20 Kids coding languages

Choosing the Right Programming Language for Your Child

There are a lot of programming languages that you can choose for your kids. Depending on age groups, the level of proficiency, interests, and one child's skills, you can choose from a number of recommended programming languages. And depending on your young child's innate skills and talents for programming, one can just dive into a much complicated language like Swift or C++.  As for older children, they can try out programming languages that can help them have fun building interactive stories or games. Your kids can use visual or written programming languages, whatever may suit your child's interests or aptitude.

As I mentioned earlier, the type of programming will also depend on age groups. Usually, kids around 5 to 8 years old are best suited for visual programming languages such as Scratch. Then  beyond 8, children can explore on simple written text languages to a more advanced one, depending on the child's capability. Toward pre-teens to teenagers, they can register into learning full programming languages, also depending on the child's capability and preparedness. 

Visual and Written Texts Programming and Coding Languages

When your child is new to programming, the first thing you need to do is to allow your child to take simple programming languages. When you think they are ready to face new challenges in kids coding classes, then they can try out and start programming using written texts in the keyboard. Which means that they are going to do the coding "by hand".  When your child starts with a more challenging programming languages, they should be able to type out statements and codes. This means that your child should be able to be keen in terms of the coding details. Because one wrong or misplaced symbol like a semicolon or colon will inhibit running the entire program. And during this stage, kids often feel frustrated or disappointed when they had to focus on specific details or typing the codes all over again. That is why, we can help you determine which programming languages is best suited for your child's needs. We can provide easy coding software that can mask the actual coding language. Just like using a visual programming language where kids learn coding skills by helping your kids learn to code whilst having fun. For instance, kids can enjoy dragging and dropping blocks on top of each other without them writing the actual code. In this way, they can learn coding and the programming language while having fun at the same time.

What Type of Programming Language Would Best Fit Your Child?

In choosing the best programming language to start with your kid, you should first consider whether the language you want to use is interpreted or compiled. To help you decide on which language your child can take in coding classes, allow me to walk you through the details below.

1. Interpreted Programming Languages

Most websites run on interpreted languages. Because these programming languages are "interpreted" as they run on the web. Some examples of interpreted languages include JavaScript and PHP. These interpreted languages are often used as compared to the compiled one since it would be difficult to compile each and every code for web pages to run. It is not ideal and definitely unrealistic. Just take note that a lot of markup languages like HTML and CSS are often confused as programming languages. These scripting languages only helps identify how a page should be displayed and will not create any interactive capabilities. They still need programming languages like JavaScript to run web pages.

Now for the second type. When a program uses a compile language, this only means that the programming language should be compiled first before you can run it. To do this, you need to write the codes in C++, then use a different program to parse the code and pack it up into an executable and running program. After you compiled the program, you are not allowed to make edits. You are only allowed to run the program. So, imagine if you wrote an incorrect symbol or syntax while coding, before you run the compilation command. You need to go back to drawing board and type down the correct codes. If adults find this frustrating, then kids can feel the same and overwhelmed whilst doing this. However, we can use a program which can be both interpreted and compiled so that your kids can try out compiling and running a program using BASIC. We will discuss this and the rest of the programming languages that your child can use just in a bit.

20 Programming Languages and Tools That Your Kids Can Try

You now have a preview of some of the languages that your kids can try out. Now let's look at the 20 types of programming languages that your kids can start out.

1. BASIC (Small Basic and Just BASIC)

First on the list is BASIC. This language started the same time when personal computers are gaining attention in the late 1970's and early 1980's. From the term itself, this is a basic programming language is what usually new computer owners would try out when they would create short programs. With all its glory during the 90s, BASIC fell out of place but still it is actually a great language to start with especially for younger children who wants to try the real programming code for the first time. Because this language us relatively easy and the syntax uses the "IF...THEN...ELSE", which is just easy to follow. You can try Microsoft's Just BASIC or Small Basic if you want to try the simplified version of BASIC.

2. Scratch

Scratch is a programming language created by the MIT that uses dragging and dropping of blocks. This would definitely allow your kids to have fun and learn coding at the same time.

Alice is also a block-based programming language. It was developed by Carnegie Mellon University to allow younger kids enjoy coding classes.

4. Blockly

Blocky is developed by Google. This program uses interlocking blocks to allow kids to visually learn coding.

5. Perl

Perl had a huge role in building basically the World Wide Web. It is a highly used programming language in web development. You encounter this language whenever you send a form through a website. This is an interpreted language so it's easy to use. Although, some of the syntax used in Perl can be quite challenging. So it is usually recommended for older kids or those who have exceptional talent in coding.

CoderZ is actually not a programming language. It is a Java overlay which allows children to create their own virtual 3D robots. As they continue on using CoderZ, kids can learn more about how Java code works.

7. PHP

PHP is a programming language that is ideally be learned after HTML. This is because it involves HTML to pull up and display web pages. This language is best used in making interactive web pages. This is actually underneath popular website that you may be familiar with such as WordPress and Drupal. PHP is an interpreted language so older and more mature kids can easily learn this programming language.

HTML and CSS are technically scripting languages not programming languages. However, they play a huge role and foundation in learning other languages like Perl, JavaScript and PHP. Using these, your kids can learn how to do text-based syntax. 

10. JavaScript

JavaScript is an interpreted programming language that is commonly used on websites today. So if your kids are interested in learning web design, then they should learn how to use JavaScript.

11. Java

Java is different from JavaScript. They are not  the same. Java is interesting for kids especially if they want to build on Minecraft. Using this program, kids can use special software and graphical interfaces to build a Minecraft Mod. It does the job without them having confused with the underlying code (Java). 

12. Ruby

Ruby is a programming language that is like BASIC. It has an easy-to use syntax. It is also great young kids who want to learn programming. You as parents can also try them out.

Other Programming Languages and Tools

1. C++ (compiled language; advanced language)
2. Kodu (language for game creators)
3. Arduino (a prototyping platform)
4. Twine (an interactive fiction tool)
5. Python (an object-oriented programming language)
6. Unreal Blueprints (scripting system for visual gameplay)
7. Lego Mindstorms (perfect for building robots)
8. Swift Playgrounds (app builder for iPad)

So there you have it! Our best 20 kids programming languages that your kids can try out and even you as parents. Depending on what keeps your child interested or its innate coding skills, you can start with the coding languages that I listed above. These programming languages and tools can help your kids equip themselves for their future success in their chosen field and even in STEM education.