A set of games that teach children to program

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10 games that teach a child to program

At a time when modern technology is evolving, many types of computer games are also being developed. Often when we see a child playing a game on the computer, we have negative thoughts. Because we think our child is wasting time on them. However, we must also take into account that there are also games that are not only games but also created in the form of a programming guide.

"I don't think in the future only programmers will be associated with programming elements."

Says Mark Zuckerberg.  

As our children live with the basics of programming in the future, we need to prepare them for the challenges, that is, teach them programming.

Is it so important to teach a child to program? What if she wants to be a footballer or a ballerina in the future? The answer is very simple: it is important to know programming to teach logical thinking and planning your work. Parents boast that their modern children know how to turn on tablets and computers from an early age. The interest in technical tools can be driven side by side by offering games that teach algorithm development and coding.

Kodable

At what age do you think it is possible to start programming? Kodable organizers say the game could also be offered to two-year-olds. Teaching codes can begin before learning the letters. Even dwarfs can run through an interesting maze, learning to create programs at the same time, paying attention to the sequence. The tips are provided using graphs so your child doesn’t have to read the information.

Kodable is recommended for learning computer science in the primary grades: teachers and parents can monitor the learning process, determine the level of complexity, and track progress. It is a very good first step for the youngest children.

Code.org

Code.org, a non-profit organization called Programming Age, an international movement, has a number of educational courses for children and adults. The age to start using them is four years. It is impossible to learn everything at once using a single game, but a step-by-step learning system involving different cartoon characters is provided. You can learn how to create short programs by moving step by step.

lightbot

In this game, available on smartphones and tablets, a small robot must obey commands and turn on a light bulb wherever it is needed. The main task of the child is to plan the path of the toy using simple commands, and the task of the parents is to explain to the children what is shown in the pictures.

It is not certain that a child playing Lightbot will be a talented designer in the future, but he will learn to plan his actions and create simple algorithms. This app can also be recommended for school age children or 4-6 year olds. Project organizers have also proposed a more complex form for children over the age of nine.

By the way, parents can also gladly participate in the creation of directions.

The robot appeals to children with its awesomeness, and captivates parents with its seriousness.

PictoMir

Developed by order of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "PiktoMir" is designed for preschool children and is very interesting.

The robot paints the field, and the child learns to create algorithms. All the notes were done using graphs, so Picto Mir can be given to children who don’t know how to read from the age of five, and scientists have worked hard to make it understandable even to children. If parents do not know English or do not have knowledge of programming, but want to develop logical thinking in their children, PiktoMir will be a lifesaver for them. Mobile versions are available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, but the latter two must be downloaded through the manufacturer’s website.

Robozzle

The purpose of this game is to create tasks and an algorithm based on performance, which is designed for elementary school students. A straightforward simple figure won’t interest a seven-year-old for long. However, it is clear that children ten years of age and older who are familiar with algorithms are interested because the most interesting puzzles occur at complex stages. Robozzl offers endless possibilities for creating and searching for new problems, so it is suitable not only for learning the programming alphabet, but also for repetition and practice.

Cargo-Bot

Cargo-Bot is another game that is easy for preschoolers to feel comfortable and easy to master. Due to the lack of text in it, it is enough for children to complete the initial tasks and distinguish only a few letters when moving the boxes from place to place with minimal walking. Complex issues, on the other hand, make even adults think for a long time. Among other educational games, Cargo-Bot stands out with its cute pictures. By the way, Cargo-Bot is fully programmed on the iPad.

CodeMonkey

The online game, which teaches you how to control a strange monkey step by step, is very simple to structure. Each new stage demonstrates programming capabilities, and in order to complete the next task, one has to apply the knowledge of the previous lesson. It takes a few minutes to reach the banana, so the lessons are very comfortable, given that the child will not get bored and mature.

The advantage of CodeMonkey is that the commands are given using icons, and the sequence of tasks is written almost with a series of real codes.

Scratch

Adding Scratch to this list is unfair because it’s a special environment designed to teach kids programming, not a game; it is also impossible not to include it, as it is an excellent level of instruction. Scratch, owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is available to the general public.

Scratch options make a great impression even though it doesn’t have issues and stages, but it does have the imagination and tools to apply it. Given that the goal of each program is to program children independently, there is no universal solution to this, but there is an opportunity for creativity that is lacking in most games that teach algorithms. Scratch can be given to children from the age of eight.

SeeBot

Not to forget the long dusty classic. SeeBot's educational games appeared in 2003 as a special development for educational institutions. Initially, the creators created a game about colonizing a new planet, the interesting part of which was that you had to write your own program to control the heroes.

CeeBot, on the other hand, is a tutorial course as a game that consists of several issues with similar instructions. The history of programmed robots destroying local fauna on the new planet may not be appropriate for young children, but it will become a good guide for teenagers who are beginning to take an interest in computer science and have an idea of ​​the algorithm. SeeBot is much more unobtrusive than modern games, but in what other game can a child control the characters using personal programs that are as close to C ++ as possible?

CodeCombat

CodeCombat is serious because in this game real codes are taught and the winner becomes a real programmer. You choose the programming language yourself, write commands for your protagonist in it (the game offers those with experience like Python, JavaScript, Lua or CoffeScript) and go on a journey in search of crystals.

Boys and girls can play this game from the age of eight. Study and notes in Russian. The game can also be used in schools.

At the beginning of each phase of the game, the child reads interesting and inspiring quotes about programming that remind the child that “this code can’t teach you on its own”. CodeCombat is more engaging than “shooting” and is one of the best games to relax and train.

You see, it's up to us to make everything positive. We think that with the help of the above-named games, our child will not only have fun, but also spend their time productively. In the future, even if he does not work as a programmer, he will become a person who plans his work and time wisely. In this regard, we can use computer games as a guide. To do this, we need to set aside some time from the agenda for games that parents can program and teach our children.