Scratch

Why We Like It

Scratch is where every kid should start with coding. MIT built it specifically for children, it's completely free, and the community of 100 million shared projects means kids can immediately see what's possible. It won't teach Python, but it builds the logical thinking and problem-solving mindset that makes learning a real language much easier later.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Completely free — no subscription, no ads, no upsells
• Created by MIT specifically for children — research-backed design
• Massive community of 100M+ projects — kids share, remix, and collaborate

Cons

• Block coding only — does not teach real programming languages
• No structured curriculum — requires parent or teacher guidance to progress

Score Breakdown

Programs were evaluated on curriculum quality and real skill development, student engagement and retention, instructor quality, and value relative to cost.