Seriously Amazing Apps to Teach Kids How to Code

If you are looking for a mobile app for kids to use on a phone or tablet, I wanted to share some popular apps that will teach your kids the fundamentals of coding. Some of these are free and some are paid, but overall, these are the apps that could get your kids interested in coding.

We are now in a digital era, and learning to code is practically a need as coding is now an essential part of children's education. In addition, it is most likely to be a necessity in the future. That is why kids need to learn how to code from a young age, and it would be great if parents should help them learn to code.

If you are looking for a fun way to introduce your kids or improve their learning of coding, letting them use and learn from a mobile application is ideal. Apps are a fantastic way to learn since they can be found on your mobile or tablet, so you can do the learning wherever you are. And what is more fantastic - there are many coding apps available for both Android and iOS smartphones – and they are free!

choosing best mobile app for kids to learn how to code on phone and tablet

Most of these coding apps feature puzzles, riddles, and free play that will develop their problem-solving skills and perseverance. You and your child may think it is only just a game, but gradually, it will help them take their initial steps into the world of coding.

But you may get surprised as there are so many options to choose from these coding apps. So I am here to help you get to know and determine. In this blog, I am rounding up the best apps for teaching coding!

Mobile Apps for Kids to Learn to Code

Did you know that mobile applications are not just for entertainment or a pastime? They can also help you and your kids learn and improve their knowledge! And in coding, one of the best things to know is introducing them to mobile applications.

Make learning coding easier and fun with the following list of Mobile apps to teach kids how to code.

Most of them are free, easy to use, and will let your youngsters have fun while learning to code.

Code.org

Age: 5 to 16

Grade Kindergarten to 12th Grade

Cost: Free

Operating Systems: Website (Windows 7 and higher Mac OS 10.6 and higher Android 4.1.2 and higher ChromeOS)

Code.org is the place to go for all things coding. What is good about this app is that they tried to find fun activities that let students work at their own pace and stay challenged. They use Minecraft, Star Wars, and Disney characters for their instructional tools.

Overall, Code.org has what teachers and students need: a scaffolded curriculum, inspiring videos, and pop culture-inspired activities. While many coding websites and apps focus on either block coding or programming, they don't give much help on how to think about computer science principles and how to use them. Code.org wants to be as complete as possible, and it does.

Code Spark Academy

Age: 5 to 10

Grade: Kindergarten to 5th Grade

Cost: Free + In-app purchases of $7.99 to $119.99

Operating Systems: iOS & Android

If you are looking for a fun game that encourages students to exercise their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, then Code Spark Academy will be perfect for you. They have the "Foos" that serves as cute character in the game, and it is a lot of fun for the kids to get to know the characters better and better as they accomplish the levels and move on.

One of the best features of this app is players get extra gold stars for being the most efficient when they write code. While it can be pretty expensive because of the monthly subscription, getting it is still a good idea because there's always new content to keep things interesting.

Kodable

Age: 5 to 10

Grade: Kindergarten to 5th Grade

Cost: Free + In-app purchases of $4.99 to $29.99

Operating Systems: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Kodable is a game set in outer space that helps kids code from kindergarten to fifth grade. This app lets kids study programming ideas with visual tutorials and step-by-step stages. Javascript is taught in addition to basic coding skills in Kodable.

LightBot

Age: 4 to 13+

Grade: Kindergarten to 9th Grade +

Cost: $2.99

Operating Systems: iOS & Android

A mobile puzzle game built for the iOS and Android operating systems, Lightbot is another fun and educational learning tool to get started with coding. There are three games provided by Lightbot: Programming Puzzles, Code Hour, and JR.

Lightbot JR is ideal for children ages 4 to 8, while the paid versions (costs $2.99) Programming Puzzles and Code Hour are known for being difficult to complete. Lightbot will appeal to motivated and puzzle-loving children, but it may be too much for others.

Box Island

Age: 5 to 10

Grade: Kindergarten to 5th Grade

Cost: Free + In-app purchases of $2.99 to $7.99

Operating Systems: iOS & Android

Using a story-based approach, Box Island teaches children the fundamentals of computer programming. This animated block coding app's fantastic visual graphics, animated boxes, and 3D gaming environment are excellent for kids who prefer to play video games because its beauty will immediately absorb them.

Although the first ten levels are completely free, you will have to pay to access the remaining 100.

Tynker

Age: 6 to 10

Grade: 1st to 5th Grade

Cost: Free + In-app purchases from $1.99 to $95.99

Operating Systems: iPad & Android tablet

When it comes to getting youngsters excited about STEM subjects, Tynker does an excellent job capturing their attention and holding it. They made learning coding more enjoyable and relatable through engaging and diverse content, personalized assignments, and connection with popular platforms (such as Minecraft and Lego WeDo).

Students as young as three can learn the fundamentals of coding by solving logic problems and building simple apps using audio guidance. Eventually, the mobile application will teach students Javascript, Swift, and Python.

ScreenPlay

Age: age 9+

Grade: 3rd Grade +

Cost: $0.99

Operating Systems: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Another way to get your kids interested and learn to code is by downloading and purchasing the ScreenPlay mobile app. ScreenPlay offers to incorporate riddles into performing sequences, and players program characters to walk to a predetermined location on the stage and then begin the action. Code-challenging challenges await them as they progress through various areas and settings.

While playing this thrilling game, your kids will encounter an academic challenge using adorable characters with extraordinary talents. Each character acts in a way that resembles coding concepts, making it easier to understand and learn for the kids.

Scratch Jr

Age: 5 to 7

Grade: Kindergarten to 2nd Grade

Cost: Free

Operating Systems: iPad & Android tablet

Inspired by the widely used Scratch programming language, Scratch Jr was created for younger kids. This app uses a combination of familiar drag-and-drop techniques and brightly colored characters, making early coding logic easy to understand.

However, adding more options would make the game more interesting. If you are looking for a mobile version for older kids, there is no available yet as it is still in development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why teach kids how to code?

As computer and programming jobs are in demand today and in the future, learning coding (or even the basics) is essential. While not every position in the future will require coding skills, it is still necessary for kids to learn the basics of coding because it will help them think about how things work. Also, there are so many skills your child can develop when they know how to code, such as creativity, problem-solving, writing maths, and it can also build their confidence.

Summary

If you want your kids to learn how to code, one fantastic way to teach them is to learn with apps. Coding is now an essential part of their education, and understanding them is now made easy by these apps that can be found on your phone or tablet. Apps are a fantastic way to learn since they can be found on your mobile or tablet, so you can do the learning wherever you are.

best mobile app to teach kids how to code

Some of these apps are free and some are paid, but overall, these are the apps that could get your kids interested in coding. Most of them are visually stunning, so it will be easy for kids to get engaged by the games that they would not quickly realize it is built for them to learn and not just have fun or entertainment. What is more fantastic with these apps is that they are almost available in most operating systems that people use these days, such as Android and IOS phones.

While coding sounds like a complicated task, the attractive features of the apps will make the learning task easy, engaging, and fun. From my list of Mobile apps for kids coding, I hope this blog helps you decide what is the best, appropriate and worthy to use/purchase for your kids to get started in the coding world.

How to Choose Best Mobile App for Kids to Learn How to Code (Phone and Tablet)