5 Ways to Sharpen Up Your Skills for the Summer Code-A-Thon

5 Ways to Sharpen Up Your Skills for the Summer Code-A-Thon

On June 12, we’re launching a global coding event to help you make this the summer of code. But you don’t need to wait until then to start sharpening up your coding skills! Here are five free ways for kids to get coding with fun games, puzzles, and do-it-yourself projects.

1. Learn to code with puzzles on iPad tablets

Anyone can download our free iPad app and start learning to code! With the free app, you can solve coding puzzles, create and publish your own games, browse the moderated Tynker Community, and even program drones and robots. Plus, the iPad app is now available in five new languages: Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Chinese.

2. Complete an Hour of Code with fun activities

Check out our Hour of Code page to find dozens of fun, free activities. You can try puzzle games like Code Monsters and Dragon Dash that teach the basics of programming and computational thinking as you solve challenges like navigating your dragon to the treasure or battling monsters in a Pokemon-style monster collection game. We even have activities with audio instructions for early readers!

3. Build your own simple games by completing easy tutorials

The only thing more fun than playing games? Making your own! We offer tons of free tutorials that walk you through how to create and customize your own awesome games. You can even use our built-in Physics Engine to easily create physics-based games with gravity, like Brick Breaker, a physics cannon game, or a top-down arcade game.

4. Make a Minecraft mod with code

Love Minecraft? You can take your gameplay to the next level with modding! All you need to do is make a free Tynker account, have your parent approve it, and link it to your Minecraft Classic account. Then you can get started by making skins and texture packs or coding your own mods with our Mod Starter Pack. You’ll learn how to make eggs cause an explosion when you throw them, automatically create a path of petals as you walk, and even make your own Thunder Dome mini-game! Plus, you can invite your friends onto your free private server to play and code with you.

5. Challenge yourself with text coding

Make the jump from block-based coding to JavaScript and Python with our fun puzzle-based activities. In Counter Hack, you’ll use JavaScript commands to save the computer from a malicious virus by deleting viruses, solving mazes, and navigating portals. And in Toxic Jungle, you’ll learn Python to help Fletch collect the pixie dust and save the floating islands from the toxic haze.

And make sure you stay tuned for our big launch next week! There will be fun coding challenges, awesome prizes, and more!