#Lightbot jr online code#
does not expose kids to any actual code rather, it reinforces coding concepts through the use of puzzle pieces (drag-and-drop programming) that allow kids to control their character. allows kids to create artboards and stories with characters that can talk and move around the artboard. has a similar look/feel to Scratch and is based on the same idea of creating interactive stories. was created for younger kids ages five to seven. While Scratch is intended for children eight and up, Scratch Jr. was developed by Tufts University, PBS Kids, and the MIT Media Lab and is an offshoot of the popular Scratch App. Kodable does not have an app for Fire, though it can be used in a browser on Amazon Fire. I did some testing on a Fire HD 10 with Scratch Jr. The majority of use in our family was on an iPad.
#Lightbot jr online tv#
While homeschooling, my partner and I decided no TV or games during working hours, so if we were not working on a particular learning task, I would say to my daughter, “You can have screen time, but it has to be educational.” In addition to a handful of other learning apps, she also has the option to play on the coding apps. After this point, I mostly just sat back and made note of if/when she would return to the app on her own. If you have kids you know it only takes them about ten seconds of watching you do it before they say “Let me try!” I then let her “play” and only jumped in when she asked for help or became visibly frustrated with a level or task. I then presented them to my daughter in a non-threatening way like “Hey, check out this new app I found,” and I would work on a challenge while she watched. For each of these apps, I first downloaded them myself and worked on a few of the challenges. My daughter is six years old and just started first grade. To see what’s available for kids, I (and my daughter) reviewed three coding apps-Scratch Jr., Codespark, and Kodable-though there are many more to choose from.
These are the building blocks to coding and a more sophisticated understanding of information systems and processing. None of these apps will “teach your kids to code,” but rather, they are the first step in a journey toward understanding basic logic, analysis, and design. Let’s face it, technology is only going to become more pervasive over time, so even if your kids go on to be plumbers, doctors, or teachers, they will likely have to interface with technology in their career of choice.īefore we go any farther, be sure to temper your expectations about what your child will gain from these apps. What better time to start exposing our kids to the career we all think is amazing! You do think programming is amazing, right? 😀 Well, even if you don’t, coding teaches kids the fundamentals of logic and encourages them to think abstractly. Like many of you, I am a coder with kids at home.
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