Introducing Your Child to Coding: 5 Free Resources for Beginner Programmers

It’s no secret that technology is everywhere in our lives—just ask Alexa! But did you know that teaching your child to code can give them amazing life skills like confidence, communication, digital literacy, and persistence? Coding isn’t just about computers; it’s a fun, hands-on way to strengthen problem-solving skills while encouraging your child to experiment, learn through trial and error, and think analytically.

Kids are jumping into coding younger than ever, with many experts recommending they start as early as 6 or 7. And the good news is your child doesn’t need to be a tech genius to get started. Whether they’re just beginning or already showing interest in coding, we’ve gathered five awesome (and free!) resources to kickstart their journey.

1. Scratch

Perfect for children as young as 5, ScratchJr uses visual blocks to teach the basics of coding through creativity and logical thinking. It’s a playful way to introduce your child to problem-solving while boosting their reading skills.

For older kids, there’s Scratch, the world’s largest coding community for children and a coding language with a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations. Scratch is designed especially for ages 8 to 16 but is used by people of all ages.

Both Scratch and ScratchJr are free on iOS, Android, and Chromebooks.

2. Code.org

If you want a resource packed with options, Code.org has you covered. It’s a treasure trove of free coding tools for kids ages 5 and up—and they even have resources for teachers and parents. Code.org is famous for its “Hour of Code,” a global initiative designed to introduce kids to coding in just one hour. Their free courses range from beginner levels for pre-readers to advanced options for high schoolers, and they offer interactive lessons, an app lab, and fun events.

3. Codable Crafts

For beginners who love arts and crafts, Codable Crafts is an app that combines coding with creative elements like coloring, stickers, and templates. It’s an innovative way for young kids to make animated stories while learning the basics of programming through visual block-based coding. It’s free on iOS and Android, and it’s a blast!

4. Blockly Games

Looking for coding through play? Blockly Games teaches programming through fun, interactive games. Your child will learn coding concepts like loops and conditionals while using drag-and-drop blocks to solve puzzles. This browser-based platform is totally free and super accessible for young learners—just hop online and start coding!

5. Stencyl

Stencyl is another fantastic block-based platform where kids can create their own games—and then publish them on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, and even HTML5! It uses a simple block-snapping system to teach logic sequences, but kids who want to go further can still type out code. Publishing games to the web is free, but there are extra costs if you want to release them on iOS, Android, or other platforms.

Everyone Can Code

Coding for kids has never been more fun or accessible. With these free resources, even children as young as 5 can start exploring programming concepts through interactive games. From crafting animated stories to creating their very own multi-platform games, the world of coding opens endless possibilities!

And if your child attends a K12-powered school and is in 4–12th grade, be sure to check out the 2025 K12 Robotics Competition. It’s a great opportunity for your student to try their hand at coding, meet new friends, and have an unforgettable time!

Happy coding!

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