ScratchJr

For kids aged 5-7, ScratchJr offers a vibrant and engaging way to dive into the world of programming. By dragging colorful blocks, children can craft their own programs and watch characters spring into action!

ScratchJr is an introductory programming language tailored for young children starting at age 5. It empowers them to create their own interactive stories and games. By snapping together graphical programming blocks, kids can make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. They can also customize characters using the paint editor, add personal voices and sounds, and even incorporate photos of themselves. With ScratchJr, children bring their creations to life through coding.

Inspired by the widely-used Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), which is popular among millions of young people aged 8 and up, ScratchJr was specifically designed to be developmentally appropriate for younger children. The interface and programming language were carefully crafted to align with the cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development of young kids.

We view coding, or computer programming, as a new form of literacy. Just as writing helps you organize your thoughts and express your ideas, coding does the same. While coding was once considered too challenging for most, we believe it should be accessible to everyone, much like writing.

As children engage with ScratchJr, they learn to create and express themselves using the computer, rather than just interacting with it. This process helps them develop problem-solving skills, design projects, and enhance their sequencing abilities, which are crucial for future academic success. Additionally, ScratchJr integrates math and language in a fun and motivating way, fostering early childhood numeracy and literacy. With ScratchJr, kids aren't just learning to code; they're coding to learn.

ScratchJr is a collaborative effort between the Developmental Technologies group at Tufts University, the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, and the Playful Invention Company. Two Sigma spearheaded the Android version's implementation, while the graphics and illustrations were created by HvingtQuatre Company and Sarah Thomson.

If you appreciate using this free app, please consider donating to the Scratch Foundation (http://www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit that supports ScratchJr. Every donation, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated.

This version of ScratchJr is compatible only with tablets that are 7 inches or larger and run Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) or higher.

For more details, please review the Terms of Use at http://www.scratchjr.org/eula.html.

What's New in the Latest Version 1.5.11

Last updated on Nov 28, 2023

Minor bug fixes and improvements. Install or update to the newest version to check it out!