ScratchJr

For kids aged 5-7, ScratchJr offers a fun and engaging way to dive into the world of programming! By dragging colorful blocks, young learners can create their own programs and watch characters come to life as they move, dance, and play!

ScratchJr is an introductory programming tool designed specifically for children as young as 5 years old. With ScratchJr, kids can craft their very own interactive stories and games. They do this by snapping together graphical programming blocks that make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. Kids can even customize characters in the paint editor, record their own voices and sounds, or add personal photos, using the programming blocks to animate their creations in exciting ways.

Inspired by the widely used Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), which is popular among older kids (ages 8 and up), ScratchJr was carefully crafted to be developmentally appropriate for younger children. Its interface and programming language have been thoughtfully redesigned to match young children's cognitive, personal, social, and emotional growth stages.

We believe that coding, or computer programming, is a crucial new form of literacy. Much like writing, coding helps children organize their thoughts and express their ideas. While coding was once considered too challenging for the average person, we're committed to making it accessible to everyone, just as writing is.

As young children engage with ScratchJr, they're not just using the computer—they're learning to create and express themselves through it. This process helps them develop problem-solving skills, design projects, and build sequencing abilities, which are essential for future academic success. Additionally, ScratchJr integrates math and language learning in a fun and motivating way, enhancing early childhood numeracy and literacy. With ScratchJr, kids don't just learn to code; they code 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. The Android version was implemented with the help of Two Sigma, while the delightful graphics and illustrations were brought to life by HvingtQuatre Company and Sarah Thomson.

If you enjoy using this free app, consider supporting the Scratch Foundation (http://www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining 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 running Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) or higher.

For more details, please review our Terms of Use: 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!