ScratchJr

For kids aged 5-7, ScratchJr offers a fun and interactive way to dive into the world of programming. By dragging colorful blocks, young children can create their own programs and make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. This engaging app allows kids to snap together graphical programming blocks, turning their imaginative ideas into interactive stories and games.

ScratchJr is more than just a game; it's an introductory programming language tailored for young minds. Children can customize characters using the paint editor, add their own voices and sounds, and even include personal photos to bring their creations to life. This hands-on experience not only fosters creativity but also introduces them to the basics of coding.

Inspired by the renowned Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), which is popular among older children, ScratchJr was specifically designed to be developmentally appropriate for younger kids. The interface and programming language have been carefully crafted to align with the cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development stages of young children.

We believe that coding is a new form of literacy. Just as writing helps you organize thoughts and express ideas, coding does the same. In the past, programming was considered too challenging for most people, but we advocate for coding to be accessible to everyone, much like writing is.

As children engage with ScratchJr, they not only interact with technology but also learn to create and express themselves through 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, supporting early childhood numeracy and literacy. With ScratchJr, children aren't just learning to code; they are 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. The Android version was implemented by Two Sigma, and the graphics and illustrations were crafted by HvingtQuatre Company and Sarah Thomson.

If you find value in this free app, consider making a donation to the Scratch Foundation (http://www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting ScratchJr. Every donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated.

This version of ScratchJr is designed for 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 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!