Parenting Pep Talk: Be Smart With Your Smartphone
Parents are often frustrated by the amount of time their children spend staring and tapping away at their iPhones. While it’s true that teens spend a lot of phone time on Facebook or texting, smartphones can be put to good use. Many applications (apps) help individuals independently manage day-to-day tasks, handle schoolwork, cope with health-related issues, and even facilitate successful human interactions. Such apps are great for those on the autism spectrum, those with ADHD, and for any individual looking to organize and track important information. When used consistently, smartphone apps can increase one’s self-awareness and facilitate success in almost any arena.
Smartphone apps support school and work success. They help individuals organize assignments and reduce the odds of misfiling or losing papers. They also help with time management. People who use apps to keep track of important events and due dates are less likely to forget what they need to do. Here are some apps that might help:
- iStudiezPro: Helps you track your schedule and assignments, and calculates overall GPA based on current grades.
- Dragon Dictation: Great for brainstorming ideas that are easier to generate verbally.
- Graphio: Allows you to create visual representations and flowcharts of almost anything.
- 30/30: A task manager that lets you know how long tasks actually take.
- CamCard: Allows you to take a picture of and store business cards and other contact information.
Smartphone apps also promote independence. They help people learn to navigate public transportation. Some apps designed for this purpose include:
- Hopstop: Provides directions, alerts you when subway lines are out of service, and suggests alternate routes. It also has a taxi option which calculates costs ahead of time.
- Google Maps: Gives directions and even guides you on foot.
- Uber: You can enter your destination and receive texts when a car service is on the way. This is useful for those who are phone-shy.
Smartphone apps also provide quick tips to help with social skills. These apps are particularly useful for individuals on the autism spectrum or for those with social anxiety. These apps include:
- Everyday Social Skills: Breaks tasks down into manageable parts. Helps children with tasks that seem simple but aren’t for many individuals.
- 101 Conversation Starters: Provides go-to questions you can ask a person if a conversation is dwindling or needs to get started.
- BH Etiquette: Provides advice on topics such as first impressions, dining etiquette, and party etiquette.
Smartphones also help individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle. There are all sorts of apps that allow you to keep track of what you eat, your exercise routine, sleep pattern, and mood. It’s also possible to track medications and set reminders so doses aren’t missed. These apps help individuals develop self-awareness and empower them to take care of themselves. They can even be used as a therapy tool in between therapy sessions. There are countless varieties of such apps due to individual preferences, but here are a few that are recommended:
- Optimism: Helps you track various aspects of your day, such as diet, exercise, water consumption, mental state, etc. Allows you to view reports of how you fared each week which can be used to develop and monitor strategies.
- MyFoodDiary
- Fitbit: Allows you to track diet, exercise, and sleep but also serves as a pedometer.
- Kid CBT*ABC: Provides cognitive-behavioral strategies to children and allows them to track changes in thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Helps them recognize the way these three things are related. Provides feedback.
These are just a few suggestions for apps that might help you or your child manage the day-to-day with less stress. If you Google a topic and “app,” you are bound to find something that fits your needs. We should all get the most out of our expensive phones!
Dr. Jaime Black is a licensed psychologist practicing in Westchester and New York City. In addition to providing general mental health services, Jaime works with individuals of all ages on the autism spectrum, doing psychotherapy, conducting evaluations, and facilitating social skills groups. Visit www.spectrumservicesnyc.com, e-mail JaimeBlackPsyD@gmail.com or call (914)712-8208.
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
