Narrative language is known to be a critical bridge between oral language and written (or literate) language. Therefore I frequently focus on narratives during my language therapy sessions. One of my favorite apps that supports narrative development is Toontastic by Launchpad Toys . This app allows students to create their own cartoons by selecting characters, settings, music and dialogue. It guides students through the various stages of a story from the setup through the climax to the resolution. The best part is that this App is totally free! Here are some ways that you can use the App at home:

1) Read a story with your child and then ask them to make a parallel cartoon version of the story in Toontastic by retelling it in his/her own words.

2) Select a setting, characters and a problem/conflict and have your child finish the cartoon in Toontastic with the climax and resolution.

3) Work on descriptive words by selecting a character and a setting and having your child verbally describe the character and setting in detail.

4) Allow your child complete freedom to create a novel cartoon with all critical story elements included.