Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Colgate. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
My 11-year-old son may have autism but he’s still very much a typical tween. Norrin’s at an age where he wants more independence and wants to do things without my help. And he’s quick to tell me, “Don’t worry mom, I got this.” But as a mom, it’s hard not to hover. While he may not always need my help, he does require some guidance and prompting. Especially when it comes to tooth brushing and oral care.
If it were up to Norrin, he’d cover his toothbrush with a massive gob of tooth paste, rinse most of it off with water, brush for two seconds and rinse. So I step back, let him have his moment to brush his teeth on his own, then when he’s done – I inspect. That’s when we brush again…the right way.
I’m always looking for new techniques and apps that will help improve Norrin’s self-help skills and oral care habits.
That’s why I’m excited to share that Colgate is partnering with MagnusCards, an innovative mobile app that empowers people living with cognitive special needs, such as autism, to independently manage daily skills such as tooth brushing.
MagnusCards helps caregivers reinforce routines for people with cognitive special needs through a series of positive and easy-to-understand digital card decks that provide step-by-step guidance to complete daily tasks.
Closely developed with oral health experts at Colgate, the five new oral care digital card decks include: brushing, brushing with braces, rinsing, flossing, and visiting the dental office.
The first thing I did was introduce the app to Norrin. I wanted him to explore it, swipe through the pictures at his own pace. It’s a great way for him to work on his reading and comprehension skills but the app also has voice prompts. Once he was comfortable with the app, I started using it in the bathroom. (I have the app on my phone and on his tablet.) Then we’d go through the cards, step by step and I asked him to follow the prompts. This is something I typically do in the evenings, when I’m not rushing to get out the door for school and work.
Tooth brushing hasn’t always been easy for us. But with time, it’s gotten better. Like everything else in our lives – tooth brushing is a skill that needs to be learned. And the MagnusCards app is a tool that can help.
The app provides Norrin with the independence he needs and the guidance he requires to follow the routine of tooth brushing and practicing good oral hygiene.
You can learn more about MagnusCards at http://colgate.magnuscards.com/.
The MagnusCards app is available for free download on the App Store or Google Play. Users can also sign up online at www.magnuscards.com.
And learn more about Colgate’s partnership with MagnusCards in the video below:
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