Coding with Scratch - A guide for Parents looking to help their kids learn coding

What is Scratch, and what can I do with it?With the Scratch programming language and online community, you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations -- and share your creations with others around the world. As young people create and share Scratch projects, they learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. To learn more about Scratch, see the About Scratch page.How do I make a game or animation with Scratch?Check out the Ideas page to see lots of ways to get started with ScratchWho uses Scratch?Scratch is used by people from all backgrounds, in all countries around the world, in all types of settings -- homes, schools, libraries, museums, and more. Scratch is designed especially for young people ages 8 to 16, but people of all ages create and share with Scratch. Younger children may want to try ScratchJr, a simplified version of Scratch designed for ages 5 to 7.What are the system requirements for Scratch?Scratch will run in most current web browsers on desktops, laptops and tablets. You can view projects on mobile phones, but currently you are not able to create or edit projects on phones. Below is the list of officially supported browsers.Desktop

1. Chrome (63+)
2. Edge (15+)
3. Firefox (57+)
4. Safari (11+)
5. Internet Explorer is NOT supported.

Tablet

1. Mobile Chrome (63+)
2. Mobile Safari (11+)

Note:

1. If your computer doesn’t meet these requirements, you can try the Scratch app editor (see next item in FAQ).
2. If you encounter a WebGL error, try a different browser.
3. On tablets, there is currently not a way to use "key pressed" blocks or right-click context menus.

Do you have a downloadable version so I can create and view projects offline?The Scratch app allows you to create Scratch projects without an internet connection. You can download the Scratch app from the Scratch website or the app store for your device. (This was previously called the "Scratch Offline Editor").Can I still upload projects created with older versions of Scratch to the website?Yes: You can share or upload projects made with earlier versions of Scratch, and they will be visible and playable. (However, you can’t download projects made with or edited in later versions of Scratch and open them in earlier versions. For example, you can’t open a Scratch 3.0 project in the desktop version of Scratch 2.0, because Scratch 2.0 doesn’t know how to read the .sb3 project file format.)How much does Scratch cost? Do I need a license?Scratch is and always will be free. You don’t need a license to use Scratch in your school, home, or anywhere else. The development and maintenance of Scratch is paid for by grants and donations. If you’d like to contribute to Scratch, check out our Donate page.Who created Scratch?Scratch is developed and maintained by the Scratch Team at the Lifelong Kindergarten group at MIT Media Lab.