These thoughtfully designed apps can help neurodivergent kids build skills without sacrificing the fun factor. Parents and educators will find approaches for play, communication and managing emotions.

App Store Award winner Pok Pok is carefully curated with two-dimensional virtual toys kids can bring to life. From the calming colour palette to the handcrafted sounds, every aspect of this app is designed to avoid overstimulating kids and nearby parents alike.

In Thomas & Friends: Let’s Roll, kids join Thomas the Tank Engine for a rolling adventure through the tranquil countryside. Explore alongside Bruno the Brake Car, a neurodivergent member of the Sodor crew who loves the routine of the train timetables.

Hungry Caterpillar Play School brings the comfort and simplicity of Eric Carle’s beloved classics to an app. Repetitive activities, alongside familiar stories and visuals, can help reduce anxiety and encourage exploration.

Build bedtime routines and establish healthy habits in Moshi Kids. Guided exercises and grounding techniques, such as body scanning, help kids regulate their minds and bodies so they can more easily process their day and slip into sleep.

Created in collaboration with speech therapists, Editors’ Choice language-therapy app Speech Blubs has hundreds of educational mini-games. Kids watch their peers model the exercises first, then practise it themselves – usually with a wacky AR face filter, such as adorable animal ears.

GoLexic is a literacy-support tool that teaches the foundations of language – from letter recognition to phonics. The app’s simple and short daily sessions help strengthen any weak spots in reading and writing. Caregivers can follow along with their kid’s progress from the dashboard in the app’s Parent’s Area.

A simple but power-packed AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) app, App Store Award winner Proloquo gives voice to those who have difficulty speaking or being understood. Using an intuitive, adaptive word board, children can craft full sentences that are spoken aloud in a voice of their choosing.

In Avokiddo Emotions, kids play pretend with four zany animal characters and more than 100 even zanier props (think bubble machines and wacky wigs). The app encourages imagination exploration, helping kids identify their feelings and name their emotions.

The immersive story app Wisdom: The World of Emotions takes kids on an adventure through a whimsical world of emotional learning so they can better navigate their biggest feelings. Kids learn to recognise and regulate their own emotions while earning “superpowers” that help characters overcome anger and fear.

Hopster is loaded with videos, read-along ebooks, songs and games featuring characters from shows that kids adore, including Thomas & Friends, Sesame Street and Pingu. Familiar characters can help create a safe, welcoming environment for children who are autistic to enjoy mini-games designed to build social-emotional skills.