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We are big fans of both Scratch and ScratchJr. here at Coder Kids! We use Scratch and ScratchJr in our after school classes, summer camps and private lessons. While there are a lot of similarities between Scratch and ScratchJr, there are also some pretty important differences. In this post, we’ll go over the basics of each one, their similarities and differences, and how to choose the best option for your child.

Basics of Scratch vs ScratchJr

Scratch and ScratchJr are both websites/apps that are designed to help kids learn how to code. Scratch was developed by MIT and uses block based coding to help children create their own games, animations and more. ScratchJr also uses block based coding, but was designed as a precursor to Scratch.

Scratch and ScratchJr are great ways to introduce coding fundamentals to children, as well as encourage logical thinking and creativity. ScratchJr is typically used for younger children, but that’s not always the case. And some younger kids start off with Scratch and do just fine.

Starting kids off with ScratchJr and then moving on to Scratch is a great way for kids to develop their coding skills with age appropriate tasks and projects that build on one another. By using ScratchJr first, kids will have an easier time getting used to Scratch and how itworks.

Similarities

There are quite a few similarities between Scratch and ScratchJr. As stated above, they both use block coding and were designed to teach kids the basics of coding. Scratch and ScratchJr both use bright colors, fun characters, and kid appropriate art and sound options. In both programs, you’ll find an almost endless amount of possibilities for creativity, personalization and fun.

Scratch and ScratchJr are also free to use and download. It’s incredible that you can get such a high quality program that is kid friendly for free! And it’s not like some games that start off as free and then try to get you to make in-app purchases. Scratch and ScratchJr are totally free to use and download.

Parents, teachers and kids can find free simple tutorials and ideas for projects on the app or website. There are tutorials and ideas for beginners, as well as kids with more coding experience.

Differences

While Scratch and ScratchJr share some similarities, there are some key differences that will be helpful when deciding which one your child should be using. Althought they are both designed for kids, ScratchJr is designed specifically for kids ages 5-7, while Scratch is designed for kids ages 8-16. While this isn’t a hard and fast rule, it’s a good thing to keep in mind. Plenty of older kids (and adults!) have fun creating on ScratchJr and younger kids can get the hang of Scratch even if they are younger than 8, or if they haven’t used ScratchJr yet.

Because it is designed for younger kids, the ScratchJr interface and coding blocks are made for pre-readers. Coding blocks are labeled with pictures and colors instead of words, but kids will often need some adult instruction at first to understand what all of the blocks do. For some great ScratchJr projects, click here.

Scratch uses words, numbers and more complex thinking processes than ScratchJr because it is designed for kids 8+. This means kids need to know how to read, but it also means that they will be able to create much more complicated games and animations on Scratch than on ScratchJr. Click here for some cool Scratch projects.

There is a really fun Scratch Community where kids can share their projects, remix other projects and comment, like and favorite other people’s work. The Scratch community is safe for kids and provides opportunities for users to collaborate and share their ideas. You can learn more about the Scratch Community here.

ScratchJr does not have a community option. In order to share a project your child has made on ScratchJr, you’ll need to share it either by email or Airdrop. There' isn’t a ScratchJr community where kids can share their work with other users.

The other main difference between Scratch and ScratchJr is that ScratchJr is only available as an app to download. Scratch can be accessed on the internet or downloaded to your computer or tablet and used offline as well.

How to Choose

There are a few important individual factors to consider when choosing Scratch or ScratchJr for your child. These include age, reading level, maturity level and interests.

Age- We have found that the age groups suggested by Scratch and ScratchJr (5-7 for ScratchJr and 8-16 for Scratch) are typically appropriate for our students. If you have a child on the border, take into consideration the following factors as well.
Reading Level- We have noticed that kids under age 8 struggle with the reading and higher level concepts in Scratch. Kids must be able to read and understand the coding blocks in order to use Scratch.
Maturity Level- Although the Scratch Community is a safe and kid-friendly environment, young children and their parents may find the open-format community distasteful for kids who are very young and impressionable. There is lots of silliness that happens on Scratch!
Interests- If your child is in between Scratch and ScratchJr, one other factor to take into consideration is their level of interest in coding. A child who is highly motivated to learn and do more coding-wise, might find the challenge and possibilities of Scratch much more exciting and appealing. On the other hand, if your child is a little more cautious or not as interested in coding, ScratchJr might be a better way to introduce coding concepts to them in a simple and straight-forward way.

Conclusion - Scratch vs. ScratchJr

We declare Scratch and ScratchJr as the winners in the Scratch vs ScratchJr debate! Scratch and ScratchJr are both excellent ways to teach kids coding fundamentals in a fun and creative way. They both allow kids to create their own games and animations, growing their skills as they go. When deciding which option is best for your child, be sure to take into consideration their individual age, reading level, maturity level, interests, as well as looking at the differences between Scratch and ScratchJr.

Have you used Scratch or ScratchJr? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!