ScratchJr

ScratchJr is a block-based visual programming language designed for children aged 5-7. Developed by the DevTech Research Group at Tufts University, the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, and the Playful Invention Company, ScratchJr aims to introduce early coding skills through a simplified and age-appropriate interface compared to its predecessor, Scratch.

The application, available primarily on tablet devices, allows young children to create interactive stories and games by snapping together graphical programming blocks. These blocks control the actions and appearance of characters, add backgrounds, record sounds, and trigger events.

Key features of ScratchJr include a limited but intuitive set of programming blocks, a paint editor for creating and customizing characters and backgrounds, and a user interface designed for small touchscreens. The programming blocks focus on movement, appearance, sound, and control flow, simplified to be easily understood by young learners. The software encourages creative expression and problem-solving while developing foundational computational thinking skills. Projects created in ScratchJr are self-contained within the application and cannot be directly transferred to Scratch.