Downloads That Build Social Skills

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity can prevent kids with attention deficit from making—and keeping—friends. Here are our top picks for apps to help your child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) develop the skills he needs to navigate the social sphere.

How Would You Feel If... (iOS; Android) poses that question in 56 different life situations designed to lead to discussions of a child's reaction and feelings. Each illustrated "card" asks a question, such as, "How would you feel if your favorite football team lost?" The appropriate and inappropriate responses receive feedback, and a child's results can be viewed on a graph.

Developed by a speech-language pathologist, Social Quest (iOS) helps elementary, middle, and high school-aged kids improve their language comprehension as they navigate a variety of social situations. This story-based intervention app incorporates narratives about real-world situations and asks the user to identify a correct response to each social situation. As they travel on their quest, kids earn "rewards" linked to social competencies.

[Free Guide to Improving Your Students’ Social Skills]

This app presents slideshows of children modeling appropriate behavior in everyday places, such as a store or a restaurant. Each slide is accompanied by audio narration and descriptive text. Model Me Going Places (iOS) helps reinforce expected behavior and lessens a child's fear of new surroundings. Be aware that the app contains advertisements for the company's line of social-skills DVDs.

This revolutionary app was designed especially for children with ADHD and other social/behavioral difficulties. The Social Navigator (iOS) can be used as an in-the-moment behavior-management device when your child is becoming agitated, or for teaching long-term social skills. The app promises to reduce oppositional behaviors, improve communication skills, and develop greater social awareness for kids ages 6 to 16.

Touch and Learn—Emotions (iOS) provide a safe way for children to practice recognizing feelings. Accompanying audio guides the user in trying to identify which child in a group of photos is showing which emotion. This program helps children with developmental delays learn to read body language and recognize and name common emotions.

Let’s Be Social PRO (iOS) is designed to help teachers, parents, and professionals teach social skills and communication. The app contains 25 pre-made social lessons that address everything from personal interactions and school behavior to handling change and social relationships. Let’s Be Social also includes the ability to customize your own lessons, so it can be used for any age group and situation.

Created by parents, Social Adventures (iOS) offers an eight-week social skills awareness program curriculum for teaching relationship behaviors and initiating interactions. Designed for children with autism spectrum disorders and social difficulties, this app offers valuable practice in thinking about and behaving during a variety of social situations.

[Free Download: 14 Ways to Help Your Child With ADHD Make Friends]