Coding for Kids
Looking for an easy way for your child to learn about computer coding independently? Take your child from novice to expert. Just have them follow the path. Start with simple puzzles, advance to block coding basics — then graduate to Python!
Read on to explore what’s inside each level. Take a placement test to skip ahead to the Level that’s most relevant. As you complete lessons, you’ll be rewarded with unique badges! Keep up the momentum, and complete an entire level to earn your first Coding Certificate.
Table of Contents
Level 1: Programming Basics
Get started coding in a fun and friendly way with Tynker’s Programming Basics. This level is all about building a strong foundation and becoming comfortable writing code.
As you embark on this exciting journey, you’ll gain practice with:
- Critical Thinking: Just like a detective on the case, you’ll learn to piece together clues and think step-by-step to solve coding mysteries.
- Building a Program: Imagine crafting a toy using cardboard — or building with LEGO blocks. In coding, you’ll assemble parts together to make your computer follow your instructions.
- Composition: Just like how stories have a beginning, middle, and end, your code will have its own flow. You’ll learn to compose your ideas in a structured way, building up your programs piece-by-piece, as you solve puzzles and challenges.
- Sequencing: It’s all about order! Like following a recipe, coding requires you to sequence your commands correctly for the desired outcome.
Unravel the secrets of computer science the fun way. Voiced-over instructions and animated videos help keep even reluctant learners engaged. Every puzzle and playground is an exciting challenge.
Pick up the coding habit early. Encourage your child’s progress by celebrating their badges and certificates that show off their new coding knowledge! Ask them to share their own original Tynker projects with you, too.
- View your child’s badges (login as Student)
- View your child’s coding certificates (login as Student)
- View all their progress in the Family Portal (login as Parent)
Level 2: Create with Code
Now it’s time to bring your ideas to life! Design stories, games, animations, and more. Step into a world where coding meets creativity. As you journey through this level, you will:
- Tell Stories with Code: Imagine making your own animated storybooks! You’ll use animate your actors, add music and sound effects, and then sprinkle in some special effects to bring your stories to life.
- Code Your Own Games: Ever played a side-scrolling game? Now, you get to invent one of your own. Learn about 2D motion and how to make things move smoothly. Put your characters in action and set the rules of the game.
- Boost Your Coding Skills: Confidence grows when you practice. Build your own simple coding projects—like making music videos or creating original artwork. You’ll even be making apps and arcade games of your own!
- Become a Coding Boss: Customizing projects is fun! And what’s even cooler? Finding and fixing mistakes in your code. That’s what expert debuggers do, and you’ll become one.
For those who’ve already dipped their toes in block coding, there’s a placement test to see if you can jump ahead to this Level.
Level 3: Coding Proficiency
Dive deep into the exciting world of block coding with Tynker. As you journey further, you’ll uncover the computer science fundamentals that make your programs even more powerful and flexible.
- Get Smart: Discover smarter ways to code like variables, functions, and algorithms.
- Get Creative: Create playable games, lively animations, and amazing science simulations.
- Tackle Open-Ended Challenges: Innovate by designing your own projects. Showcase your unique coding style and creativity.
Explore advanced ideas like user-defined functions, recursion, lists and dictionaries. Take block coding to its limits. With the tools and knowledge at hand, you’re not just playing; you’re inventing. Dream big and bring your ideas to life!
Level 4: Python Fundamentals
Kick-off your journey into the world of Python, a powerful coding language, with Tynker’s Python Fundamentals. This level will guide you through the basics, helping you grasp the language’s unique features, as well as the computer science fundamentals every coder needs.
As you take these first steps, you’ll delve into:
- Python Basics: Just like learning the rules of a new language, you’ll start with Python’s basic syntax. Movement puzzles keep things visual and engaging.
- Coding Structures: In Python, we use special patterns to tell the computer what we want. You’ll get to explore loops, decisions, and more!
- Variables and Data: Think of variables as boxes that hold information. You’ll learn to use these boxes to store and change data whenever you need.
- Crafting Simple Programs: Build simple Python projects and see your code come alive. Try a trivia game, calculator, drawing app, or build your own creation!
Step into the vast universe of Python, a programming language used by millions of professional coders every day! Older learners ready for a challenge can skip ahead to this level.
Level 5: Advanced Python Concepts
So you’ve got the basics down? Great! Now, let’s dive deeper with Tynker’s Advanced Python Concepts. Dive into Python and learn more sophisticated programming constructs. Here’s what awaits you:
- Advanced Coding Techniques: Discover powerful tools in Python’s toolbox like classes and methods.
- Data Manipulation: Play with real-world datasets and learn to organize, sort, and process them in clever ways.
- Dive into Algorithms: These are special recipes in coding. Learn to craft your own and understand famous ones that coders around the world use.
- Problem Solving: Face coding challenges that’ll require all your skills. But don’t worry, every challenge is a chance to grow!
With Advanced Python Concepts, every day is a new coding adventure. Ready to unlock more mysteries?
Level 6: Real-World Python
Welcome to the real world of Python coding with Tynker. This is where your skills meet practical projects and real-world applications. Learn how Python modules work and allow you to easily expand your own programming capabilities. As you navigate this level, you will:
- Build Practical Projects: From designing web pages to creating helpful tools, dive into projects that people use in their daily lives. Explore real-world projects in game design, mathematics, data science, and digital art!
- Explore Python Modules. Learn about Pandas and Matplotlib, the data science tools used by the pros. Then explore Processing.py, SymPy, and NumPy!
- Optimize and Refine: Make your projects not just work, but work smoothly and efficiently. It’s like tuning a car to make it race faster!
Explore Tynker’s Elective Courses
The six levels of My Coding Path take the guesswork out of learning to code.
Looking for more? You’ll find of over 70 incredible courses available as part of your Tynker subscription, complemented by hundreds of standalone creative coding tutorials, puzzles, competitions, and games. Find amazing block-coding electives, no matter your interests.
- Game Design — Have the itch to create cool, playable games of your own? Explore these courses.
- Minecraft Modding — Watch your code come to life, in your favorite game. Change the rules and take control of your Minecraft world.
- Artificial Intelligence — Explore cutting-edge tech and create webcam-powered Tynker projects.
- Robotics and Hardware — Use the micro:bit or other devices to explore robotics and physical computing.
- Creative Coding — Explore how block code can be used for visual arts, music, storytelling, and anything else you can imagine.
- Digital Literacy — Watch these animated videos to kickstart a conversation with your children about Online Safety, Digital Citizenship, Cybersecurity, and so much more.
Older learners will find a challenge in these advanced courses too! There’s always somewhere to grow on Tynker.
- Data Science — Learn Python data skills like the pros.
- Processing — Make amazing digital art!
- Web Development — Learn HTML and JavaScript!
- Artificial Intelligence — A JavaScript and MediaPipe course.
- Java — Learn object-oriented programming and get ready for AP CS A.
