App Development Tools and Games for Kids to Learn Programming

There are many reasons we need to let kids be creative. It can help kids manage stress, express themselves, gain a sense of self-efficacy, and has countless other intellectual and emotional benefits. Learning app development is particularly effective at cultivating creativity for many reasons. The process of learning to code:

• Gives a New Creative Outlet: With programming skills, kids can actualize practically anything they set their minds to. With enough time and dedication, they can create games, stories, and simulations that allow them to truly showcase their creative talents.
• Promotes Creative Problem Solving: When developing software, things inevitably go wrong. At these moments, learners must assess what went wrong, reconfigure settings, and try again. This experimental process is an excellent method of fostering creative problem solving and critical thinking.
• Gives Kids Confidence: Both of the above benefits can lead to improved confidence. Successfully making creative works and finding solutions through experimentation naturally gives children a sense of confidence. This sense can make children more likely to extend themselves creatively, socially, and intellectually.

Learning new programming languages, telling stories through software, and figuring out the basics of computational thinking clearly have many benefits when it comes to fostering creativity.

Students of diverse backgrounds especially need app development education. To address the educational disparities among different groups of students, digital inclusion should be a major priority in education. Given the importance of app development, it should not be excluded from these efforts.

The benefits to both individuals and the industry as a whole are numerous. People of diverse cultures and ethnicities often face obstacles when it comes to accessing tech education and job opportunities, and they are accordingly underrepresented in STEM fields such as software development. As a result, they are deprived of well-paying jobs and the industry is deprived of diverse voices. When parents and teachers foster an interest in app development in underrepresented populations, they can work to bridge both of these gaps.

Many software developers are eager to volunteer their knowledge with young learners, and some have created free app development games to do so. Explore the following options to see which meet your child’s needs:

• Kodu Game Lab: Microsoft’s Kodu allows users with no design or programming skills to create games on the PC and Xbox with a simple and intuitive visual programming language. The platform has a very active community, and children share their games with others online. With no hidden fees, this is a great choice for young ones interested in learning more about game development.
• MIT App Inventor: Another cloud-based tool for building apps, this was created by a small team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to empower kids to make a difference in their local communities by creating apps. It offers an intuitive programming environment and teaches the basics of computing through helpful tutorials.
• Scratch: Kids can use Scratch to program their own stories and games, then share those creations with an online community. This is another free platform offered by MIT to support educational growth in programming. It challenges young learners to think creatively and collaborate to create interactive experiences. The developer also offers ScratchJr, which is an option for younger children.
• Sploder: Sploder is another free platform that creative kids can use to create games while expanding their programming knowledge. It has a diverse toolset and is integrated with an online community in which children can share their creations with peers. This platform has seen use in many classroom environments due to educational benefits.
• Stencyl: Stencyl is a beginner’s game creation tool that requires no coding skills and supports development for a wide range of platforms. While advanced users can extend the engine with coding, beginners can simply drag and drop assets to begin creating right away. While there are paid options, users can create and publish games on the web with the free starter edition.

There are also plenty of paid options. Paid app development platforms often have advanced features, a wider array of learning activities and superior developer support. Some include a monthly subscription cost, while others have a one-time fee. Many offer free trials for those who are interested. Further, some offer special discounts for educators. Check out the below options:

• App Builder Appy Pie: This is cloud-based software designed to help users create Android and iPhone applications — no programming skills required! This is a great introduction to app development for young learners. While users will need to pay a subscription fee to publish apps made in Appy Pie, they will be able to create them at no cost, making this a solid choice for educational purposes.
• Code Avengers JR: There are three versions of this platform, and each is designed for a different type of user. Code Avengers JR can teach programming basics to users aged 5 to 14, while Code Avengers PRO helps older users learn the professional skills needed to begin a career in software development. Code Avengers EDU is designed for classroom use. Free trials are available for each of these.
• CodeSpark Academy: This platform has a research-backed curriculum that teaches the fundamentals of coding to users aged 5 to 9. Kids can create their own side-scrolling video games, solve coding puzzles, and apply programming concepts in a variety of minigames designed to bolster learning retention. A free trial is available, as well as discounted rates for teachers.
• GameMaker: Developer Yoyo Games has made a number of accessible and intuitive game development tools — including drag-and-drop functionality and a unique programming language — to allow kids to experiment and have fun while learning. There is a free 30-day trial, as well as discounted rates for educators.
• Hopscotch: Designed for learners aged 8 to 14, Hopscotch enables kids to express their creativity while learning essential programming skills. They can create animations, games, and apps, then publish them online for friends and family to play. It has a week-long free trial, then a paid subscription is required.
• Kodable: This platform consists of a variety of games and lessons designed to teach kids the basics of programming. A trial starter kit is available for free, and teachers can get a premium plan that comes with a teaching curriculum.
• Tynker: A platform dedicated to promoting coding education for kids, Tynker offers many useful courses for aspiring coders. Young children typically start with courses with voice instructions, preteens will use drag-and-drop coding to explore STEM subjects, and teenagers will transition toward learning real-world coding languages like Javascript and Python. A free trial is available, and educators can buy student licenses in bulk for a discount.

There are a few free options for kids who want to get more involved with advanced concepts in coding. These include:

• Adobe PhoneGap: Supported by a global community, PhoneGap seeks to eliminate the frustrations associated with developing for different platforms by bridging web applications and mobile devices with standards-based web technologies. This allows users to leverage their existing skills to create hybrid applications. It is a great resource for plugins and compiling third-party tools. It is completely free.
• Cocos2d: This is a family of open-source software frameworks designed to streamline development for HTML5, mobile, and desktop applications. Kids with some programming skills (C++, Lua, JavaScript, and C#) can use these free frameworks to support their development efforts on 2D projects.
• Corona: This software development kit supports 2D game development and is a good choice for young learners with some Lua coding knowledge. It has many plugins to suit each user’s needs, and it’s cross-platform, making it easy to create hybrid applications. Best of all, Corona has no hidden fees or charges.

There are many paid app development games and platforms that can also help these learners develop advanced coding skills. Again, many of these offer free trials for those who are interested, as well as teacher discounts. These options include:

• BuildFire: An easy-to-use mobile app builder platform, BuildFire requires no coding knowledge to begin making content based on templates. However, users with advanced programming knowledge can build custom functionality with the platform’s software development kit. A free 2-week trial is available to anyone wanting to try it.
• Buzztouch: This open-source app engine has been used in tandem with software developer kits to power the development of thousands of iOS and Android applications. A free trial is available, but there are multiple subscription options that offer various additional features.
• Code Avengers PRO: There are three versions of this platform, and each is designed for a different type of user. Code Avengers JR can teach programming basics to users aged 5 to 14, while Code Avengers PRO helps older users learn the professional skills needed to begin a career in software development. Code Avengers EDU is designed for classroom use. Free trials are available for each of these.
• Construct3: Construct3 is a browser-based platform that allows rapid game development through a robust set of accessible tools. Young learners can use it to learn development basics on a variety of devices, including when they are offline. A free trial is available, and education licenses can be bought at a discount.
• CoSpaces Edu: CoSpaces has a suite of built-in tools that allow students to work with 3D graphics. Beginners can use a visual programming language, while advanced users can get access to scripting languages. Kids can then explore their creations in augmented or virtual reality. There is a free version available, which allows teachers to test out the platform with one class. Educators can also buy licenses in bulk at a reduced rate, and those at Title 1 schools also get a discount.
• Mimo: This is an online learning platform that teaches the basics of coding in accessible, bite-sized courses. It gives users room to experiment and learn, as well as real-world projects that teach learners the practical applications of the concepts they engage with. Those interested in learning the basics of several different coding languages can try two free-to-complete courses to see if Mimo is right for them.
• Treehouse: The developers at Treehouse are looking to diversify the tech industry by making coding more accessible to people of all walks of life. It has a wide variety of on-demand videos and interactive code challenges that users can complete in bite-sized chunks. Further, it has an active and supporting online community of fellow coders who are ready and willing to provide help. There is a one-week free trial for those who are interested.
• Unity: Unity is a major name in the game development world, and it’s a great platform for aspiring developers looking to learn new skills. The Unity Editor allows kids with programming and design experience to create 2D or 3D animations and games. There are several versions, depending on your needs, and free 30-day trials are available.

As with the platforms discussed above, there are both free and paid games to peruse. Some of these have free trials, as well as teacher discounts. Check out the following to determine if any might help your child develop a passion for coding:

• Boogie Bot: This application teaches kids Google’s visual programming language, Blockly. In the app, kids will use this language to program a virtual robot to dance. It’s a great early introduction to the concept of coding and how it can allow creative expression.
• Box Island: Box Island is a mobile coding game that packages the fundamentals of “algorithms, pattern recognition, sequences, loops, and conditionals” through engaging gameplay. This is designed to help young children learn the basics so that they can go on to take on more advanced challenges.
• CodeCombat: Created by a community project of over 450 volunteers looking to further coding education, this is a free browser-based game that teaches the fundamentals of programming in a fun and engaging game. It supports multiple programming languages and uses role-playing game features to keep users invested in their progress. A paid option is available for teachers.
• Nancy Drew: Codes & Clues: This classic game series for young learners takes on coding with this entry into the franchise. In this game, users will learn how to code in order to program a virtual robotic puppy to help Nancy Drew solve a mystery.
• Ozaria: This free game packages the basics of coding in a fantasy story revolving around magic. By progressing through the game, young ones can learn coding basics needed for app development.
• SpriteBox: SpriteBox is a logic puzzle game that teaches the basics of coding through a fun platforming experience. Using creative problem solving and a simplistic visual programming language, players must navigate through environments and complete objectives.

There are also some paid options to explore. These are often more complex and take a more holistic approach to software development education. Review the options below to learn more:

• Bloxels: This platform offers simple and intuitive tools to easily create games with no programming experience. Using a physical game board, users can even create pixelated characters and assets that they can insert into their own games. There is a personal edition, though educational accounts can be purchased in bulk at a discount.
• Gamestar Mechanic: Gamestar Mechanic is an online learning platform that presents game design lessons and tutorials in a series of interactive lessons that promote creative problem-solving. It also has an online community in which children can design and share their own games. There is an introductory package on sale, as well as a comprehensive online learning course. Teachers can buy student licenses at a reduced rate.
• Human Resource Machine: A playfully dark video game made by the developers of Little Inferno and World of Goo, Human Resource Machine teaches users some programming basics and tasks them with completing puzzles in an “office” that works just like a real CPU.
• Lightbot: Lightbot is a puzzle game that teaches kids programming logic as they play. It teaches the basics of sequencing, overloading, procedures, recursive lops, and conditionals as users guide a robot through increasingly complex environments.
• Minecraft: Education Edition: It’s no secret that kids love Minecraft, and this popular video game has many applications within the classroom. This specialized version of the game promotes STEM education and social-emotional learning while teaching students about the basics of coding. There is a free trial available for educators, and schools can buy into a district-wide licensing model for a substantial discount per user.
• Move the Turtle: True to its name, this game tasks users with moving a turtle through coding. As noted on the site users can learn “how to plan complex operations composed of simple & intuitive commands” by engaging with this accessible, yet deceptively complex game.

Many of the tools discussed above make a clear effort to create an engaging learning environment. They generally put an emphasis on gamification and the creative potential of coding. This is because children are more likely to stick with a subject if it is entertaining.

Similarly, those looking to inspire interest in coding should make the process engaging. Present learners with a variety of exciting scenarios to experiment and find solutions for. Give them time to play games and view animations made by other kids to inspire their own creations. These measures will make coding much more fun for children.

Finally, don’t forget to take some effort to personalize the learning experience. Giving a child choices in the types of projects they accomplish, the subjects they learn about, or the order in which they complete tasks can instill them with a sense of agency and investment in their own learning.

It’s important that learners are instilled with the notion that they can become a part of the overall software development community — particularly when they need help. When a child is learning the ropes of coding, it is practically inevitable that they will encounter frustrating learning curves. During these times, a mentor can be invaluable.

There are many benefits of having a child interact with someone who is experienced in software development, and there are many volunteers in the coding industry who want to share their knowledge with beginners. Mentors can help kids understand complex concepts in coding, understand the real-world applications of what they’ve learned, and discover how they can begin to leverage their skills in a professional capacity.

Mentors can be found in many different places. Local libraries, universities, and hobbyist groups are likely to have potential mentors. In addition, many of the tools discussed above have integrated online communities, which can be useful when seeking guidance.

There are many, many aspects to software development. If a child is not interested or adept in some of them, it’s natural that they might start having feelings of inadequacy. However, parents and teachers can identify areas of programming that children are passionate about, then tap into them.

To help a child discover what they enjoy about coding, there are some best practices to follow. First, it’s important to give kids room to experiment. Following strictly structured training modules may be an efficient way to convey important concepts to learners, but it isn’t very fun. There should be dedicated time to give children an opportunity to experiment with the techniques they’ve learned so far. This can inspire passion in programming.

Secondly, be sure to explain the real-world applications of coding skills. It can be difficult for children to feel passionate about any subject when it is devoid of context. Explaining how specific skills can be used in the real world is a great way of getting kids excited about coding.

Stereotypes can be demoralizing, and research indicates that stereotypes can start to take hold as early as 1st grade. The notion that males are better at programming, math, and science is not founded in reality, but it can have a very real impact on learner outcomes. Indeed, stereotypes can have a debilitating effect on children’s motivation and self-efficacy.

It’s important to explain to children that anyone can be a coder — not just boys and men. Instead of reinforcing stereotypes, educators and parents must reinforce this idea and help eliminate harmful social stereotypes. This can be done by informing children about influential and successful female programmers and having them collaborate with female peers using some of the tools discussed above.

Making conscious decisions to break and avoid this kind of social conditioning is key. As kids learn the basics of programming, it’s important to remember to be continually aware of the explicit and implicit messages you might be conveying to them. For example, if you only present instructional material to children that contains men, children may come to the conclusion that women are not as capable in the field. Having a curriculum with diverse perspectives, however, can help.