Top 5 Free Software tools for Children to Programming Coding Apps

Coding is something that will rule the roost in near future. It is gaining popularity and is going to come in handy for a lot of purposes in regards to Information Technology. In the context of kids, it provides ample benefits and that's why they are getting attracted towards coding. They are not only getting to learn a new concept, but in the process are harnessing certain important skills related to creativity, logical thinking, problem-solving abilities, etc. It is obvious when a child gets to create something new, it encourages the child and gives a sense of satisfaction. A child has an inquisitive mind and therefore, coding is a perfect concept to learn.

When we talk about programming skills, it is obvious such skills open up, a lot of new avenues in relation to the professional life of the concerned individual One can build a successful career with such skills. Exposing children to coding technique early on in his or her life, is perhaps the best mode of letting them learn skills which will provide them a proper launching pad in future, if they are keen enough to build a career in this field.

In this article, we would discuss five free resources for children that will let them learn and acquire knowledge pertaining to the basics of programming language in a fun-filled way.

1.Code.org

It was started by tech entrepreneur and software engineer Hadi Partovi, who is very keen to ensure that computer-based education is extended to kids for free. Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Infosys Foundation are certain parties who are supporting this initiative. What you need to do is very simple. Just sign your child up for an account to get them cracking.

It is an interesting platform for kids between kindergarten and fifth standard. The reason being, they get to learn how to make their own app, computer drawing as well as game. For students falling in between sixth standards and 12, it enables them to build real working apps, JavaScript, games, websites using blocks, HTML and CSS, etc.

This website is home to more than 100 million projects which have been created by more than 50 million children across the globe. Each module offers a project description, demos, tips so, that the students can alter/modify to make their own.

If interested, a child can try a one - hour tutorials designed for all ages. Millions of students and teachers participate in the Hour of Code program, which is extremely beneficial from a learner's point of view.

2. Blockly.games

This website is quite popular owing to the fact that it is home to eight educational games. Yes, you heard it right, there are eight educational games available on this website and they are as follows :

Puzzle.
Maze.
Bird.
Turtle.
Movie.
Music.
Pond Tutor.
Levels.

It is basically meant to guide and support children who are new to computer programming having no past experience in relation to this field.

The best part is that using gaming as a means they get introduced and familiar to programming concepts which include functions, mathematical equations, text-based coding, JavaScript, loops as well as conditional statements. So it is evident they get to learn a lot of interesting concepts which makes them more awake.

One more key ingredients of this website is that all the codes are free and customizable. One can download these learning games for offline use.

Therefore, we can see that this website is handy for children as plenty of benefits are obtained by the children while using this website.

3.Gameblox.org

Another significant resource in this context is gameblox.org.It uses gaming as a means to expose kids to basic coding structure and logic which helps the children immensely in getting a hang of programming language.

It comprises a program editor that uses block-based coding to enable kids to create games that can be played on the website or else it can be played using the Gameblox app available for iOS as well as for Android.

One needs to move to the Create section on the main page and subsequently click on the Help button for tutorials to get started. So the process is not complex, it is fairly simple.

This website is basically an initiative of MIT's Scheller Teacher Education Program that encourages creating playful learning experiences. It must be mentioned out here, that it works best on the latest version of Google Chrome.

This website is also used as another resource by the kids interested in such fields and is used quite widely.

4.Grasshopper.app

Grasshopper is basically meant for the beginners. It is available free on the web for both Android and iOS. It has got an interactive user interface that tests you, as it teaches you to write JavaScript. What it does is that, it gives you a task in one panel, and in the second panel, you are required to modify the code, so that when you run the code, you get the correct output.

It offers certain advantages, for instance, it covers the foundations of JavaScript, it guides how problem-solving techniques can be used, about the creation of animations as well as the ways by which one can build a website using HTML and CSS.

By the time you complete Grasshopper, it familiarizes the learner with core programming concepts which are almost used across all programming languages. It also teaches the process by virtue of which one can build a simple webpage alongside making the students comfortable in solving problems pertaining to code. When we talk about this resource, we must be mindful of the fact, that it is far more advanced in comparison to other resources discussed above. This resource has been categorically designed to ensure that the learners can grasp the foundational skills considered extremely significant in the context of coding.

5.Crunchzilla.com

It consists of three interactive JavaScript courses that provide kids the cushion of playing with code and in the process, they also get to experiment, build and learn the techniques associated with programming. It offers a simple interface. One can change the codes on the left side and see the results in the panel to the right.

Let's find out, what is "Code Monster"? It is basically meant for younger children who belong to the age group of 9 - 14. It starts off with simple boxes and colors however, moves swiftly towards experimentation with animation and fractals. In an effective manner, examples related to variables, loops, conditionals, and expressions are introduced.

Now let's check out " Code Maven ". It is for children who are 13 years old or above. It is harder in comparison to Code Monster, as children get subjected to more complex problems having more depth.

At last, we need to discuss " Game Maven" which is meant for older teens having some past experience of programming. It offers you three step - by - step tutorial for the purpose of writing three different video games.

It is worth mentioning, that all these courses enable you to browse through different modules by referring to and checking the Lesson Sections.

Conclusion

As we have seen, coding is an important skill that is interesting, informative and above all, it prepares the students for future challenges. The learners get to develop certain key traits and the same could be of immense value in the context of building a successful career in the long run. We have discussed some significant resources which can provide a beneficial platform for the learner to develop such programming skills.

Kids of various age groups can avail this wonderful opportunity and get ready to step into a world that offers plenty of scope as they grow up. The kids must be encouraged to learn to code and if they show a strong inclination towards it then the guardians must support them to the fullest. Remember, coding can create plenty of openings in your children's future life and help them to live their dream and earn big provided their natural talent is harnessed in the right fashion by providing the necessary guidance, support, and encouragement.

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