6 Top Rated Coding Apps for Kids
Coding apps are vital in keeping children engaged during the learning process, allowing them to remain focused for longer durations than traditional methods. Given the wide array of coding apps available, some parents may struggle to identify the most suitable ones for their children.
Learning how to code is an invaluable skill every parent would love their child to acquire. According to a recent study, over 73% of American parents prefer their child to learn coding rather than a foreign language.
However, children generally have shorter attention spans than adults, so it is crucial to utilize coding apps when teaching them how to code.
To assist such parents, we have compiled a list of highly-rated coding apps ideal for kids interested in learning coding. Without further delay, let’s delve into this comprehensive list!
Related: 17 Best Coding Games for Kids This Year!
Daisy the Dinosaur
Daisy the Dinosaur is a free iPad-exclusive app designed to help kids (at least four years old) learn basic programming concepts and start their coding journey. The app, developed by experts at Hopscotch, allows kids to animate Daisy the Dinosaur and make her dance on the screen with just a few simple steps.
By using this game, kids can learn core programming concepts like loops and conditionals in a fun and approachable manner without explicitly using technical terms.
Learning these concepts gives your kids a solid background to grow their coding careers further. Daisy the Dinosaur is free to download and a great way to spark children’s interest in coding.
The only downside is that it is only available for iPad, which is not accessible on other mobile platforms, including Android and iPhone.
Hopscotch
Hopscotch is another coding app created by Hopscotch to help kids learn the basics of coding. It is a free app available on iPad and iPhone, specifically designed for kids between 7 and 13, but it can also be used by those older than this.
It provides a kid-friendly tool for coding and allows children to create their games, apps, and animations. This app has self-paced video tutorials that guide kids through coding popular games like Pokémon Go and Geometry Dash, as well as drawing apps.
It serves as a transition from ScratchJr to more advanced coding and offers block-to-block comparisons. Hopscotch is an iOS-exclusive app, so Android users cannot access it.
Code Land
Code Land is a top-rated educational app on Google’s and Apple’s app stores designed to help kids between 4 and 10 years learn how to code. This app offers a self-paced learning experience where kids can master various coding concepts at their own pace.
Some of the programming concepts that this app will teach your kids include pattern recognition, problem-solving, sequencing, logical thinking, loops, functions, conditionals, and events. This app aims to gamify the learning process to ensure that kids are engaged.
In addition to learning problem-solving with code, children can create challenges and compete against other players. Fortunately, Code Land is available on both iOS and Android devices.
Lightbot – Programming Puzzle
Lightbot is a challenging app that aims to teach basic computer programming concepts through solving puzzles. This game is for kids aged seven and above.
Each level of this game provides brief instructions. It also allows kids to replay levels as needed to enhance learning. Playing this game will allow your kids to master programming concepts, including Sequencing, Overloading, Procedures, Recursive Loops, and Conditionals. This game is also available on iOS and Android devices.
Bee-Bot
Bee-Bot is another popular coding app created for kids aged four and above. The popular Bee-Bot floor robot inspired this game.
This app offers a version that allows young students to learn programming basics through various levels and puzzles. The app features a cartoon bee and focuses on improving directional language and programming skills, incorporating sequences of forwards, backward, left, and right 90-degree turns.
As students progress to higher levels of the game, they encounter complex challenges that enhance their problem-solving abilities. This app is also an iOS exclusive.
ScratchJr
ScratchJr is one of the top-rated coding apps on both the Google and Apple app stores. It is a free app developed by MIT and is for kids aged 5 to 7. With ScratchJr, kids can program interactive stories and games, enhancing their problem-solving skills, project design, and creative expression on the computer.
This app uses graphical programming blocks that children can snap together to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. Learners can also customize characters in the paint editor, add sounds and voices, and insert photos.
Some core skills kids will learn from playing include computational thinking, sequencing skills, and early literacy and numeracy. Fortunately, Scratch is available on both iOS and Android.
Kodable
Kodable is arguably the most popular coding app in elementary schools in the USA. This coding app was created for kids aged 4 to 10 years to enable them to learn programming from basic to complex levels.
Kodable introduces kids to some of the most programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, HTML, CSS, and Java.
One of the unique features of this app is its ability to break down computer science concepts into fundamental building blocks for a strong foundation. Kodable also has a teacher’s version that they can use to monitor and guide students. This app is also exclusive to iOS.
Final Thoughts
These apps help kids master the basic computer programming concepts they can use to solve simple and complex coding problems. You can choose any of the six apps based on your kid’s age, budget, and preferred operating system.
