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 programs that bring characters to life, making them move, jump, dance, and sing. ScratchJr empowers children to craft their own interactive stories and games, enhancing their creativity and problem-solving skills.
In ScratchJr, children use a graphical programming interface where they snap together blocks to control character actions. They can also personalize their projects by using the paint editor to modify characters, add their own voices and sounds, and even include photos of themselves. This hands-on approach makes programming accessible and exciting for young minds.
Inspired by the widely-used Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), ScratchJr has been tailored for younger audiences. The interface and language have been thoughtfully redesigned to suit the cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development of children aged 5 and up. This ensures that ScratchJr is both fun and developmentally appropriate.
We believe that coding is a new form of literacy, akin to writing. Just as writing helps organize thoughts and express ideas, coding does the same. While coding was once considered too complex for most, we advocate that it should be accessible to everyone, much like writing. ScratchJr allows young children to not only interact with technology but to create and express themselves through it.
Through ScratchJr, children develop crucial skills such as problem-solving, project design, and sequencing, which are essential for future academic success. Additionally, they engage with math and language in a meaningful and motivating context, boosting early numeracy and literacy. ScratchJr isn't just about learning to code; it's about 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 contributed to the Android version, while HvingtQuatre Company and Sarah Thomson provided the vibrant graphics and illustrations.
If you find value in this free app, please consider donating to the Scratch Foundation (http://www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit that supports ScratchJr. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference.
This version of ScratchJr is compatible with tablets that are 7-inches or larger and run Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) or higher.
For more details, check out 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 experience the enhancements!
