The Ultimate List of Resources to Teach Kids to Code
From games, hardware, tech toys and visual programming software, there’s a way for all kids to learn to code in a way that suits their learning style. Start your kids (and students) off right!
As it’s such a rapidly moving space, i decided it was way past time for an update on our coding resources for kids article. So here it is, carefully categorised for your ease of use! In here is literally hundreds of hours of educational fun for kids aged three to 14. What better way to start learning to code? Choose from a selection of games, hardware, tech toys and visual programming software.
Visual Code
Scratch is the classic. Designed by MIT, the Scratch squirrel has guided thousands of kids through their learning of code. The capacity of this platform is enormous. You can make your for loop, develop games and even replicate Minecraft. That’s right, it’s super easy to look under the hood. There couldn’t be an easier way to get started.
Hopscotch is like Scratch, but for mobile. The same concept of visual programming. Within Hopscotch, people have made games, drawings, minecraft remakes and websites.
Hackety Hack is basically an open-source version of Scratch, Alice and Hopscotch.
This project is drag-and-drop programming for app development. It’s also open source.
Bridge to Text Code
You’ve played Scratch and Hopscotch and you’re nearly ready for pure code. There’s an awesome program that will ease your transition. Try Blockly. See how your code looks like in many different coding languages. This is a Google production.
Code.org is a great introduction to basic syntax.
Alice uses an innovative 3D programming environment to teach object-oriented programming.
Two awesome suggestions from GeekInSydney.
S2JS is one of a set of a whole new set resources that teaches kids how to bridge the gap from Scratch to Javascript. Australian made, It’s for older kids, aged 12 to 17. It assumes they’re already well-versed in Scratch, and shows them how to achieve similar things in Javascript by making super clear it’s similarities. It uses examples in Scratch, presented as blocks, and then leads them step-by-step through how to achieve the same result in Javascript. Why did S2JS choose JavaScript? Because kid’s friends can easily play the games they create on laptop or on mobile.
WoofJS’s playful interface and dynamic design makes it a joy to use. How it works is every Scratch command is shown with WoofJS equivalents below, and you copy in the text code to their text-editor. You can then edit the pre-written javascript.
Games
Minecraft is wildly popular. It’s a game where you use blocks to create 3d worlds inside randomly generated environments.
Cargo-Bot is a puzzle game where you teach a robot how to move crates. There are 36 increasingly complex levels.
Learn coding basics while playing a massive multi player game.
Little Codr is a card game that introduces basic coding concepts.
This construction store game for girls stormed onto Kickstarter and has been a force ever since. It’s designed to develop early interest in engineering and confidence in problem-solving.
Makerspace/Hardware
Makey Makey is a great way to learn about circuits, and the conductivity of various objects.
Arduino made electrical engineering mainstream and brought hardware back. They’re so popular there’s a guide telling people how to recognise fakes.
Raspberry Pi is like Arduino, designed for the education industry.
Tech Toys
Cubetto teaches a few of the most basic coding concepts to kids aged 3 and up with hand-on play.
A board game for younger kids.
You control a robotic ball from your iPad.
A more advanced introduction to robotics. The original kids hardware platform.
Code interactive bracelets.
These are robots blocks which form to become larger robots. You can use blockly to code your robot group with ease.
An interactive toy with LED lights and other functions that can be manipulated. Learn code and hardware at the same time. They have a proprietary programming language but it also works with Python and Raspberry Pi and so on.
Teaches the US Year 1 to 5 coding curriculum with symbolic code.
In-Person Programs
We have a delightful selection of courses for kids of all ages. A coding & makerspace intensive designed for teenagers, and primary schoolers, game design and film for the older kids.
Coder Factory Academy: Meet Australia’s first and only accredited fast-track coding bootcamp! Our immersive course helps students acquire in-demand skills through hands-on, project-based training by industry experts over 23 weeks. Become an employable full-stack developer in only six months.
Now enrolling domestic & international students in Sydney & Melbourne! Study now, pay later!
Coder Factory now offers digital leadership and technology workshops for employees of companies seeking tech, innovation, and digital literacy. The training sessions function as mini-hackathons, where employees work to use technology in solving real problems within their company.
Learn more about our corporate training workshops.
Are you a woman interested in coding? Check out our Women in Tech Scholarship!
