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 programs that make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. This intuitive app allows children to craft their own interactive stories and games, sparking their creativity and imagination.

With ScratchJr, children can customize characters using the paint editor, add their voices and sounds, and even include photos of themselves. They then use programming blocks to bring their characters to life, making the learning process both interactive and personal.

Inspired by the widely-used Scratch programming language, ScratchJr was specifically designed for younger children. The interface and programming language were carefully crafted to align with the cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development of young learners, ensuring a developmentally appropriate experience.

We believe coding is a new form of literacy, essential for organizing thoughts and expressing ideas, much like writing. While coding was once considered challenging, we're committed to making it accessible to everyone, just as writing is.

As children engage with ScratchJr, they not only learn to code but also develop crucial skills. They learn problem-solving, project design, and sequencing, which are vital for academic success. Additionally, they apply math and language skills in a meaningful context, enhancing early childhood numeracy and literacy. With ScratchJr, kids aren't just learning to code; they're 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 implemented the Android version, while HvingtQuatre Company and Sarah Thomson provided the vibrant graphics and illustrations.

If you enjoy using this free app, consider supporting the Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit that sustains ScratchJr. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated.

This version of ScratchJr is designed for tablets that are 7 inches or larger and run on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) or higher.

For more information, please review our Terms of Use.

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!

ScratchJr Screenshots