For kids aged 5-7, ScratchJr offers a fun and engaging way to dive into the world of programming. This introductory programming language allows young children to create their own interactive stories and games by dragging and connecting colorful blocks. With ScratchJr, children can make characters move, jump, dance, and sing, bringing their creativity to life. They can even personalize their projects by modifying characters in the paint editor, adding their own voices and sounds, or inserting photos of themselves.

ScratchJr draws inspiration from the renowned Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), which is used by millions of young people aged 8 and up worldwide. The creators of ScratchJr have thoughtfully adapted the interface and programming language to be developmentally appropriate for younger children. The design carefully considers the cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development of young learners.

We believe that coding, or computer programming, is a new form of literacy. Just as writing helps organize thoughts and express ideas, coding does the same. Historically, coding was seen as a challenging skill reserved for a few, but we advocate that it should be accessible to everyone, much like writing.

When young children engage with ScratchJr, they learn to create and express themselves through the computer, rather than just interacting with it. This process helps them develop problem-solving skills, design projects, and enhance their sequencing abilities, which are crucial for future academic achievements. They also apply math and language in a meaningful and motivating context, supporting early childhood numeracy and literacy development. With ScratchJr, children are not just learning to code; they are coding to learn.

ScratchJr is the result of 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, with graphics and illustrations crafted by HvingtQuatre Company and Sarah Thomson.

If you enjoy using this free app, consider making a donation to the Scratch Foundation (http://www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit organization that supports ScratchJr. Every donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated.

Please note that this version of ScratchJr is designed to work on tablets that are 7 inches or larger and run on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) or higher.

For more information, please refer to our Terms of Use: 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!