Social Norms 1.1

As a reviewer with a background in speech and language pathology, I found the Social Norms app to be a valuable resource for teaching social skills to children with autism spectrum disorder. Developed by a certified speech and language pathologist, this application offers a comprehensive library of pre-made stories, significantly streamlining the process for parents and professionals alike.

The app encompasses over 50 stories with clear graphics, categorized into various essential areas such as manners, hygiene, safety, home routines, school behaviors, community interactions, and behavioral management. This thoughtful organization allows users to easily locate relevant stories tailored to specific scenarios that children may encounter.

• Manners Stories: Such as Saying Thank You and Excuse Me
• Hygiene and Health Stories: Including Washing Hands and Brushing Teeth
• Safety Stories: Covering topics like Crossing the Street and Bike Safety
• Home Stories: Examples like Going to Bed and Doing Homework
• School Stories: Addressing situations such as Answering in the Classroom and Fire Drills
• Community Stories: Including visits to the Dentist and Doctor
• Behavior Stories: Addressing scenarios like Biting Others and Running Away

This app's customization feature is particularly beneficial, as it enables users—parents, educators, and therapists—to add personalized content by integrating photos, text, and audio. Such flexibility enhances the learning experience by allowing stories to be tailored to individual children's needs.

While research into best practices for teaching social skills through storytelling is ongoing, existing studies suggest that this method is effective for many children. The National Standards Project recognizes storytelling as an established treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders aged six to fourteen, further supporting its potential effectiveness.

In conclusion, the Social Norms app represents a significant advancement in resources available for supporting social skills development in children with autism. Its combination of professional insight, customizable features, and extensive content makes it a noteworthy tool for engagement and learning.