When you have a child on the spectrum, you’re used to maintaining a certain level of predictability in your daily schedule to keep life running smoothly. As a worldschooling family it was easy to throw plans out the window and go with the flow, but now that we are transitioning back into traditional school it’s time to get back into a solid routine.

Now that Roo is six years old and is craving more independence, I wanted to give her more control over her schedule. However, I found that this required me to spend more time prompting her to complete tasks and less time allowing her to foster a sense of independence. Because kids on the spectrum are so much more than just being “on the spectrum” Roo also has difficulties with sensory issues primarily around toileting so while looking for a watch to prompt her to use the restroom I stumbled upon the Octopus Watch by Joy.

The makers of the Octopus watch pride themselves on creating a device that is like training wheels for good habits. While not explicitly made for children on the spectrum, it’s perfect because it is icon-based, this means that your child does not have to know how to read time to be able to be independent. I’ve noticed that Roo seems to have a higher sense of self-esteem and self-worth when she feels self-sufficient and has some level of responsibility that’s what the Octopus watch can do for her.

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First Impressions:

Aesthetics

I like the design of the watch at first glance it appears to be a smartwatch for children which will allow for her to feel like it’s a “special watch.” The material of the watch is a softer plastic that doesn’t have parts that dig into the skin, which is vital for a child with sensory sensitivities. The watch face is large enough for her to be able to recognize the icons and my only gripe is that I wish that there were bands that could be changed out to either be fabric or to change the color as red doesn’t match with everything in her wardrobe.

Ease of Use

Although we haven’t had the opportunity to put it to full use, I have experimented with the watch a bit. While testing the Octopus watch, I found the prompts a bit annoying for me, but the repetitive prompts are an excellent feature for her to stay on task and combat her ADHD. After a bit of trial and error, I was able to download the app and create a standard Sunday through Saturday schedule.

There is even a feature to generate vacation schedules and other alternative schedules. I like that you were able to control the watch from not only the app but also a website. Visually the app was more appealing for me and more accessible to navigate but I also really like the weekly feature of the site so that I can adjust her tasks based on activities and appointments such as OT, speech, and therapy. Once I created the schedule for her and synced everything up, the watch did the rest of the work.

A feature that I love being a busy mama three it’s nice that I can set expectations and the Octopus watch will keep her on track if I’m ever wondering what she’s supposed to be doing and not doing the app reminds me of what she’s supposed to be doing and at what time. The Octopus watch usefulness doesn’t end at home; it can also be used in conjunction with teachers at school therapist and other professionals who are involved in her care to provide good consistency in and out of the home.

Verdict?

While we haven’t had the opportunity to put the octopus watch to full use, I’m excited about utilizing it as a tool to help her transition back into traditional school. With it’s over 600 different icons that range from basic self-care to chores and also free time, I am excited to see the results of her ability to feel more autonomous in her daily life. I am also eager to see if we have a reduction in stress, conflict, and an increase in organization and cooperation within our household.