Top 5 education apps for teaching kids about technology
List updated on January 6th, 2025 - One game swapped.
Modern technology is often accused of being a bad influence on kids, with even the most well-intended of educational apps dismissed as offering little to no benefit to a child’s development. It’s ironic then that as adults we readily welcome new developments in AI and technology, praising all of the comforts and creative possibilities that they bring.
The truth is technology isn’t inherently good or bad no matter what age you are. It simply comes down to how you use it.
Helping children understand technology from an early age can bring immeasurable benefits to their education and future well-being, especially in an age where new innovations are rapidly changing the way we live our lives.
To help inform and inspire the next generation of technophiles, we’ve put together the following list of apps that specifically help children learn about technology.
1
Hopster Coding Safari for Kids
Hopster Coding Safari for Kids is an animal themed pre-coding logic game to help kids learn the fundamentals of coding. Children are presented with a series of logic problems to solve, getting different animals to where they need to be.
It could be the Tiger that needs to get back to her den, the Penguin trying to return to its Antarctic Ice Hole, the hungry Monkey desperate to get to the banana tree, or one of the other animals in this app - here, play is at the heart of learning to code.
2
ScratchJr
With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) learn important new skills as they program their own interactive stories and games.
By snapping together graphical programming blocks, children can make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. In the process, children learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer. They also use math and language in a meaningful and motivating context, supporting the development of early-childhood numeracy and literacy. With ScratchJr, children don’t just learn to code, they code to learn.
3
codeSpark Academy: Kids Coding
codeSpark Academy is the most used home coding program for kids 5-9! The award-winning app has introduced over 30 million kids in 190 countries to the ABCs of computer science and its lovable coding characters, the Foos.
codeSpark Academy uses a patent pending "no words" interface that allows pre-readers to learn the basics of computer programming and essential coding skills through a variety of interactive learning activities including puzzles, games, step-by-step creative projects, game design and offline printables – all of which can be monitored by parents.
4
Tynker. Fun Coding for Kids
Tynker is an educational programming platform aimed at teaching children aged between 5-18 to learn how to develop coding skills. Instead of typing the source code, you visually drag blocks of code and snap them together.
Tynker provides step-by-step tutorials that teach kids coding in a way they enjoy, helping them build games and apps, modify Minecraft, program drones, control micro:bit, and even explore STEM. It makes it easier for kids to learn 60+ courses which includes courses in Minecraft Modding, Minecraft Game Design, Creative Coding, Python, CSS, etc.
5
Daisy the Dinosaur
Daisy the Dinosaur allows an adorable dino to take children through a bunch of coding puzzles! This game shows an easy drag-and-drop way to code a level, then showing exactly what happens when you use those commands in a level below. There are targets that get more challenging and allow you to play around with drag and drop code, as well as a free-to-play mode where you can make whatever you want.
