Young children learn new languages easily. While the experience and knowledge of adults is the key to effectiveness, young brains are more malleable. In addition to spoken languages, children at a young age would do well to be introduced to programming languages as well. Since children’s and adults’ minds differ in their ability to remember, learning methods should also differ. Coding systems provide many opportunities for teaching children to program. It’s a fun but controlled environment.

Programming is an important skill for children because of massive digitization. Children at a young age may become interested in IT, subsequently showing more and more interest in it. But this does not mean that children necessarily will grow to become programmers and developers in the future. A basic understanding of coding is important for overall intelligence development. The benefit of it can be compared to playing chess.

Instead of sending your kids to friends on playground computer science classes, check out apps to teach kids how to program.

Think and Learn Code-a-Pillar

Think and Learn Code-a-Pillar from Fisher-Price is designed for children to practice learning information technology and programming. The developers of Think-LearnCode-a-Pillar have combined the functionality of a learning system and a fun of gaming.

Working with the program, young users solve puzzles that illustrate basic coding concepts. The system is designed for young children aged 3-6. Some of the tasks may be too difficult for the youngest students. Therefore, it is best to conduct lessons under adult supervision. Sound effects and the soundtrack can be turned off.

The app is available for all iOS- and Android- powered mobile devices.

Tynker

Tynker is an outstanding app. Like with many apps for teaching computer science to children, the material is exciting to engage children. The platform boasts a large selection of tasks. Kids can program robots and drones, mods for Minecraft, create apps and games, or do science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) research.

Before moving on to learning Python and JavaScript, kids are encouraged to start mastering coding with visual blocks. But at each stage, programming focuses on projects; such an approach is highly engaging and results-oriented for students. Before moving on to actual coding, Tynker gives lessons with visual blocks. This method of teaching can be considered very lucid. You might also consider a similar program called Scratch, which is supported by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Kodable

The creators of Kodable claim that their game is designed for young learners from 2 years old. Children can learn to code earlier than learning letters. The game action takes place in mazes, where the sequence of actions is indicated. Hints and tips are made with graphics, so the child won’t have to read anything.

Kodable is recommended for learning coding in elementary school. Teachers and parents can monitor the learning process, set difficulty levels, and monitor progress. A great start for the youngest coding enthusiasts!

CodeMonkey

CodeMonkey is an online game in which, step by step, children learn to control a funny monkey. Each new level uncovers new possibilities of programming. To complete the next task, you’ll have to apply the knowledge from the previous lesson. It takes a few minutes to reach each round’s primary goal, so it’s convenient to schedule lessons so that the child stays engrossed and has no time to get tired.

A big plus of CodeMonkey is that this game gives a complete introduction to coding. Commands in the game need to be selected using icons, and the sequence of actions is written in lines of real code. The game is very realistic.

Code Karts

Code Karts is an original game that is designed for children ages 4 and older. With its help, kids can learn basic coding skills. The gameplay resembles an ordinary race. The player needs to compete with other racers and overcome obstacles. To get around the obstacles, they need to solve coding-related tasks and riddles. Children may need adult help in solving some of the tasks. There are a total of 70 tasks and lessons available in the game. The first 10 levels are available for free. You’ll have to pay extra for the rest in the paid version of the app.

Codecademy Hour of Code

Codecademy is a popular educational portal for programmers. The developers of this portal have recently released an app for iOS in which you can learn the coding basics in just 1 hour. This app is suitable for kids over 6 years old and teenagers. Perhaps even adults will find something useful in this crash coding course. The app is designed as an interesting puzzle game. In the process of learning, a child will have to solve simple problems to consolidate the acquired knowledge. The peculiarity of this app is good graphics and useful coding knowledge from Codecademy portal experts.

ScratchJr

ScratchJr is a web-based game for children ages 5 to 7. The app’s storyline is presented in a fairy tale format with playful elements. Children listen to exiting stories and participate in interactive games during the game. During the gameplay, various tasks about coding appear. Before that, children gain knowledge about the different elements of code and the rules of coding strings.

So far, this is the whole list of the most interesting applications for children to learn coding. Programming can seem incredibly difficult, thus it’s better to start learning it from a young age. These programs for teaching kids to program offer exciting opportunities.

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