There is no shortage of programs that can help your child get started and interested in coding & design.
The key question to ask yourself is what are you trying to get from the program?
Code.org
Let's start our discussion on our list of 37 top free and paid computer coding platforms and classes for kids with a free public platform. Code.org is one of the famous sites and it is famous for its extensive search engine that enables us to search for relevant local courses everywhere in the world. It provides free coding for kids. It also provides online tutorials of 15 to 20 hours duration on average. These videos include game-like interactive lessons and are suitable for children of all ages.
Code.org provides app development, game creation, and web designing. It is the best site for teaching coding to kids. Code.org teaches the basics of the computer to even 6 years old kids through its series of courses. Every course includes activities, videos, and several puzzles that will help the kid build interactive stories and games.
CodeCombat
CodeCombat combines text-based coding drills with RPG gameplay for children. It helps teachers to teach text-based coding. The website uses a proprietary text editor that helps students to learn the basics of languages such as HTM/CSS, JavaScript and Python.
One of the negative impacts of closed platform courses like these is that it hampers kids’ creativity as it forces them down very rigid paths.
Codecademy
It is a perfect place for students to learn to program and web development. Kids can apply their knowledge through quizzes and projects.
This website offers separate courses on various topics. If you do not know the basics of web development or programming, then you can start where you want such as learning the basics of web development in CSS & HTML, and when you learn all these, then you can work on more complex coding languages such as SQL and JavaScript.
Khan Academy
It is an educational website. The website promotes a great number of exercises and lessons on SQL, CSS/HTML, and JavaScript through videos. The videos are to the point and usually short. These videos are full of practical tips and are very helpful, which will take students from point A to point B. Students can download the videos and save them on the computer. The videos also contain subtitles.
There is no requirement of account for using Khan Academy and anyone anywhere in the world can access it with a decent Internet connection.
The only drawbacks are:
- There is a limitation of just playing videos on the mobile app.
- There are some gaps in a few catalogs.
- The video markup is a little awkward
Code Monster
To add some simple coding experience to your kids’ learning, Code Monster is an efficient choice to provide them with interactive practice with Java. Its structure is of two boxes, one is for code and the rest will show the result.
One of the best things about this simple program is its ability to display the results of coding immediately, which increases young coders’ interests and make their learning meaningful.
There is a shortcoming of Code Monster. It is too simple a program to stand on its own and it will need some other great options with it on this list.
Blocky
The website Blockly is one of the great and free resources that gives youngsters access to fun coding games. We can rightly assume that the website will provide learning of programming lessons through blocks and a series of puzzles. They have designed these educational games for students who do not have any knowledge about computer programming. The kids will create a story by solving fun and tricky puzzles by a drag-and-drop function. It will prepare kids by the end of games, and kids will be ready for using conventional text-based languages in their future activities of coding.
CodeMoji
CodeMoji is one of the inexpensive options for all which it provides. The computer science curriculum of CodeMoji is all alike for parents and schools and it provides fantastic resources to students from grades 1 to 8 to learn the fundamentals of coding and web development (JavaScript, CSS, HTML). The learning becomes fun and kids forget that they are doing anything educational when the structure of education is in a way that is fun. It will enable kids to create their own animations, websites and more.
37 Top free and paid computer coding platforms and classes contd…
Thimble
Thimble is an online editor powered by Mozilla which provides kids a platform to learn interactive programming and enable them to code directly and instantly know the output of their work. It makes it simple for kids to create web pages and all together learning the common languages like JavaScript, CSS and HTML.
Thimble allows kids to learn by doing and the learning modules which allows kids to opt between updating existing projects or to start the brand new projects. Students will see a split screen after beginning their projects, which will show the draft of the output and raw coding they are completing. They can share their projects online once they have completed their projects.
Kodable
Kodable is an incredible and full-fledged online curriculum that helps kids build their foundations in programming and schools use it as a classroom curriculum.
For younger students such as kindergarteners, lessons are available on basic programming, which they will help in building upon through fifth grade. We can expect them by the end of a program to conveniently write JavaScript coding. To make it look like a classroom environment, each unit contains a teacher’s script along with an independent activity and an unplugged activity to place part of the learning experience solely in the student’s hands. Finally, there is also an assessment quiz to keep track of progress by the student and to know where they need additional attention. All plans are available on iOS devices with a seven-day free trial so that everyone can easily try it out and see whether it works for them. It is one of the cheapest options available.
Stencyl
Stencyl is one of the best online platforms to get beginners into coding as game development will excite them. It allows kids to create simple and fun games for Linux, Mac, Flash, iOS, Android and Windows systems.
Snapping the block structure is the basis of Stencyl. It also provides typing codes for extra practice in text-bases areas. Stencyl can benefit the kids of different skill levels as it contains a range of educational material. Nowadays, some classroom curriculum also contains Stencyl as a common tool that can download a free Educator’s Kit. Stencyl provides both free and paid pro plans for students to make most out of it. The free options are for people who are curious but have budget issues while pro plans are for those who want to want to learn more than the initial offerings.
Vidcode
Vidcode is a great website for students of elementary school and beyond as well for teachers teaching coding. It primarily focuses on teenage girls who want to start their journey into the world of computer science.
JavaScript is its basis. Students use it to learn skills and coding concepts to produce content like videos and motion graphics. Students will compare the output with the text side by side, as they will view a thumbnail of the video being made by them.
Vidcode also provides a limited free version and charged an annual subscription for students. The free version will include the software, tutorials, and access to the online community while the paid version will provide access to additional projects, lessons and much more for more serious users.
Codakid
Online courses make kids familiar with real coding through professional tools by assigning exciting projects on platforms such as Roblox and Minecraft. These projects may include things like app development with JavaScript, Roblox game development, Minecraft modding, game programming with Python, web development with CSS/HTML, and much more.
While most of the resources are only web-based, CodaKid is part of client-based and part web-based. The students can keep the content in their possession by downloading it. It will then allow kids to keep software projects and tools forever.
CodaKid provides opportunities for students to implement their own ideas into the work they want to do. It is also an affordable investment for all that it provides.
Udemy
Udemy is a globally acknowledged web portal that provides thousands of courses through video tutorials. It is the best platform for beginners who can learn to code by watching several documents and video tutorials. It contains tutorials on several development courses such as programming languages, game developments, mobile applications, web development, e-commerce, and databases.
Scratch
Scratch is a website specially designed to make programming easy with fun. It enables kids to create projects that range from animations to games and stories using command blocks of drag and drop. Students code and then learn the ins and outs of creating games. At the end of class, students would have learned and created original projects. If a kid has a basic understanding of a computer such as how to use a mouse and to find keys on the keyboard, he can easily create some wonderful projects.
The benefit: Kids are being familiarized with programming concepts which provide them an advantage later to master computer science if they want. It also teaches time management and project planning.
Code Conquest
Code conquest platform provides help in learning the basics of coding to kids or anyone who does not understand what coding or programming is. Code conquest gives access to a free coding guide that contains several free coding tutorials for a better beginning. This guide will teach you how to use a particular programming language, and it will also make you capable of deciding which coding training is suitable for you. The different programming languages taught by Code conquest include HTML, CSS, C++, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, and PHP.
Code Player
The Code Player is a unique code learning platform for beginners which render them access to videos or walk-through presentations about code created by others from scratch and each walk-through lesson ends with a video covering full explanation of the topic. Eventually, such real case studies provide a better idea about using programming languages as per different requirements. The students can learn basics about different languages such as JavaScript, CSS3, HTML5 and jQuery which are all used to develop websites or mobile applications.
Odin Project
The Odin Project is a website that helps kids learn web development online for free. It teaches basic programming languages by making students take part in various small projects needed to build their own portfolio of work. It provides a flexible curriculum for better learning of students in which students themselves can contribute. The basic programming languages offered by these websites include JavaScript, Ruby and Ruby on Rails, jQuery, CSS3 and HTML5.
A-list Apart
A list Apart is a blog that focuses on coding skills for website development and contains a handful of quality material, books and articles that will be helpful in learning to program skills. It is an ideal blog for youngsters who are interested in creating websites or learning to code. This blog has several authors who keep on contributing to this marvelous blog. These writers carry on conducting workshops, writing books, arranging events related to web development, coding, and website designing.
TutsPlus
Tutsplus is a blog that offers thousands of videos, free tutorials, and much more to help the students learn the fundamentals of several programming languages and technical stuff. For a better understanding of instructions, they make the tutorials project-based which offers step-by-step instructions along with related screenshots.
Tutsplus website also offers various paid courses for detailed learning of the coding languages of a student’s choice. Students can learn about several programming languages such as JavaScript, WordPress, Node.js, Joomla, Swift, CSS and so on.
Ruby in 20 Minutes
Ruby in 20 Minutes is a website created by the official Ruby website which is the best option for beginners learning to code Ruby. The students can learn the fundamentals of Ruby in just 20 minutes or fewer.
Code Easy
Codeasy. net is a very interesting educational course that gives a new concept to the study of computer science. The students start by reading an adventure story of fighting machines and that fighting will need real coding to solve. Thus, students learn to code through this adventure fighting story and become software developers.
This course focuses on the basics of computer science using C# and is free. This course is for beginners. It starts with a program called Hello world, which drives you to write your first calculator, taking students to more advanced topics like input validation and arrays. Anyone who knows how to read can learn it.
Kid n Code
It is a kid-friendly platform that provides an easy introduction of coding language to kids.
Kids who know how to read can use four coding commands through a series of levels to program a robot to capture hanging gem. After opening it for the first time, kids complete an introductory tutorial to learn how coding robots work. After then, kids create codes in each group of five levels, which instruct a robot to end on the space that holds a gem. By tapping on the robot, it will show the four available commands which are push, jump, step, and turn. To test the coding sequence, kids can click on the play button. Kids can move with full points to the next level when the robot finishes at the right place with the least number of moves. If not, then kids will require removing or adding commands to rewrite the code.
Classpert
Classpert is a search engine that provides online courses in business, data science, computer science, and more. It aids students in finding and comparing the courses. It contains both free and paid courses from several course providers. All students including beginners can watch previews of the courses and compare their syllabuses from matching side-by-side to find the best course for them as per their requirements and interests
FreeCodeCamp
It is an online school that teaches coding to students first through an established curriculum and then by providing students with practical experience of working on projects. It is an incredible choice for beginners who have an interest in learning to code online.
It provides free coding certifications for several web programming languages such as JavaScript, CSS, HTML, data visualization, QA testing, jQuery, DevTools, Node.js, React, and more.
W3Schools
W3Schools is the world’s largest web developer site and a perfect choice for beginners as it helps in learning every aspect of web programming through its free offerings of coding tutorials and reference materials. Students can test their skills with different coding exercises and quizzes using their online editor. The free coding tutorials offered by W3Schools include JavaScript, CSS, HTML, jQuery, PHP, SQL, and more.
Id-Tech
Idtech.com with its online learning courses and summer programs has become a marvelous platform to guide students from the age of 7 years. IdTech teaches youngsters to create their own video games. We discuss some of their courses as under (as you would expect they are the most expensive courses around)
Sphero BOLT
Sphero BOLT is a Robotics coding course by IdTech which is for the students from age 7 to 9 years old. This course will guide the kids through problem-solving techniques while laying a foundation for real-world robotics. Visual Scratch programming supplements this course, and it is a perfect start for beginners.
Code Maker
Code Maker is a coding game and students can make it by the drag-and-drop creative learning. Students of the age group 7 to 9 years can create this game. Students will use code blocks and characters to gain to learn basics in games, creating animated stories and computational thinking. The engaging design and bright visuals of the game will maximize the learning process and will make it easy for kids to develop the necessary skills for a tech-driven world.
Robocoder
RoboCoder is also a Robotics and Visual Coding game by Id Tech for students age 7 to 9 years. This course combines dynamic possibilities of the LEGO building system with the drag-and-drop programming software. It encourages creativity, friendship, and teamwork.
Tynker & Tynker Junior
Tynker.com is a coding website for kids that provide individualized learning with hands-on projects and built-in tutorials. Tynker is a block and swift coding for children of ages 7 to 14 years. It contains eleven courses to create and build games, apps, and robots with code. Tynker’s Tutorials provide step-by-step guidance and its self-guided courses allow kids to make learning in a fun based interactive environment.
Kids can make experiments on making their own unique games after completing a tutorial for applying the concepts they have learned.
Tynker Junior is a picture and block-coding for kids of ages 4-7. It contains five coding courses with creative activities and voice instructions that benefit young kids for basic knowledge of coding and programming.
Mod Creator
Mod Creator is a mobile learning app for Block-coding for developing skins, Minecraft add-ons, and mods for children of ages 7 to 14 years. It contains two courses and some tools for Minecraft modification. It is also a highly rated app that really works for youngsters to know about coding and app development.
Code Ninjas
Kids learn to code through our engaging game-based curriculum that teaches teamwork, logic, math, and problem-solving. They gain vital skills while having a blast. They have a franchise-based model, so the quality of teaching will vary at every center.
Juni Learning
Juni Learning provides online coding classes for kids with a private instructor. Each student meets with their instructor once or twice a week, privately or semi-privately (2 students).
Developed by computer scientists and Google alumni, our program develops bright minds ages 5-18 using our curriculum and digital tools. Students leave the program with confidence in pursuing technical topics and knowledge of how to build videogames, apps, and websites.
Code Wizard HQ
CodeWizardsHQ delivers the most fun and effective live, online coding classes for kids and teens ages 8-18. Our coding classes are designed to give kids the programming knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive in a digital world. This program specializes in group online classes.
Winning Words Project
We offer live-online project-based programs for kids. This is the ideal starter coding program – created for non-coders who may be more interested in design rather than coding. Due to its heavy emphasis on live projects, students quickly learn by doing it. Instead of endless theory or a game-based approaches inside of an application – there is an emphasis on building real-world stand-alone projects. It enables the students to create their own websites, apps, and chatbots based in a live instructor-guided environment. You can find mindfulness-oriented coding classes taught by independent instuctors in our Class Calendar
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