Kids Coding Blog: Scratch, Python and AI Guides for Parents

Tips, guides, and insights for parents and young coders.

AllParents Guide (61)Learning Tips (35)Beginners (26)Tutoring (25)Python (20)AI Literacy (17)Scratch (17)Comparisons (15)Motivation (15)Getting Started (13)Curriculum (9)Online Learning (7)
ComparisonsTutoringParents Guide

iD Tech, Create & Learn, Codingal or a 1-on-1 Tutor?

An iD Tech review beside Create & Learn, Codingal and The Coder School: format, group size, ages, listed prices, and which child each one suits best.

·17 min read
Parents GuideLearning TipsTutoring

Years of Coding Classes but Can't Code Alone: 5 Reasons

Years of coding classes, but your child still can't code alone? Five reasons it happens, a home check for skill versus confidence, and what to ask next.

·16 min read
PythonLearning TipsMotivation

Tutorial Hell: Why Teens Stall Learning Python on YouTube

Tutorial hell is when a teen follows Python videos well but freezes at a blank file. The signs parents can spot, why it happens, and how teens get out.

·9 min read
ComparisonsTutoringParents Guide

Coding Classes for Teens: Class, Camp or 1-on-1 Tutor?

Coding classes for teens compared with camps, YouTube and a 1-on-1 tutor: what your teen can build alone afterwards, real cost, and fit with a busy week.

·16 min read
Learning TipsBeginnersMotivation

Game Design Document Template for Kids and Teens

A game design document template for kids and teens: a free one-page GDD to copy, with every section explained and a kid-friendly example for each one.

·10 min read
AI LiteracyMotivationLearning Tips

Can AI Play Video Games? Why It's Slower Than a Kid

Can AI play video games? Not the chatbot kind, not in real time. A student's idea, my own test, and the racing AI that beat the world's best drivers.

·6 min read
ScratchBeginnersLearning Tips

How to Make a Start Screen and Game Over Screen in Scratch

How to make a start screen in Scratch, plus a game over screen with a Retry button and a pause menu that keeps your progress. Step by step with broadcasts.

·15 min read
ComparisonsGetting StartedParents Guide

How Should a Teen Start Making Their First Game?

How to start making a game as a teen: when Scratch, Godot or an AI coding agent fits, what each costs, and the four things to build before any levels.

·14 min read
ScratchBeginnersLearning Tips

Scratch Clones Explained: Why Duplicating Isn't Cloning

Scratch clones explained: what create clone of myself does, how a clone differs from a duplicated sprite, the 300 clone limit, and when to use each one.

·10 min read
AI LiteracyLearning TipsMotivation

Vibe Coding for Teens: 6 Habits That Separate Builders

Vibe coding for teens works when habits come with it. Two of my teenage students found the same six on their own, from bug files to keeping keys safe.

·16 min read
ScratchBeginnersLearning Tips

How to Make a Scratch Horror Game With a Flashlight

How to make a horror game on Scratch: a pitch-dark room, a flashlight beam that follows your player, a hidden key and one scare. Seven steps with checks.

·17 min read
AI LiteracyParents GuideGetting Started

How Old Do You Have to Be to Use ChatGPT?

How old do you have to be to use ChatGPT? 13, and under-18s need a parent's permission. The official age rules for Claude, Gemini and Copilot too.

·11 min read
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