7 Best Kids Coding Languages
Coding is one of the most valuable skills this year, so it is no surprise that many parents want their children to learn it. Acquiring coding skills requires learning one or more programming languages.
Fortunately, plenty of coding languages are specifically designed for kids, making it easier for them to develop this valuable skill. We will explore the best coding languages your child should learn.
By the end of this article, you will know the appropriate coding language for your child based on their age and the specific areas of coding you want them to learn. Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
The 7 Best Kids Coding Languages
Scratch
With over 103 million users, Scratch is still one of the most popular programming languages for children. It is a block-based open-source visual programming language developed by MIT in 2007.
It is specifically designed for kids between 8 and 16 years, allowing them to create interactive stories, games, and animations using colorful code blocks.
Scratch is popular among kids due to its simplicity and user-friendly interface. It has gained worldwide recognition and has become the largest free coding community for kids.
Users can use Scratch online or offline since it has versions for some of the most popular platforms, including Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Android.
Lua
Lua is a basic coding language known for its simplicity, speed, and portability. It was created in Brazil in 1993 and has gained popularity as an easy-to-learn programming language.
Lua is often compared to Python and is an excellent choice for introducing kids to text-based programming. It is widely used in robotics and has been utilized in developing well-known video games like Angry Birds and Roblox.
Lua offers a simplified syntax that reduces the chances of errors, making it a suitable language for young learners. This coding language is ideal for kids that are at least nine years. Kids can also join the Lua community to share their experiences with colleagues learning this language.
Java
Java is a popular programming language for creating useful products, including operating systems running over 1.3 billion devices. It is an object-oriented programming language widely used for developing applications and games. It is known for its stability, scalability, and ease of use.
Java is the official language for Android app development, which strongly motivates kids to learn it. The popularity of Minecraft, a game released in 2011, has sparked interest among kids in learning Java.
Minecraft’s adaptability and customization options make it an excellent platform for teaching kids how to use logic in Java. Java also offers graphical interfaces and a wide range of open-source libraries, making it easy for young developers to get started.
Snap
Snap is a free web-based visual programming language developed and built by UC Berkeley. Hundreds of developers use this coding language currently worldwide. Using block-based programming, Snap allows children to create interactive stories, games, and animations.
Like Scratch, Snap is designed for a slightly older audience and offers additional features for creating more complex programs. The language is ideal for kids between the age of 12 to 20. It provides a platform for kids to engage in programming activities that involve math, science, and social studies
Blockly
Blockly, developed by Google, is a free and open-source visual programming language (platform) available online. It aims to provide an easy-to-use interface for beginners and young children, even those without programming experience. Blockly supports multiple programming languages, such as JavaScript, Python, and XML.
It is often used in educational settings to teach programming concepts intuitively and interactively. Blockly is also available as a mobile app, making it accessible on iOS and Android devices, so kids can play around with this platform wherever they are. This language is ideal for kids that are between 5 to 15 years.
Swift
Swift is a visual programming language developed by Apple for building apps for all Apple platforms, including iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and the new visionOS. It was released in 2014 and has gained popularity due to its ease of learning and the growing developer community surrounding it.
Swift is suitable for kids aged nine and above interested in developing Apple device apps. It’s important to note that Apple has over 1 billion active devices, so learning this programming language can be a potential game changer for your kids in the future.
To help beginners get started with coding, Apple created Swift Playgrounds, a platform where kids can learn by playing interactive coding games.
Ruby
Ruby is a programming language that balances functional and imperative programming styles. It was created in 1995 by Yukihiro “Matz” Matsumoto and gained worldwide acceptance in 2006.
Millions of developers around the world use this language. Ruby is known for its expressive and powerful yet readable syntax, making it ideal for beginners and kids.
It draws inspiration from various languages, including Perl, Smalltalk, Eiffel, Ada, and Lisp. Ruby is entirely free and has been used to develop notable applications like Twitter. This language is generally recommended for kids at least ten years and is available on all the major desktop platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Final Thoughts
We have discussed the top programming languages you can teach your children. It’s worth noting that all the languages we have mentioned are open-source, which means your kids can access them for free.
When deciding on a language, it’s essential to consider factors such as your child’s age and aptitude for learning complex subjects. We recommend languages that offer game-like interfaces for most kids, as they provide an enjoyable way to understand coding concepts while having fun.
