Publications
Partners
The world has changed. Our children are growing up in a world where having a smartphone is as normal as having an electric kettle; it's the Golden Age of Technology. What a time to be alive!
At the foundation of all this technology, is coding. The very building blocks of any programme you use. One day we'll probably reach a stage where computers will do all the coding for us but we'll still have to understand the building blocks.
It's a fundamental skill for your kids to have living in this digital world. Coding not only promotes thinking logically and critically but also allows kids to be creative. The world is a blank canvas and coding is the paint and paintbrush.
Here are a few apps and websites that can start your child on their coding journey no matter their age:
Fisher PriceThink & Learn Code-a-pillar
This is a great one for your little kids to learn sequencing and logic. The aim of the game is simple: get the caterpillar through the maze by giving it commands to turn left, right or going forward. As the levels progress, it gets more complicated with the addition of other commands such as munching a leaf, jumping or swimming through water.
Recommended age: 3+
It's available for free on the Google Play Store and iTunes
Code Karts - Pre-school Programming Preparation 4+
Another good one for the younger crowd. Code Karts works on the same idea as Code-a-pillar but with race cars. Your kid can build race tracks and navigate their cars through over 70 race courses.
Recommended age: 4+
Available for free on the Google Play and iTunes
Tynker
Getting onto older kids now, Tynker is one that even teachers love. Rather than an app it's a website where kids from as 7 can learn coding using games. Tynker is particularly appealing to primary school kids because it also teaches them to mod their own Minecraft worlds.
Take a listen to what teachers, parents and students think of it:
You can sign up for a free account to try it out but the offering is very basic. Choosing one of the subscription plans gives you access to all learning paths, 18 online programming courses, 8 mobile courses, and a Minecraft Classic server.
Subscriptions start at $48 quartely, $96 annually or a $200 once off payment giving you lifetime access.
Recommended age: 7+
Check out their website for more.
GoldieBlox: Adventures in Coding - The Rocket Cupcake Co. 7+
We'd say this one is for the girls, but I know my son would 100% love messing around with cupcakes. In this adventure you have to help Goldiblox and Rubie Rails deliver cupcakes to all their friends. With infinite puzzles and sweet mini-games, your young coder will learn the basics of sequencing, mental modeling, and debugging – without even realizing they’re learning.
Recommended age: 7+
Available on iTunes for $2.99
The Booeys
Meet Booey. All he wants in life is to help the poor Lost to get to the portal. As the levels get harder, your child increases his logical thinking and problem solving skills.
Recommended age: 10+
Available for free on Google Play and iTune
Codecademy: Learn to code
Codemy is a great website if you want to introduce your teen to coding. From HTML basics to building a website, this website teaches your teen to code in an easy way. Codemy provides interactive exercises organised into lessons.
Recommended age: 13+
Codemy is free but there are intensive courses that can be bought.
More educational and fun apps and toys for your kids:
- Top music education apps to help your kid to tune in
- The cartoons, the videos, the puzzles that will dazzle your child's brain
- 4 of the coolest robotic toys for kids
- Apps to keep kids thinking and learning during holidays
Have your kids learned to code? Do you think it's an important skill to have? Send us your thoughts to chatback@parent24.com and we could publish them.
