The Best Coding Resources for Kids
For information about Coder Kids classes and camps, including online coding and gaming topics, visit register.coderkids.com/onlineclasses.
Trying to teach your kid how to code can be challenging. One of the main issues can be a lack of resources. Even if you sign them up for a private tutor or a coding class, you’ll probably want to do some follow up with them. How do you find the best coding resources for kids?
The internet is full of free and paid coding resources for kids that are easy to find and use. We’ve checked them out and have our top picks listed below. Let’s check out the best coding resources available for kids of all ages!
Coding Resources for Kids Ages 5-7
If your child is in a younger age group, these resources are great options! They’re tailored for kids who’re still at the beginning of their journey.
Scratch - Free
Kids at this age mostly learn through visuals; written codes can be too difficult for them. That’s why Scratch is full of fun illustrations that kids can follow and comprehend. It has the design and the layout of a game, which helps kids feel at ease while learning.
This program enables users to build creative games using visual coding blocks. Additionally, they can add illustrations, sound effects, and other add-ons. Kids can also learn how some of their favorite games were programmed like Donkey Kong and Asteroids. With Scratch, kids get familiar with computer programming basics.
Scratch has a lot of learning plans that arrange lessons in a specific order that you and your child can use. This is more helpful than roaming through a random array of games.
Curious about what your kid can achieve? Within the Scratch community, you can check out projects other kids have made. Another bonus? Scratch is a totally free platform.
Tynker - Paid
Tynker is similar to Scratch in the fact that it teaches coding through visual blocks. Kids will find it easy to use thanks to the great organization. Upon paying, the participant will get access to 32 online courses on Tynker. Your kids start their lessons gradually and when they finish their stage, they graduate to the next one.
The lessons on Tynker get more complex as your kids work through them. The skills they learn build on one another so that when they get through the beginners' phase, they are ready for the higher-grade resources. Also, the lessons are divided into different age categories, making it easier for you to choose your kid’s age and get started right away.
You can think of Tynker as an online school course that children graduate from. If you’re willing to pay for your kid’s first programming lessons, Tynker is a great option to consider.
Wonder Workshops Dash and Dot Robotics Kit - Paid
If you don’t want to introduce your kid to the online world this early in his life, you might want to consider this kit. The Dash and Dot kit comes with a real robot that your kid can program easily using visual computer programming. It also comes with several fun games that your kid can use with the robot.
The robots are designed to entertain and educate. Kids get drawn to the idea of moving a robot around, and they also get a cute little friend to play with. These kinds of kits can be really beneficial for children. They help improve their attention span and enhance their creativity.
You’ll pay a lot for the Dash and Dot kit, but it’ll be worth it in the end. A lot of coding academies use this kit as one their resources for teaching children, including Coder Kids.
Coding Resources for Kids Ages 8-10
These resources are best suited for kids between the ages of 8 and 10. Whether your kid is a beginner or they already know the basics of coding, these are terrific resources to help them in their coding journey.
Khan Academy - Free
Khan Academy is one of the most sought-after online programming academies. The fact that it’s free also contributes to its (global) popularity. Khan Academy is financially supported by one of Bill Gates’ foundations, which tells you a lot about the quality of their courses.
Khan Academy provides teaching videos for a variety of languages, including HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Users get to learn how to create websites and 2D games using programming languages.
Best of all, Khan Academy isn’t exclusive to kids between 8 and 10 years. It offers lessons for high school students, but we think it’s ideal for this age group.
There is also a mobile app for Khan Academy that you can use to play instructional videos. Your children can choose from the available courses, and you can follow up on their progress through the dashboard. Users can also communicate with each other if they're taking the same course.
Code Monkey - Free
Code Monkey is ideal for kids who get bored quickly. They won’t have to endure a moment of boredom with the fun games that this site has to offer. It teaches coding basics through a series of challenging levels. Once the user passes a level, they move on to the next one. This goes on until your child is ready to graduate and move on to a higher grade.
Users will have access to many learning resources on Code Monkey. The games available include Challenge Builder and Dodo Does Math, along with other entertaining games.
Code Monkey is especially useful for kids who are just getting started. It offers a great opportunity for first-time programmers. If your kid already knows the basics, Khan Academy might be a better option.
Code.org - Free
Code.org is globally recognized for its comprehensive resources. It teaches everything an online coding site should teach, including technical and non-technical skills, web design, and application development. It even has instructional videos presented by Mark Zuckerberg.
This site is full of quality coding content for children. There are a bunch of tutorial courses available for newbies.
Best of all, Code.org aims at making computer programming easier for kids all around the world. That’s why it has courses available in several different languages.
All users receive certificates after finishing a course, which can be a great motivator to kids in this age group.
Coding Resources for Kids Ages 10+
If your kid is ready to get a peek into real-life programming, these resources will help take them to the next level. Even if it’s their first time programming, these options will still work.
CodeCombat - Free & Paid Versions
CodeCombat is a coding game that helps kids understand Python and JavaScript. It’s a merger between written code drills and RPG maps. There’s a free version available that has all core levels, including basic syntax, string, and arguments. If you want to step up your game, you can get the paid version and unlock web development, game creation, and high-level modules.
With CodeCombat, kids get to learn through challenging games that grab their attention and help them concentrate.
This website is meant for kids older than 10 years. Its main focus is written code rather than visual blocks. It’s widely used in programming classes for its reliability and ease of use.
Codecademy - Paid & Free Versions
Codecademy is the place for aspiring students to develop their coding skills. It provides diverse online classes for different programming languages. It also gives practical experience through tests and projects. They get to implement what they learn right away.
The courses on this website are categorized into different topics and different ages. You can easily get access to your kid’s age and explore your options. However, that is only available in the paid version. The free version will only give you access to the basics.
That’s not the only benefit of the paid version, though. You also get to create a lesson plan for your child and follow up on it. Afterward, the user’s progress is documented in the plan, along with their test results.
CodeWizardsHQ - Paid
CodeWizardsHQ is the closest option on our list to the experience of a real school. They use online classes led by tutors. In addition to that, the students get to create projects and graduate, as they’d do in an actual school.
The website’s programming curriculum consists of 12 chapters dedicated to CSS/HTML. Along with web development, the curriculum also covers several programming topics, such as JavaScript, MySQL, and responsive design.
As for the duration of the classes, they last for about an hour. Classes are scheduled once a week. Your child can choose whether they want to work individually or in a group. And of course, the course instructor is always available for online help.
Closing Thoughts
Computer programming is a valuable skill to acquire at a young age. It can improve children’s logic skills and creativity. It may even form their career path later on! We hope our list of the best coding resources for kids is helpful to you and your child on their coding journey! Check out our list of the Top 10 Free Coding Programs here.
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