Model Me Going Places 2

App/Tool Overview

Model Me Going Places 2 is an app that is simple to understand and operate, but can be very impactful in its delivery. This app is designed for younger children, around ages three to ten, but can also be effective for older children who have autism and other disabilities. The app consists of six different places that children often frequent: the hairdresser, the mall, the doctor, the playground, the grocery store, and restaurants. Each of these six locations has a series of photos featuring a child going to and experiencing these places. Every photo has a text caption at the bottom that explains what the child in the photo is doing to provide more context. There is also an option for audio narration of the photos in English. The child in the photo is modeling the appropriate behavior for every situation provided. Again, while the app itself is fairly simple, it is very useful to aid children or teens who have autism, anxiety, emotional/social behavioral issues, and other such challenges that make it more difficult to go to these places. Users of the app can review the photos as many times as they would like to prepare themselves to interact in these new or challenging spaces.

School Library Applications

Model Me Going Places 2 would be advantageous to use in a school library because although there is not a specific library location featured in the app, the behaviors that are featured in other locations shared can also apply to a library setting. This app should be available on a device usable by students so that if there is a student who is not behaving appropriately in the library she will be able to sit down with this app and see how she can adjust her behavior. Again, the librarian will have to give context that this app does not focus on a library specifically, but explain how the library, like all of the other locations, is a public space, so there are certain behaviors that are appropriate and certain behaviors that are not.

This app could also be available in the library for students to use if they do not have access to it at home and know that they will be going to one of these places soon. For example, going to the doctor can be a challenging source of anxiety for many children, so having this app available to use on the day they will be going to the doctor could be very valuable to them. The library provides a safe space for students to come and use this app quietly and on their own time so that they feel comfortable and ready to take on this space.

Classroom Teacher Implications

Classroom teachers can use Model Me Going Places 2 in their classrooms just as librarians use them in their libraries. It is important to remember that school is not just for learning about content areas, but also for gaining social skills, self-confidence, and independence. Teachers of young children especially are helping them to master all of these skills, while also providing academia like reading, writing, math, science, and the like. Having this app available would be helpful to instruct their students on how to act and interact with others both in and outside of the classroom. For very young students, this app is beneficial to all, not just students with special needs, because going to these locations is a newer experience for these children. It helps them with ‘real world experience’ so that they feel more confident and prepared when they venture out to these spaces with their families.

Further Information

For more information about Model Me Going Places 2, please visit their page on the Apple app store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/model-me-going-places-2/id375669988#?platform=ipad

This app is available for both iPhones and iPads.

This app is free to download through the Apple app store.

For more information about this tool and others similar to it, please go to the company’s website, http://www.modelmekids.com or follow them on Twitter at @modelmekids.