10 toys and games that teach coding
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Alice
These 10 toys and games turn learning computer programming into child’s play.
Through drag and drop tiles, Alice users can create 3D animations. “Instructions correspond to standard statements in a production oriented programming language, such as Java, C++, and C#,” according to the website. The program comes from Carnegie Mellon University.
CodeCombat
CodeCombat is a multiplayer game that lets users pick a language like JavaScript or Python and write commands to get characters to accomplish goals like collecting gems in a dungeon.
Code Monkey Island
Available mid October, this board game puts each player in charge of a small band of monkeys. Using strategies that teach the basics of coding logic, players guide their monkeys to a banana grove.
MinecraftEdu
This educational version of Minecraft is being used in a variety of subjects, including programming. One mod, ComputerCraft, allows users to program little robots to to do tasks like digging and building.
Hopscotch
Users drag and drop blocks of code to create programs (things like animations and games) in this iPad app.
Primo
This game is aimed at very young kids — using instruction blocks, kids create a path for a robot named Cubetto using a wooden interface board. Primo will be available in 2015.
Scratch
Developed by MIT, Scratch is a platform that allows for the creation of “interactive stories, games, and animations” and more by snapping together blocks. Users can also share their projects with the Scratch community.
