Top 5 Free Coding Tools for Kids

21st century Skills in our ever evolving world, it’s advantageous for kids to develop the necessary skills to thrive in technology. When kids learn to code, they gain important technical skills that can lead to a career the path they take. That’s why coding is the most essential skill for kids. These are top free coding tools for kids to learn.

Minecraft for Education

Minecraft is one of the most popular games around for kids of all ages – and there is now an Education edition available that helps students learn coding skills! Using the Code Builder, students can work independently or in groups to design and build their own characters and worlds.

Kodable

Kodable focuses on the concepts needed for computer programming. The free version has a parent section that includes a teaching curriculum and off-screen game ideas for kids to continue developing skills. The parent section also includes instructions for unlocking levels for kids and how to enable guided iPad access, allowing kids to focus on one task at a time. The parent section is especially helpful to nonprogrammer parents. Kodable’s free version also includes Smeeborg, a beginning lesson for kids. Smeeborg introduces loops, if/then statements, and other programming basics in a step-by-step format.

Scratch jr

ScratchJr is a more basic version of Scratch, designed to give younger kids an introduction to computer programming and multimedia. Adults will need to explain the game to kids in order to get them started because both the animated guide and the written instructions are at a higher reading level than the intended age groups. However, once students have it figured out, the apps many options for creating scripts, including the different backgrounds and actions, can keep them entertained for hours.

Tynker

Tynker is a complete learning system that enables everyone from beginners to advanced programmers to code with intuitive, interest-based activities. Tynker’s self-paced courses let kids experiment with visual blocks before progressing to intermediate programming and even languages like JavaScript and Python. Includes lessons and support for building Minecraft mods!

Hopscotch

With Hopscotch, kids can create their own programs. They write their own code, code that controls characters, using the app’s drag-and-drop programming design. Kids can also add text to their programs. The character-based design of the app sets it apart from other apps. Created by the makers of Daisy the Dinosaur, Hopscotch is open-ended, meaning kids aren’t writing code for characters to do specific things, another aspect that makes this game different. Kids can create what they want. Hopscotch also has a community section where kids can upload the programs they create and view programs designed by other kids. However, kids are asked not to use their real names. Parents should know that the community section is not moderated.