Managing Your iDevice for the Young Learner – 101

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

Children love using the iPod or iPad and with a single touch can explore games and stories and lots of things, sometimes much more than you want them to! The iDevices ease of use can be a two edged sword with children/students easily getting to places you don’t want them to go.

I have heard repeatedly from fellow OT’s ” I wish I could hide the home button”. As a OT who frequently thinks about adapting things a number of things go through my mind, none which has come to fruition yet and chances are may not end up being esthetically pleasing. Good news, now there is something inexpensive and esthetically pleasing out there to help with hiding the home button and keeping the

BubCaps are home button covers for the iDevices that deter young fingers from pressing the home button. Available with different amounts of rigidity, BubCaps come in Regular, Ultra and Max depending on the age or strength of the user. Inexpensive, they come in 4-packs of a mixture or 4 of one kind for $5. BubCaps are available at their website (see link above) or through Amazon.com.

The making of BubCaps seems to come from experience (necessity is the mother of invention, right?). The company’s blog features a great overview of how to prepare your iDevice for toddlers. Check our their recommendations on protecting your iDevice on PaperClip Robot’s blog. It is worth it if you are new to using an iDevice and work with users with busy hands!

Anyone else have any methods of protecting the home button?

Happy Apping

Carol

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About Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

OTR/L with more than 35 years experience in pediatrics, school based therapy and adult rehabilitation. Masters of Science in Adaptive Education/Assistive Technology with 20 years experience in AT in education of elementary, middle school, secondary, post secondary students and work environments for adult clients. A RESNA Assistive Technology Practitioner with ACVREP CATIS credentials, AOTA Specialty Certification in Low Vision, USC Davis Executive Certificate in Home Modifications, servicing adults and students with disabilities in employment, education, and home environments. A 2020 graduate of the University of Alabama Birmingham Low Vision Certification Program.
This entry was posted in Apps for OT's, Focused attention, iPad, iPod, iPod/iPad Accessory and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to Managing Your iDevice for the Young Learner – 101

  1. Gosh, that's neat! (@goshthatsneat)'s avatar Gosh, that's neat! (@goshthatsneat) says:
    September 30, 2011 at 6:59 am

    I love the concept of your site! Please write more, we need more OT bloggers.

    Andy

    Reply
  2. Melis's avatar Melis says:
    October 12, 2011 at 12:27 am

    Carol,
    Thanks for putting so much work into this! I wonder if you have presented this at AOTA or maybe pitched an article to OT Practice? I will be sure to put your name on my intervention and support plans :o), so accessible for so many of our clients and their families!

    Melis

    Reply
    • Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS's avatar Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP says:
      October 12, 2011 at 9:10 pm

      Melis,
      No I haven’t presented, nor pitched an article. I do subscribe and read OT Practice. Something to think about!
      Thanks for visiting and commenting! Please share any ideas or suggestions you may have about iDevices, apps, accessories or interventions. Many great minds are powerful!

      Glad you visited!
      Carol

      Reply

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