Coding for Kids
USA TODAY
03/16/17
The popularity of Minecraft, a video game that puts kids in the role of creator, has sparked an interest in coding (computer programming). By learning to code, kids can create their own games, websites, apps, pictures and stories while also learning how to think logically and solve problems.
There are apps, websites and even a new board game that turn coding into child’s play. Here are some of my favorites:
MOBILE APPS
Tynker – Learn programming with visual code blocks
Best for ages 8-14, Free, iPad
Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 4)
Kids learn the basics by going on an adventure with Pixel the dog. After a day in the park, Pixel’s family forgot him; you help him get home by programming his path down a sidewalk full of obstacles.
Presented as 20 puzzles, each with a different, progressively-harder goal, the app offers an easy interface for learning and experimenting. Kids build programs to control the dog by dragging and dropping code blocks into the programming workspace. The puzzles start out easy by teaching kids to program the dog to run when touched. To do so, kids drag the code block “run” into the “build-your-program” area and position it below the “when touched” block. The “run” command snaps into place as if it were a puzzle piece. Then kids press the play button to see if what they programmed actually works to meet the specific goal of that puzzle.
Kids will learn to recognize repeating patterns and to program the repetition using loops. The app also introduces conditional logic, so that kids learn to build programs that contain “if…then” codes. For example, kids can program the dog to jump “if” the dog sees a log.
By teaching coding inside a fun story environment, this app isn’t intimidating. Kids learn by experimenting and failing. While the failure means they don’t earn the maximum three possible stars, they can also hit redo and try it again. The app builds in hints; and it rewards programming that contains the fewest possible code blocks.
If your kids like the Puppy Adventure, two other adventures can be purchased inside the app for $1.99 each or $2.99 for both.
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