can’t believe how hot it is lately. I will retweet too! Nice to find your blog.
So Much 2 Say would really help my daughter! Thanks for the chance to win these neat apps.
P.S. I didn’t really “outline” why it would help, but she is non-verbal and we are looking for an app that both her and the school can use to help her communicate.
No worries! 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
That was a very nice post today. Thanks so much for sharing it. I
really enjoyed reading it very much. You have a great day!
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My husband and I developed So Much 2 Say for our daughters. I think if I outlined the benefits it may seem a bit self serving! LOL I just want everyone who is trying to win our app to be on the look out during the month of July because there will be lots of giveaways on several great sites. https://www.facebook.com/close2homeapps Check our Facebook page for more info on how to win. And if you don’t win there will be a huge discount during the month of August for Tech in Ed’s Appy Back 2 School party. Good luck everyone! Thanks Deanne!
I would love a copy of happi pappi spells or @reks abacus…..they look awesome for my toddler.
abacus-in-augmented-reality appeals to me because my father taught me how to count on his father’s abacus! I think my son would really love this app and it would be a generational learning thing.
would love a chance to win so much 2 say – my daughter is special needs and has been making great improvements….but I really think this would help her communicate!
I would love to win the so much 2 say app!!
Would love to win so much to say. And any of the other fabulous apps here 😉 Wowsome giveaways!!!
I would love to win the So Much 2 Say app for my daughter’s school therapist 🙂 Thank you for the opportunity 🙂
these are awesome would love to win them 🙂
i’m greedy I’m afraid I would love to win so much 2 say for my son’s school, they have gotten 2 ipads in the autism units and I’ld love for them to have this app for the boys.