In coding, it’s all about learning by doing. Coding activities for kids are a hands-on way to learn the basics of programming.
Studying code and examples can only take kids so far. They need to put their knowledge into action and the best way to do that is just to code.
Kids in my coding classes get so excited when they see their code in action. They’re not just watching me write code, they’re doing it themselves and that’s why they’re learning. In every class, we complete a project or activity so they’re constantly adding knowledge.
Here are some fun and free coding activities your kids are sure to love!
Scratch Coding Activities for Kids
Scratch is a great platform for kids who are just learning to code. It’s free and allows kids to use drag-and-drop code blocks to write programs. Kids can build their own games and apps that can be shared and remixed. Try these fun activities to learn about Scratch and then get more Scratch project ideas.
Make a Flappy Bird Game
Ages: 8+
Skills Learned: Scratch basics, loops, time functions, animations
Kids fly through the air as a flappy bird, but they have to avoid a collision to reach their destination. They’ll learn to animate a moving object and create obstacles by using code blocks. Kids will have as much fun coding this game as playing it. It’s an easy game to build and requires no setup in Scratch.
Flying Space Cat Game
Ages: 8+
Skills Learned: Scratch basics, loops, functions, game score logic
In this game, kids travel across space collecting crystals and use game logic to keep score. Collecting is a popular mechanic in games and is easily coded in Scratch with the same basic logic. They’ll learn how to animate a moving background and in just a few steps have a completed game. Easy activity for first-time coders.