Video games are a great way to get children into coding. Not only is coding the thing that brings games to life, some of them even teach actual coding skills. Sometimes video games are so much fun that children don’t even realize they’re learning. If you want your kids to get a taste for coding, there are games out there that can get them started, or as a way to keep learning after their coding courses are done.
Fortunately, the internet has many online games designed to help kids learn to code by making it fun and entertaining. When your child’s weekly RP4K session is over, the learning and the fun can go on.
There are various STEM games out there designed for different age groups and various levels of expertise. This level of choice is crucial. Kids need the appropriate level of support, and a game that’s too difficult may accidentally push them away from coding.
There are many rewarding careers that require coding and other computer science skills, so when your child isn’t in an RP4K class, get them playing games that introduce them to necessary coding skills.
Let’s look at some of the best games out there that will encourage coding for kids by making it so much fun that they’ll want to do it in their own spare time.
Tynker has many helpful online uses for children, though not all of them are free. The online gaming community offers ten levels free of charge and over 20 activities for children aged seven and older.
Otherwise, it’s available on a monthly subscription basis. Tynker is designed for children at all levels of coding. From beginner to expert, children will be welcomed into the program gradually with a graphic programming interface that gradually becomes more difficult as children advance.
By the end, children will learn complex coding programs like JavaScript and Python.
Code Combat provides an excellent way for kids to learn about coding, but it’s also fun and competitive. Every player can control their actions by coding, and, as the game progresses, more advanced functions require more advanced coding. The more time kids spend playing, the more practice they get.
This game is a nice mix of lessons and games. The interactive coding lessons use emojis kids are likely to know already and love.
CodeMoji allows children to move through the game at their own pace.
A bad gorilla has taken a monkey’s bananas, and if your child’s character wants to help the monkey get them back, they’ll need to learn to code! CodeMonkey is more like a game than a lesson, but it will also help children learn to code and get more confident as they practice.
Kids need to solve a variety of puzzles using coding languages. The puzzles get gradually more difficult as the game progresses, testing your child’s knowledge. CodeMonkey is available with a free 30-day trial.
Google does a lot to support the coding community, and one of their latest projects is a series of seven coding games for kids known as Blockly Games. Different games instruct kids on the fundamentals of coding.
For example, Bird is a deep-dive into conditionals, whereas Turtle teaches children all about loops. Check out this project from Google for your young child, as it’s free and open source.
Another Google offering, Blockly Maze is aimed at being a perfect introduction to coding for younger children. The drag-and-drop programming interface makes learning simple for kids.
Made with Code is a web app that offers anybody a terrific starting place to learn to code. Though it is designed with girls in mind, it’s an effective way for anyone to learn coding, and of course, anybody at all can find it engaging!
Made with Code is very straightforward, and projects only take a few minutes. In this app, your child will pick a block of code that is linked to the previous block, so it builds on what they just learned.
Made with Code lets your child build a Snapchat filter! They’ll be prompted to choose a colour, then a set of accessories to be superimposed over the image. Next, your child will drag and drop those two “blocks of code,” and voila, a useable Snapchat filter they created themselves!
Vidcode is like Made with Code, but it’s a little more advanced and, once you get the hang of the code, there’s a bigger selection of projects from which to choose. Those able to complete particular challenges can win prizes, free upgrades, and access to more code projects.
Not only that, but you can also make your own memes, Snapchat filters, and even explore important topics like climate through code. Finally, unlike many games, Vidcode also shows your child the actual code someone would use in the real world to build their projects.
Now, your kid can make their own video game! Sploder lets them make simple games, and it requires Flash to work properly. But it enables you to make different types of games, from arcade-style games to puzzles.
Once your child has selected a type of game they want to make, they can press function buttons to design blocks of code, enhancing the game and adding their signature to it.
Your child will be able to share the game with friends and family and play it repeatedly as many times as they want.
Code.org is a perfect entry point for children to learn code and explore coding languages, like HTML, C++, or CSS. Companies like Amazon and Google sponsored a project created by Code.org known as “Hour of Code,” a perfect place for young children to start learning to code.
Like anything, learning to code takes practice to get it right. It can be easier for children to learn a language from a young age, and framing the lessons around fun concepts like games is a compelling form of engagement.
These are great resources that can supplement your child’s coding education. If you want to know, what do kids do at RP4K, they become young coders, learning real programming languages and building video games as they apply their new knowledge. All courses have a maximum of four students, so kids get more one-on-one time with instructors and collaborate with their peers to overcome obstacles and learn the ins and outs of programming.
The programming courses at RP4K are led by experienced instructors. Our lessons are fun, but we also set students up with knowledge they’ll need down the road.
