Coding for Kids
Welcome to the head-to-head coding for kids program review for Tynker and CodeWizards – two popular coding education programs. As a parent looking to introduce your child to the world of coding, choosing between these two coding for kids program options can be daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you make an informed decision.
Firstly, let’s establish that both Tynker and CodeWizards offer a solid entry point to coding for young learners. However, they do have distinct differences in the way they approach coding education. Our aim is to delve into the specifics of each program, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, to help you determine the most suitable coding education solution for your child.
So, buckle up and get ready for an in-depth analysis of Tynker vs. CodeWizards – the ultimate showdown for the best coding for kids educational program!
Tynker Coding for Kids Overview
Tynker offers an extensive curriculum covering a wide range of subjects, including Python, JavaScript, Game Design, AI/ML, and Minecraft Modding, designed to cater to children of different ages and skill levels.
What sets Tynker apart is its emphasis on live instructor-led sessions, included in all of its paid plans. This feature provides young coders with a confident start and gives parents the support they need. Tynker’s courses are designed to be immersive and user-friendly, with block coding that makes it easy for young learners to create their projects.
Tynker’s extensive collection of coding activities is curated based on feedback from millions of children, ensuring that the content is engaging and relevant. This makes it an ideal platform for self-paced learning, allowing children to learn at their own pace and level.
CodeWizards Coding for Kids Overview
CodeWizards offers courses in several coding languages, including Python, Java, and HTML/CSS, and is designed for children aged 8 to 18.
CodeWizards offers a range of courses tailored to different skill levels and interests, ensuring that children receive a personalized and engaging learning experience. Their emphasis on hands-on projects ensures that children apply their coding skills in real-world scenarios.
It is worth noting that CodeWizards does not offer self-paced learning, which may not suit all children’s learning styles. However, the platform’s focus on personalized instruction and live classes ensures that children receive individual attention and support from experienced instructors.
CodeWizard vs Tynker: Quick Comparison
CodeWizards places its primary focus on live instruction with an expert, ensuring that children receive personalized attention and support from experienced instructors. In contrast, Tynker’s vast catalog of coding activities, community, and trusted reputation among schools make it a highly recommended platform for parents seeking a comprehensive and engaging coding education for their child.
Tynker’s paid plans come with two live instruction sessions bundled into the subscription price, providing children with a confident start and parents with additional support. Tynker also offers additional 1:1 instruction with price breaks for buying multiple tutoring sessions at a time, further enhancing the personalized learning experience. Combining available one-on-one instruction with a large, gamified course catalog with thousands of coding activities gives Tynker the edge.
Both platforms offer courses in a range of coding languages and cater to young children through high school, and support all skill and experience levels. CodeWizards’ emphasis on live instruction may suit children who require more one-on-one attention, while Tynker’s immersive coding activities, bundled coaching, and community features may appeal to children who prefer to learn through self-paced exploration but want the option for more hands-on guidance.
CodeWizard vs Tynker: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Tynker | CodeWizards | |
| Appropriate for Grades | Grades K-12 | Grades 2-12+ |
| Offers Live Instruction | Included with Paid Plans (two sessions); optional live instruction available for purchase | ✅ |
| Curriculum Overview | 300 lessons in six progressive levels covering block coding and text coding. 33 electives including Minecraft Modding, game design and AI. 5,000+ coding activities, puzzles, and games; all skill levels. | Ages 8 to 10: Animation and Games with Scratch Ages 11 to 13: Python and moreAges 14 to 18: Web development and more |
| Pricing | Free + Paid plans available | Paid plans only |
| Placement Test | Free | $25 per test per course |
| Progress Tracking & Reporting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Used in U.S. Schools | Yes, 100,000+ schools | Five charter school partners |
| Peer Support / Community | Kid-Safe community for sharing projects | ⛔ |
| Trusted by Leading Brands | Apple, Google Education, NASA, Microsoft, BBC Learning, Lego, Mattel, Minecraft, Hot Wheels, Barbi, SMART, etc. | Unknown |
| Mobile Apps | Three available:Tynker: available for iOS and AndroidTynker Junior for ages 5-7: available for iOS and AndroidMod Creator: available on iOS | ⛔ |
| Awards | Common Sense Media LearningNational Parenting AwardsParents ChoiceSmart MediaDigital Education AwardBrain ChildMom’s Choice | Tech Edvocate |
CodeWizard vs Tynker: Curriculum Comparison
| Tynker | CodeWizards | Comments | |
| Support for Pre-Readers | ✅ | ⛔ | Appropriate for introducing very young children to coding concepts and computational thinking. |
| Digital Literacy | ✅ | ⛔ | An essential skill for any child growing up in today’s digital world. |
| Block coding | ✅ | ✅ | A good starting point for young children learning coding concepts and a foundation for more advanced coding concepts. |
| Creativing coding, music and animation | ✅ | ✅ | Allows children to express their creativity while learning coding concepts and building practical skills. |
| MInecraft modding, mobs and skins | ✅ | ✅ | A popular application of coding concepts, but may be of less interest to children who are not already Minecraft fans. |
| Game Design | ✅ | ✅ | A popular and engaging way for children to learn coding and a practical application of coding concepts. |
| STEM | ✅ | ✅ | Encourages children to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on coding projects. |
| Web Development / HTML | ✅ | ✅ | A practical skill for children interested in creating websites or web-based applications. |
| Python | ✅ | ✅ | A widely-used programming language with many practical applications, including data science and machine learning. |
| Data Science | ✅ | Unknown | A growing field with many practical applications, including business, healthcare, and scientific research. |
| AI/ML | ✅ | ✅ | A rapidly growing field with many practical applications, but may be more appropriate for older children with a stronger coding foundation. |
| Robotics and IoT | ✅ | ✅ | A specialized area that may be of interest to children with a particular interest in these fields, but may require additional equipment and support. |
| AP Computer Science Courses | ✅ | ✅ | AP Computer Science courses are designed to be equivalent to college-level computer science courses, providing students with a challenging and rewarding educational experience that can earn them college credit and demonstrate their readiness for higher education. |
Pricing details of CodeWizard vs Tynker:
| Tynker | Codewizardshq | |
| Pricing | Starts at $20 per month billed quarterly for unlimited access to thousands of coding activities; includes two live instruction sessions | $447 Per Courseor 3 payments of $149 per course |
CodeWizards pricing:
It costs $447 per student per course, allowing parents to pay this fee in up to 3 installments of $149 throughout each course. Each course contains 12 lessons, which works out to about $12.42 per lesson.
- Short-term plan: $20 per month billed quarterly
- Annual plan: $16 per month billed annually
- Lifetime plan: $360 as a one-time payment
With 5000+ activities, your child can learn coding with just around $0.5 per day
Tynker’s pricing is affordable making it a highly cost-effective option for children learning to code.
CodeWizard vs Tynker: Which one should you choose for your child?
After a thorough comparison of CodeWizards and Tynker, it is clear that Tynker shines as a versatile and comprehensive coding education platform for children. While CodeWizards solely offers live instruction with an expert, Tynker offers a combination of self-guided courses and two complimentary instructor-led sessions with each plan, providing children with both structured and flexible learning options.
Tynker’s vast catalog of activities, projects, competitions, and community of thousands of young coders make it an engaging and immersive platform for children to explore and develop their coding skills. Tynker’s trusted reputation is also evident, with over 100,000 schools throughout the United States using the platform for their students’ coding education.
Overall, Tynker’s combination of self-guided courses, live instruction sessions, and comprehensive community and activity offerings make it a top choice for parents seeking a reliable and reputable coding education platform for their child.
More Coding for Kids Reviews & Comparisons
We hope you found our head-to-head software reviews helpful in your search to discover the best coding education resource for your child. If you’re eager to dive deeper, don’t miss out on our other insightful comparisons that can help you make a well-informed decision. Check out our head-to-head comparison of Tynker and codeSpark, a look at how Tynker compares to IDTech, comparing Tynker with CodeMonkey, and we take a look at how Tynker stacks up against Code.org. Still curious? You can check out our head-to-head review of Tynker vs. Kodable. We want every child to learn how to code before they graduate high school, so we welcome you on this journey and hope you find the ideal coding education platform for your child. Happy coding!
