I’ve been exploring ScratchJr with my little one, and it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience. This app serves as an introductory programming language that allows children as young as five to create their own interactive stories and games. Watching my child snap together graphical programming blocks to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing has been nothing short of fascinating. It’s clear that ScratchJr was designed with young children in mind, from its simplified interface to the way it encourages creativity and problem-solving.
What’s particularly impressive is how ScratchJr manages to be both educational and fun. My child can modify characters in the paint editor, add their own voices and sounds, and even insert photos of themselves. This level of personalization keeps them engaged and excited about what they’re creating. The process of using programming blocks to bring their characters to life teaches them valuable sequencing skills, which are crucial for later academic success.
ScratchJr was inspired by the Scratch programming language,
which is used by millions of older kids around the world. The developers have done an excellent job of redesigning the interface to make it suitable for younger children, considering their cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development. This makes it a great tool not just for learning coding, but also for fostering early literacy and numeracy skills.
What I love most about ScratchJr is that it encourages my child to think like a creator, not just a consumer of technology. They’re not just playing with an app; they’re building something of their own, which gives them a sense of accomplishment and boosts their confidence. The app supports the idea that coding is a new type of literacy, as important as reading and writing in today’s digital world.
In the end, ScratchJr is much more than just an educational app—it’s a gateway to a new way of thinking and learning. It’s been wonderful to see my child learn to code while also developing important problem-solving and creative skills. If you’re looking for an app that will both educate and entertain your young one, I can’t recommend ScratchJr enough.
Parent review
I like this game! My daughter first started playing this at school, and she has loved it ever since! It is great and very easy to use. There are many blocks, characters,backgrounds etc. The only thing that could be improved, is the parental controls. They use very simple maths like 50+1. But apart from that, it’s great and if you’re thinking of downloading, definitely do so! Props to the creator(s)
Michele Lukes
