There are lots of super cool coding game apps and sites available for kids interested in coding. Today we’re looking specifically at coding apps!
This collection of coding apps for kids includes apps to suit children with a wide range of coding expertise – from the beginner right through to upper elementary, and even older students who may be exploring coding career paths or have a hobby interest in coding.
Each of the apps reviewed below can be played on a range of tablets and devices, which is a great way to encourage creativity and critical thinking development during screen time.
Be sure to also click through to see our list of free coding for kids websites.
15 Super Cool Coding Apps for Kids
You’ll find this fun coding app for kids in K-3 in the iTunes store. Daisy is a drag and drop interface that makes coding easy and fun for first timers. Your child can find solutions to a range of fun challenges – making Daisy grow, dance and play, while learning coding basics about sequencing, loops, and events – all for free! Plus, Daisy is downright adorable – I mean, who wouldn’t love a green and magenta dinosaur! Your kids will love playing with Daisy.
2. LightBot
Start first time coders off on the right foot with LightBot. This app uses a little robot to teach kids sequencing, overloading, procedures, recursive loops, and conditionals. Available on Amazon, Google Play, or in the iTunes store, this app teaches young coders beginning coding while playing games and solving puzzles. The app is $2.99.
To try it out for free, try the LightBot Demo made for the Hour of Code. The demo is available online in browser, for iPad or iPhone, and Android.
3. Spritebox
This kids coding app is great for young learners. Spritebox helps children aged 4 and up to learn how to code visually and then manually as well. Coders embark on a journey to find the pieces of a broken rocket, exploring different worlds, meeting new characters, solving puzzles and unlocking cool outfits This app is free and can be downloaded via Google Play or iTunes.
4. Code Karts
Code Karts is a pre-coding app that teaches younger coders that coding can be fun! Through the use of race cars, it visually shows children how coding works as they create the track for the car to race on. Not only are they coding, but they get to race in fun car races as well! Free to download on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.
5. codeSpark
Introduce your child to the #1 learn to code app – codeSpark. Through games, puzzles and challenges, kids aged 5+ will learn coding basics whilst guiding monsters through city streets. While the app is free to download, there are in-app purchase options included. Available on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play.
6. Kodable
One of the great things about the Kodable app is the parent resources that help you to both understand coding and guide your kids on their coding journey. Great for kids aged 6+, Kodable invites coders to apply programming logic with drag and drop commands to make their way through a series of mazes. Available in the iTunes store for a monthly fee of $6.99 or a yearly fee of $59.99.
7. Tinkerblocks
With no prior coding experience needed, Tinkerblocks is a great app that will get your child interested in learning how to code. With this app, children ages 6 and up will learn commands, parameters, functions, loops and so much more. Available on iTunes for a one time fee of $2.99.
8. Box Island
Hiro, the boxo of Box Island, captures the attention of children ages 7 and up as they move Hiro around the island, avoiding an increasingly more challenging set of obstacles. This award winning app is free to download from iTunes or Google Play.
Great for children aged 7 and up, the Nancy Drew Codes and Clues app successfully combines coding with the excitement of solving a mystery. Can your child code and solve all the clues along the way? Available on Amazon, Google Play or iTunes, free of charge.
10. Mimo
Through a series of bite-sized, interactive tutorials and quizzes, the Mimo app teaches children 8+ (children need to be independent readers to play independently) all about coding. Available for Free on iTunes and Google Play.
11. Hopscotch
Kids love creating games and animations using Hopscotch, available in the iTunes App Store. The app is recommended for ages 7-13, but older kids and adults love it too, so feel free to play and learn with your kids! There is a free version for educators and their students that offers full use of the open-ended Hopscotch editor, and unlimited drafts of projects. Parents will love using Hopscotch with their kids too.
The paid version offers 60+ hours of self-paced tutorials and additional educator features like teacher dashboards. Subscriptions start at $7.99/month or $79.99 for a full year.
12. Tynker
Used by kids and schools all over the world, Tynker teaches coding using step-by-step tutorials. Once the tutorials are completed, children can then create games and apps or even use their coding knowledge for more STEM fun. Free to download on iTunes and Google Play with in-app purchases.
13. Screenplay
Great for ages eight and up, Screenplay teaches basic programming concepts through puzzles that revolve around acting scenes. As the levels of play get harder, the app does a good job of using likable characters to help the child stay engaged. Download on iTunes for .99 cents.
14. Code Kingdom
Code Kingdom: Treasure was created for children ages 6-11 to learn about spatial imagination and logical operations. The app intertwines coding learning in conjunction with a super fun and engaging treasure hunt activity as well. The games first ten levels are free to download and available via iTunes.
15. Coda Game
Rated for ages 9 and above, Coda games allows the kids to create their own magical game land where they call the shots. Combining imagination and coding is a great fit! Available on iTunes and Google Play for $2.99.
Click on the images below for more great online or screen based educational resources;
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Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.
