ScratchJr

What ScratchJr does

ScratchJr is a visual coding app for young children, especially early readers and beginners who are not ready for text-based programming. Children build short interactive stories and animations by joining coloured command blocks together. Characters can move, speak, change direction and respond to events, giving users a simple way to explore sequencing, cause and effect and basic problem-solving.

How it works in practice

The app uses icons instead of written commands, so children can experiment without needing strong reading skills. The block system is easier to approach than a conventional programming editor, although an adult may still need to explain what each symbol does at first. Projects can be personalised with characters and backgrounds, while drawing and voice tools give children room to make the results their own rather than only following fixed exercises.

ScratchJr is best suited to guided creative play at home or in early-years classrooms. It works well when a child has a story to act out or a small idea to test. It is less suitable for older learners looking for text-based coding, detailed game development or a deeper programming environment.

Where it falls short

The simplified interface is also the main limitation. Children may outgrow its available controls once they understand the basics, and projects remain deliberately small in scope. The app is designed around tablet use, which leaves out many children who only have access to a phone. Its visual approach removes the burden of syntax, but it also means users do not get practice with written code.

Who is behind it

ScratchJr is developed by the Scratch Foundation and sits in the Education category. It has passed 10,000,000 installs and holds an average rating of about 3.9 from 37,717 ratings. Those figures suggest broad adoption, but the app’s real value depends on whether its young, beginner-focused approach matches the child using it.