Dr. Panda Veggie Garden is a fun and engaging app that gives the child the opportunity to pretend to grow plants and work in a garden. The child can dig, plow, plant seeds, water and harvest. There are 12 different fruits and vegetables to grow for the animal customers who come to the store. They can also organize the tool shed and work in the yard in a variety of mini games.

The app begins with an animal driving up to the farm. They ask with pictures for a particular food and the child must grow and harvest that food. There are no verbal or written instructions during the app. The pictures move or jump to give the child prompts as to what to do or the parent or therapist can give them verbal instructions. The animals make some noises or words like “yeah” or “bye” and music can be played in the background.

Settings within the app only allow the adult to turn off/on the music and sound effects. No other controls are given. Since this is a story app for play, no data is collected during the use of the app.

The app is useful in teaching following directions, spatial concepts, vocabulary and conversational skills. The child can give the animals words to say to express their needs or gratitude for the food. Or the therapist can provide verbal instructions for the child to follow.

This app was reviewed with preschool children with developmental delays or autism. They were interested and engaged with the app. Since the games were short, they were able to complete a few of the games. It is used as a teaching tool as well as a reinforcement for concepts taught in therapy. Dr. Panda Veggie Garden may benefit users diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, developmentally delayed, speech and/or language disorder.