Coding for KIDS

Cracking the code on the best iPad apps for budding computer programmers

Computer engineering and program development are two of the fastest growing professions in the world. With such high demand, many developers created mobile apps disguised as games that teach the basics from the Elementary School through High School levels. These seven computer programming apps for kids may have cracked the code.

Hopscotch schools you in the basics (free)

If you want to pick one app to start with, go with Hopscotch (free). It turns you (and your kid!) into a game creator with simple-to-learn tools.

Hopscotch walks you through a visual tool for making games—you can even make a Flappy Bird clone. There are a lot of good, tutorial videos that explain how you connect the pieces together, which correspond to actions within the game.

Hopscotch videos narrate instructions while you’re learning how to use it.You can then try out your creation after adding in some commands of your own.

Hopscotch also has a smart method of integrating social aspects into its apps without sharing your child’s personal info—something that, hopefully, will make parents feel more comfortable. You can view a stream of other games created by the community, but you don’t have to create a specific account with email or other information to check it out.

Tynker helps kids solve the puzzle (free)

Tynker (free) turns things up a notch, with a visual programming method that is capable of creating some impressive games and tools.

There’s a free app that you can grab to try it out on your own, but Tynker also has bigger ambitions with a separate edition specifically for schools that use it for teaching programming strategies to their students.

Tynker uses a drag-and-drop interface for programming actions.Tynker includes a game called Codey’s Quest, which uses various programming puzzles that you must solve in order to lead the wayward one home.

Tynker is also available on the web and for Android devices, so if you sign up with an account your child can access his or her project from multiple devices. It’s grown to become a popular platform, so it’s worth checking out eventually even if you hit some of the other options first.

Move the Turtle teaches you through play ($3)

Move the Turtle ($3) is a good choice if you would rather introduce coding concepts in a more linear format. This app adapts a “learn as you go” strategy, where your child will give programming-style instructions to a turtle through a series of challenges.

You must move the turtle according to the directions in this game of logic.Like most iOS games, it moves you along through a variety of levels, elevating the challenge as it goes on. In this case, that means introducing more programming commands at each level, so after a while you’ll have a solid understanding of how to issue commands to your turtle by dragging and dropping the various tasks into place.

Cargo-Bot (free)

Cargo-Bot puts you in charge of a giant crane, which you must control through commands.Cargo-Bot (free) is another pick that infuses programming instruction in the form of a game. You’ll control a robotic arm and command it to move boxes into predetermined areas.

Once you’ve mastered how this works, you’ll find a lot of logical challenges await in the more difficult levels. One perk is that you don’t have to go sequentially through the game—if you’re ready for a more difficult level, you can jump into it right away.

Cargo-Bot is also a good showcase for the type of games that one can make on an iPad, as it was coded entirely with Codea, a touch-based coding application.

Daisy the Dinosaur sucks you in with cuteness (free)

A cute dinosaur is always an inviting way to suck you into something. Daisy the Dinosaur (free) introduces you to such a creature, which can be commanded with visual programming commands. This app was created by the team behind Hopscotch, so you know it’s a good one.

Daisy the Dinosaur is a great option for a simple introduction to programming.There’s a free play mode, which you can use to just tinker around and get familiar with everything that you can command the dino to do. You’ll learn more, however, if you work your way through the challenge mode, which starts with a step-by-step tutorial before unleashing you into more challenging adventures.

Daisy the Dinosaur is a good option if you want something simple with clear, guided practice for a first go-around at programming.

Robo Logic 2 HD ($1.99)

Robo Logic 2 HD is a fun and engaging way to give kids a foundational understanding of how programming works. This app offers students with various challenges that increase as kids gain more programming skill. It teaches kids how programming is a step by step process through having students use a series of movements to program a robot to move on a grid and claim squares. This app is a non-stop brain challenging thrill ride!

Circuit Coder ($1.99)

The app is packaged as a game, but does its job teaching high school students about logic gates and building digital circuits. Traditional teaching of this topic can be boring and tedious, asking students to draw the gates again and again in addition to solving the logical problem. This app helps with the visualization of that design and successfully frames the challenges within a game. In these games, students are given sets of inputs and the expectations of the desired output. Students work out the problems by designing circuits using relevant gates to turn on LEDs. The game progresses from easy circuits into more complex situations where they are asked to make use of the switches, timers, and more. Additionally, the application also serves as a simulator where students can freely design whatever circuit they want and view the results!