Animation apps are entertaining for children but can they be effectively used for treatment? I ask this question because I know that there are materials that tend to distract more than help us do our jobs. Story animation apps can fall into this category. I viewed a few and found three apps that can be used when we try to get children to converse. 
Freddi Fish: by Nimbus Games has two main characters, Freddi and Luther, who join forces to solve mysteries, catch crooks and collect the golden pipes. Clues are given along the way as the two meet up with various underwater characters. Objects are collected along the way to help Freddi and Luther complete their journey. Tap on undersea life and it comes to life with short cute animations. The action and story have stops between story episodes allowing one to engage the child in conversation.This app offers an appealing array of vocabulary. Inductive, deductive, and predictive reasoning skills can also be targeted with this app as well as “wh” questions.
Putt-Putt Lite: In this app, by Nimbus Games, Putt-Putt, the train, his dog, Pep, need to save zoo animals. Like with the Freddie Fish app, the animation is attractive and the characters are appealing. Tap on objects along the way and they come to life with short cute animations. The action and story have stops between story episodes allowing one to engage the child in conversation. This app offers an appealing array of vocabulary. Inductive, deductive, and predictive reasoning skills can also be targeted with this app as well as “wh” questions.
Ages: 5-8
Developer website: www.nimbusgames.com
Ants Band Lite: This app features 12 ants performing for an audience of six animals. Each ant band member has an instrument. One can hear the entire band play together or an ant playing solo. To hear the solo instrumental, tap on every other player to silence that ants’ instruments, if all members are playing. If no member is playing, tap on the ant(s) to hear it play. The audience sits in the foreground showing us only the back of their heads. Tap on the back of a head and it applauds. At the top of the screen is a stage light, a bag and egg shells. Tap on the light and beams of light move around the stage. Tap on the bag and confetti falls. Tap on the egg shells and an egg is thrown at a band member. This app can be used to engage the child in conversation about instruments, bands and music.
