Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Customizable boards help with executive functioning.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Choiceworks
What's It About?
CHOICEWORKS was designed to help kids learn about three life skills: schedules and task completion, waiting, and dealing with emotions. Kids explore these topics through simple ebooks (one for each topic) and boards. The schedule board shows a to-do list; as kids finish each task, they move an icon over to the "all done" column. The waiting board shows a timer and gives suggestions for things to do while waiting. The feelings board offers productive responses to strong emotions. All aspects of the boards can be customized using preloaded icons and suggestions -- or your own ideas.
Is It Any Good?
Choiceworks offers a simple, straightforward, and visual representation of some important life skills. This may help some kids who have trouble grasping the abstract nature of feelings, for example. That said, the three topics (routines, waiting, and feelings) feel disjointed, and although the board setup works well for a to-do list, it oversimplifies complicated emotional situations. The schedule board is the most successful: Kids see a task order, get satisfaction from moving tasks into the "all done" column, and can enjoy reward activities upon completion. Boards may be useful during discussion prompts before or after the target situation (feeling angry, having to wait). The customization makes usage infinitely adaptable, but it would be nice to see parent guides for how to get the most out of using the boards.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the issues that Choiceworks addresses: routines, order of events, feelings, how hard it can be to wait, and so on. What can you do when you have to wait? What are some rewards for when the task is finished?
Read the books and talk about the boards when kids are relaxed and open to discussing and exploring.
Challenge kids to race against the clock and themselves. See if they can beat their best time in getting dressed, cleaning up their toys, and more.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : decision-making , problem solving , strategy , Self-Direction : achieving goals , goal-setting , self-reflection , time management , Emotional Development : identifying emotions , labeling feelings , self-awareness , Responsibility & Ethics : making wise decisions
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : September 18, 2014
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : Bee Visual LLC
- Version : 7.0
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 7.1 or later
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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