Coding For Kids
Coding has become an essential skill in today's world, influencing nearly every industry, from entertainment and gaming to healthcare, space exploration, and beyond. We interact with code every day - whether we’re getting tickets to a basketball game, watching our dog on a pet cam, or playing Pokémon GO. Learning how to code empowers kids to not only understand how these technologies work, but also to build their future, bringing any idea they can imagine to life. But what’s the best way to begin? And what kinds of programming languages can kids explore? For years, we've been teaching coding to kids of all ages, offering engaging and interactive courses designed by experts from Google, Stanford, and MIT. Explore our award-winning live online coding classes and discover how your child can develop their creativity, computational thinking skills, and their passion for computer science.
Coding For Kids
Learn coding for kids to build your child’s curiosity and passion for computer science with free coding classes.
Best starting point for elementary school beginners
Free Intro to Scratch Coding
Grades 2-5
Best starting point for middle school beginners
Accelerated Scratch - Intro to Coding for Teens
Grades 5-10
Best starting point for high school beginners
Free Intro to Python Coding
Grades 5-10
Best starting point for kids with previous coding experience
Beginner Roblox Game Coding - Free Intro
Grades 3-8
Awards And Recognition
Coding For Kids Pathways
We recommend all elementary and middle school students begin by learning Scratch coding (and ScratchJr for kindergarteners and first graders). Designed by MIT, Scratch coding is a wonderful first programming language for kids that introduces students to coding concepts in a fun, visual way. With its drag-and-drop interface, kids can easily create animations, games, and interactive stories, and get the thrill of seeing their ideas quickly come to life, without needing to write complex code.
Meanwhile, Python is an ideal first text-based programming language for high schoolers to learn because of its simplicity and versatility. Beyond that, Python is incredibly powerful and widely used in fields such as artificial intelligence, web development, game design, and data science.
For kids interested in computer science, but not specifically coding, it’s best to begin based on their unique interests. For example, artificial intelligence and digital design can be great starting points if your child likes art or is curious about ChatGPT and self-driving cars. Or if your child loves games, empower them to build engineering skills by beginning with Minecraft Redstone where they'll learn how to create sophisticated automated machines in Minecraft.
As your child progresses with their computer science skills, we recommend following the curriculum for their grade level. Complete the foundation classes series first, choose intermediate classes (such as Minecraft modding, Roblox coding, and robotics) based on their interests, and pursue advanced classes (such as Cloud Computing and AP Java) for ambitious learners eager to secure internships or stand out on college applications.
Start Coding For Kids
| Live Online Classes | Best For Grades | Class Highlights | Subject | Type of Coding | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Scratch Junior | K-2 | Fun coding classes for very young students. Create interactive stories and games with code, while developing problem-solving skills and creativity. | Scratch coding | Block coding |
 | Scratch Ninja (Free Intro Available!) | 2-6 | An essential coding class for almost all grade 2-5 learners using Scratch, an MIT-developed platform, to create fun stories, games, animations, and more. | Scratch coding | Block coding |
 | Accelerated Scratch (Free Intro Available!) | 5-9 | Fast-paced introduction to coding using Scratch: build games, stories, and animations. Recommended for all middle-school beginner coders. | Scratch coding | Block coding |
 | Python for AI (Free Intro Available!) | 5-12 | Learn the most popular programming language in the real world, with focus on AI. Python is also the most suitable text-based coding language for students. | Python | Text-based |
 | Minecraft Redstone Engineering | 2-5 | Elevate Minecraft skills and use Redstone to build light shows, automatic doors, flying machines, and explore engineering and computer science concepts. | Game development | Block coding |
 | Beginner Roblox Game Coding (Free Intro Available!) | 4-9 | Learn essentials of how to code for Roblox and create fun Roblox games using a platform that is friendly for elementary and middle school students. | Robotics | Block coding |
 | AI Explorers (Free Intro Available!) | 4-7 | Explore broad AI applications such as computer vision, language, and art, as well as the underlying technologies. | Artificial intelligence | |
 | Modern Website Design with Wix | 5-12 | Build a portfolio of beautiful professional-looking websites using Wix. Learn a combination of web design and backend content management technology. | Web development | |
 | Canva for Kids: Design, Video Creation, AI Art | 4-8 | Create beautiful graphic designs and videos in Canva with assistance from AI. Bring your imagination to life. | Digital design |
Award-Winning Education
Featured by Minecraft Education, Code.org, Meta, Roblox Education, ActivityHero, and more.
Very Small Group Classes
Enjoy personalized attention from your teacher with just 3-5 students per class.
Expert Teachers
Less than 5% of teacher candidates are selected as instructors, and our state-of-the-art technology ensures on-going quality.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Have fun learning computer science. Find the perfect class, or get a full refund.
Why Online Classes Are The Best Way For Kids To Learn Coding
Downloading an app, sorting through YouTube videos, and buying books for your child are all great ways for students to learn coding. However you've probably encouraged your child to do this before, and maybe they're consistent for a few days, and then eventually drop it.
There are many resources and platforms where your child can get information and knowledge about how to code for free. But what happens if they get stuck on a line of code, learn outdated information, or find all it too overwhelming or confusing? They probably won't stick with coding, and they might never want to return to it. The opportunity to foster their passion for computer science might flash by in the blink of an eye!
As the chart below reveals, there are many options for learning kids coding. Live online classes offer some of the most compelling benefits when comparing some key factors such as a curriculum crafted by and instruction from the best experts in the world in the comfort of your home, personalized support, engaging interactivity, and thoughtful learning paths that set students up for success.
| Features | Live Classes | Apps/Platforms | Games | Videos/Books |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Expert Instruction | ||||
| Real-World Applications | ||||
| Accountability | ||||
| Learning Path | ||||
| Interactive Content | ||||
| Instant Personalized Support |
What Is Coding For Kids?
Coding for kids is the process of teaching children how to create and build projects using computer programming. It allows kids to bring their ideas to life by writing code that powers games, websites, apps, and even robots. By learning coding languages like Scratch, Python, Lua, and JavaScript, kids can develop fun projects while building key skills like problem-solving, logical thinking, grit, and creativity. Coding skills can also help them compete in fun contests, secure internships, and stand out on college applications.
Coding is everywhere—from the apps on our phones to the games we play - so learning how to code helps kids understand how technology works and is highly beneficial regardless of what career pathways they take. It also builds important skills like critical thinking, logic, and problem-solving, all while opening doors to future careers in tech. With coding, kids have the power to turn their ideas into reality!
Coding For Kids: Popular Subjects
Coding Careers: Imagine Your Child's Future
Your child could be a Mobile Software Engineer who works on creating and improving features in the Spotify app. These engineers code how users discover and play music, create playlists, or explore podcasts.
Imagine your child becoming a Front-End Developer working on the booking platform that millions of travelers use to search for and book flights, hotels, and vacation packages. For example, working on the flight search feature, coding the interface that allows users to easily input their travel dates, destinations, and preferences while ensuring the search results are displayed quickly and clearly.
Imagine your child becoming a Recommendation Algorithm Engineer! These engineers create the AI that looks at your viewing habits and compares them to millions of other users to recommend content that matches your interests. For example, if you love adventure movies, Netflix's AI will learn that and start suggesting more movies or series with similar themes.
Learn Coding For Kids: Projects, Games, And Tutorials
Get started with Scratch with fun exercises that involve flying, changing colors, noises, and more!
From making a Mario game to a cool cross the road game, explore some awesome Scratch projects to make with step-by-step tutorials.
From loops practice to an array challenge and even a cat dog challenge, explore fun Python activities to try.
Discover Free Coding For Kids Resources
The Raspberry Pi Foundation provides interactive free project paths that teach kids coding from Scratch to Python.
Explore Free Coding For Kids Tools
Scratch and ScratchJr are beginner-friendly coding platforms where kids can create games, stories, and animations using simple, drag-and-drop coding blocks, perfect for younger children to learn programming concepts.
Minecraft Education Edition combines the fun of Minecraft with educational coding tools, allowing kids to design, build, and code in the game's environment, making learning programming an interactive adventure.
Roblox Studio is a platform where kids can create and code their own 3D games and experiences within Roblox, using Lua scripting to bring their imaginative ideas to life while learning real-world programming skills.