Look in My Eyes Dinosaur
Look in My Eyes Dinosaur gallery
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Look in My Eyes Dinosaur is an easy-to-use app that helps kids increase their eye contact with peers and adults. It's a non-threatening way for kids who are hesitant to make eye contact (those with ASD, anxiety, etc.) to practice. It's an exercise-based game that places neon-colored numbers in a picture's eyes; when you tap the correct number, you earn a star. Four stars leads to a new dinosaur, which can move and interact with other collected dinosaurs. Since the dinosaurs are the most engaging part of the app, kids may get lost playing with them.What kids can learn
Look in My Eyes Dinosaur uses close-up photos of children and provides rewards for making eye contact. For kids who love dinosaurs, the reward system will keep them interested, though they may get lost in playing with the dinosaurs and lose interest in the app's real goal.
The overall structure is simple and provides a safe environment for kids to practice making eye contact; looking into a picture's eyes may be less difficult than making eye contact with a real person. That said, the reward system may be too removed from the overall goal to keep kids on-task for long.
A simple tutorial is included within the menu of the app.
What's it about?
LOOK IN MY EYES DINOSAUR is a tool designed to help kids who struggle to make eye contact with others. Players look at pictures of children; in the eyes of the picture, a number will flash. The goal is to remember that number and then tap it to earn a star. After four stars, the player earns a dinosaur. Kids can make the dinosaurs move and interact by tapping and dragging them. There's even a cave where kids can put their dinosaurs "away." The app records the stats of a session, which will give you an idea of how often your kid is making eye contact and successfully tapping the numbers.
Is it any good?
The app is simple, with very few bells and whistles. If your child likes dinosaurs, the reward is fun and encourages more play, though some kids may get lost playing with the dinos they collect. The developer has a few other companion apps, like Look In My Eyes Restaurant, which lets kids earn money and spend it in a restaurant, as well as versions with an undersea and car mechanic theme. This version is the most appropriate for younger kids.
Families can talk about...
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Families can talk about eye contact. Why is it important? When is it especially important to look someone in the eyes?
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You can also use the dinosaurs to discuss interaction. Do the dinosaurs look at each other? Why or why not? How do they play together?
