5 top coding games your children should play on their tablets.
If your children do not play coding games, then they are missing out on some good computational thinking development. This they can have while playing games they will enjoy. Here are my 5 top coding games I would pick for your kids. Kindly note that I am only referring to ones your children can easily access and play on their tablets and not their PC. Also, this is not a ranking of coding games. Let me if you want ones for the pc.
Lightbot (or/and Spritebox)
Requirement: Children should be able to count and know their directions very well (left, right, up and down, turn left, turn right, ‘jump’).
Parents can download Lightbot from the App Store or Google Playstore for free. There is also a paid version that gives you more levels and challenges. Lightbot introduces children to commands, building sequences of instructions using commands, loops, and even functions. It's fun and mentally stimulating. Another version of Lightbot is Spritebox. Spritebox requires that the child be able to play a game like Mario since it involves controlling the character in the form of an adventure game. It is graphically more engaging than Lightbox while employing the same computational thinking and coding concepts used in Lightbot. Both apps are offline, once downloaded there is no data required for your children to use.
Code a pillar — Think & Learn
Requirement: Children should be able to count (at least 1 to 10) and know simple arrow signs or directions(turn left, turn right)
Parents can download code-a-pillar from the App Store or Google Playstore. It is awesome for lower Grades(Grade 1 and 2 and lower). Though there is a toy robot that parents can buy for extra experience, the app alone is enough for the child. Code-a-pillar is very simple and a good way for nursery kids to start learning to code and develop their computational thinking skills. Just like any game, as your child progresses in the levels, it becomes more and more challenging. Children tend to rush through games, but should not do so with coding games. Each level is built on the former level, hence, supervision might be needed for some kids.
Bit by Bit
Requirements: Children should be good at using arrows to show direction. Children should not be discouraged by challenges or failures.
Bit by Bit is full of exciting challenges. Your children will have to complete these challenges using simple commands. The game emphasizes on breaking down complex problems and solving them bit by bit; no pun intended. Bit by Bit can easily bring out the competitive and problem-solving edge of your child. Just like the apps listed above, Bit by Bit can be downloaded on the App Store and on Google Playstore.
Kodable
Requirement: Children should understand the arrow signs(up, down, forward, back)
Kodable is great for nursery and kindergarten kids. It starts with up and down commands as the code for controlling a rolling sprite. Fortunately, Kodable is now on Google Play Store as well as the App Store. In the past, it used to be available on only the App store. Kodable allows for the parent or teacher to create a classroom, assign users or players, and track their progress.
Codespark with the Foos
Requirement: Children should be able to count and know simple arrow signs or directions(right, left, up, down).
This is probably one of the most entertaining coding games for kids. It is free for schools and paid for parents. As a parent, you can create a virtual school on the app and benefit from the free features if you want. Though this coding game is entertaining, it requires you to be connected to the internet to log in and use each time. Also, the paid session for the individual parents can make it a little cumbersome to get started with for your kids. But do give it a try.
If you are a parent with kids, let them give these coding games a try. If possible, attempt some levels yourself and some with your kids. Give me your feedback and let me know if you want an in-depth demonstration of some of the coding games or if some levels are difficult to tackle.
