Scratch Jr. is a simplified coding app for young children that introduces core programming ideas through drag-and-drop storytelling. Kids ages 5–7 snap together colorful blocks to make characters move, talk, and interact, learning sequencing, loops, and cause-and-effect along the way. Developed by researchers at MIT and Tufts specifically for early childhood, Scratch Jr. is free and designed for pre-readers and emerging readers. Parents like that it turns iPad time into creative play rather than passive watching, and that kids can retell favorite stories or invent their own. It’s ideal as a first step into coding for kindergarten and early elementary students. The interface is intentionally minimal, so children may need a bit of adult scaffolding at first. To increase educational value, sit with your child, ask them to explain their “programs,” and encourage them to storyboard projects on paper before building them in the app.
