(Sorry if this is all a bit disorganised. I’m just a bit excited about my new toys!)
My personal project at the school this term is to implement the iPads sitting in storage. I’m mainly using Dexteria (£3.99), and app made with OTs in mind to work on fine motor control. Dexteria has three activities: Tap It, Pinch It and Write It. All of the activities are great, with Pinch It being the favourite amongst my students, but I’d like to highlight Write It and one of the issues brought up by it while trialling it at school. That issue was the need for the kids to practice their letter formation in a similar way to actual writing, not just tracing them with their finger.
So I suggested the school get a stylus to pair up with each iPad. This again raised a problem – most styli are designed with “normal” adults in mind, meaning adults with the ability to hold and use itty bitty skinny short pens. What we needed were thicker, longer styli that felt as much like the pencils/pens the kids use as possible. After extensive reading of online reviews, I discovered an Etsy shop that sold rather clever handmade styli. They are also seemingly more durable than the average iPad stylus, according to countless Amazon reviews (avoid rubber/sponge-tipped styli).
Shapedad has several stylus designs, but all have the unique conductive fabric “sock”. I received three of them today: the Stylus Sock Pro, the Stylus Sock GOLD and the Eco Stylus. I can’t quite decide which I like better! They look and feel great, and they work on both the iPad I’m borrowing from the school over the holiday and my new Android phone.
Stylus Sock Pro, Eco Stylus and Stylus Sock GOLD
Stylus Sock Pro, Eco Stylus and Stylus Sock GOLD with the iPad
Stylus Sock Pro with Doodle Buddy (free)
Stylus Sock Pro with Doodle Buddy (free)
Eco Stylus with Dexteria's Write It
Flan using the Stylus Sock GOLD with Dexteria's Write It
Eco Stylus with pencil grip
While being the most expensive of the standard styli (£13.01), I love how the Eco Stylus is the right size for a pencil grip! It’s sock also doesn’t come off, which is great for working with more fidgety children.
And one last thing – shapedad also makes the Steady Stylus (T-shaped) and the Mouthstick Stylus for those who have alternative needs.