To help you find the best child-friendly coding apps for educational purposes, we asked five founders and co-founders for their top recommendations. From exploring Microsoft’s visual programming platform, Kodu, to embarking on a storytelling-meets-coding journey with Coding Safari, discover the top five apps these industry leaders recommend.
- Explore Kodu: Microsoft’s Visual Programming Platform
- Discover Lego Boost: Coding Through Construction
- Scratch: Picture-Based Coding for Kids
- Engage with Robot Turtles: Coding Board Game
- Embark on Coding Safari: Storytelling Meets Coding
Explore Kodu: Microsoft’s Visual Programming Platform
Kodu, by Microsoft, is a visual programming platform tailored for kids, making coding engaging and accessible. Its vibrant interface lets children as young as eight create their own video games, offering immediate feedback and fostering problem-solving skills.
Unlike text-heavy coding, Kodu’s drag-and-drop elements simplify the learning process. It’s inclusive, requiring no prior coding experience, and is supported by a vast community and resources. Dive into the world of child-friendly coding with Kodu and prepare the next generation for a digitally literate future.
Learn more at Kodu Game Lab.
Discover Lego Boost: Coding Through Construction
I highly recommend Lego Boost. It is available on Android and iOS, and is suitable for children 7 years and above. Lego Boost is an application that enables children to construct various Lego designs and animate them using code. Kids can make the designs emit sounds and exhibit movements through intuitive drag-and-drop coding.
This unique kit instructs children on crafting five diverse Lego structures, including a robot, a cat, a Lego-construction device, a guitar, and a mouse situated on a vehicle. Despite its high cost, this set is multifaceted and utilizes a mechanism—Lego blocks—that every child is familiar with.
Link: LEGO® Boost on the App Store
Scratch: Picture-Based Coding for Kids
Scratch is an app for kids that can help them learn how to code. It is a computer language for kids that was made by MIT and is based on pictures. By putting together coding blocks, kids can make dynamic stories, games, and animations with Scratch. It’s a great way to teach kids about code in a fun and interesting way.
Link: https://scratch.mit.edu/
Engage with Robot Turtles: Coding Board Game
Robot Turtles is a unique coding app in the form of a physical board game. It introduces young children to the basics of coding and programming logic. By arranging cards and navigating their turtle through a maze, kids learn sequencing, loops, and conditionals.
This tactile and interactive approach enhances their understanding of coding concepts. Robot Turtles provides a captivating learning experience that can be enjoyed by children and their parents together.
Find out more about Robot Turtles here: (Robot Turtles )
Embark on Coding Safari: Storytelling Meets Coding
Coding Safari is an interactive coding app that offers a unique approach to teaching coding to kids. By combining storytelling with coding challenges, children can embark on a virtual coding adventure. The app engages kids in a playful and imaginative learning experience, making it both educational and enjoyable. Through captivating stories, children learn programming concepts and develop problem-solving skills.
For example, in one story, kids can help a character navigate a maze by using coding blocks to create a pathway. This hands-on approach enhances their understanding of coding logic. With Coding Safari, kids can dive into the world of coding while having fun.
[Link: Hopster Coding Safari for Kids on the App Store ]