In the App Store there are many apps that guide children in the world of programming. These are the most fun and educational programming apps.
Programming apps for kids
Tim Cook was visiting US President Trump this week. There he argued for, among other things, the standard offering of programming lessons in schools. It is not the first time that the Apple CEO is committed to this. Last year, at the Startup Fest Europe in Amsterdam, he said the same thing: “It’s a language like everyone else and like other languages, it should be learned in schools.”
It’s not that far yet, but there are already several apps in the App Store that can enthuse children from an early age for programming. This is often done in a simplified way that allows users to find out in a playful way what happens when you modify a piece of code. Below we list 5 of them.
1. Tinkerblocks
Tinkerblocks works on that ‘if this then that’ principle. Children can put blocks behind each other and make recipes that way. This triggers actions in certain situations. Consider, for example, a recipe that automatically takes a picture of the dog when it passes in front of the camera. Thanks to the visual aspect, the app invites you to play with the possibilities.
→ Download Tinkerblocks from the App Store (2.99 euros)
CodeSpark Academy with The Foos
The Foos is an app that presents programming as a visual game and can be used very well in schools. Then it is free to use. There is a free demo, but after that regular users have to take out a subscription of 6.99 euros per month.
In the cheerful game environment, children learn to solve levels with computer science concepts. They learn, among other things, pattern recognition, algorithmic thinking and debugging. They do this by moving blocks, after which the puppets in the image respond to them.
→ Download The Foos from the App Store (free / 6.99 euros per month)
3. Kodable
It won’t win the beauty award, but what Kodable lacks in fancy graphics, it makes up for in learning. Children also learn patterns in this app and see what they enter themselves. In addition, the app presents a text mode in which the underlying programming language can actually be seen. So it goes a bit further than just dragging blocks. The app is only available for the iPad.
→ Download Kodable from the App Store (free)
4. Swift Playgrounds
Of course, Swift Playgrounds cannot be missed in this list. This is the app from Apple itself that teaches children to write code on the iPad. Swift Playgrounds offers lessons designed by Apple, starting with kids trying to walk an animated figure through a 3d world with code.
From there, the puzzles and lessons become more and more complex. Swift is the programming language with which developers create apps for iOS, Playgrounds is a simpler precursor for children and people who want to learn to code.
→ Download Swift Playgrounds from the App Store (free)
5. Code-a-pillar
Code-a-pillar is the English app name for Co-de-Rups, a toy crawler from Fisher-Price. Children can program the toy via a companion app to move it around and guide it through obstacles. This is also an accessible way to learn programming methods, but it allows children to see not only on the screen but also physically the consequences of their actions. Co-de-Rups is for sale for 59.95 euros, including at Bol.com.
→ Download Code-a-pillar from the App Store (free)