[Includes Personal Experience] 10 Programming Apps and Services for Elementary School Students! A Thorough Guide to Recommended Materials and How to Choose
Are you interested in starting programming education for your child but unsure where to begin?
In this article, I will share my personal experience and introduce 10 carefully selected apps and online learning services that allow elementary school students to learn programming in a fun way.
I will clearly explain the features, pricing, and key points for choosing between free and paid options. Please find the perfect learning method for your child and start their programming journey today!
Why is programming education for elementary school students gaining so much attention?
Programming education became mandatory in elementary schools starting in the 2020 academic year,which has led to increased interest. It is attracting attention not just for acquiring IT skills, but as an education that fosters future-ready abilities such as logical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
In this chapter, I will explain its position in the educational field, its social background, and its future importance.
The expansion of STEAM education and foundational skills for the digital age
Programming education is also attracting attention as part of STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). It is a field promoted by the government as a way to cultivate creativity and problem-solving skills.
Through activities like moving shapes and thinking about conditional branching while using tablets or computers, children naturally develop the ability to "try and fail" and the ability to "give shape to their own ideas."
Also, by getting used to ICT equipment through programming, they can acquire the basics of information literacy.
The increasingly important "programming literacy" for the future
Programming learning will develop in stages through junior high and high school, and in the future, it will become a foundation that leads to fields like AI and data science.
Furthermore, with information subjects being introduced in university entrance exams, the trend of evaluating "logical thinking" and "problem-solving skills" has already begun.
Against this backdrop, programming is no longer a special skill for a select few, but is positioned as a foundation of learning necessary for everyone.
What is the difference between classrooms and online learning?
For elementary school programming learning, there are broadly two types: the "classroom-based type" and "apps/online services that can be learned at home."
Each has its own merits and demerits, and which one is better depends on your child's personality and your home environment.
Merits of the classroom type and the type of child it suits
The strength of face-to-face instruction is that "you can ask questions on the spot" and "it is easy to be stimulated by instructors and peers."
At actual programming schools, instructors provide advice while observing the child's proficiency, so understanding tends to deepen and motivation is easier to maintain.
Also, because it creates a habit of going to the classroom at a set time, it is effective for children who find it difficult to progress with learning at home alone. It is recommended for families who find it difficult to manage the pace of learning or for those who want their children to grow through social interaction.
Merits of the online type and the type of child it suits
The online type, which can be learned at home, is attractive for its high degree of freedom. Because you can set your schedule flexibly, it is easy to balance with other extracurricular activities, and the cost is relatively reasonable.
It is suitable for children who want to learn at their own pace using videos or game-like materials. For children who can proceed with a self-study style or for families where parents can provide some support, this will be an option that is easy to continue efficiently.
How to choose a programming service for elementary school students
To find the perfect programming service for your child, it is important to comprehensively consider age, learning level, interests, as well as free/paid distinctions, learning content, and support systems.
Choose content that matches your child's age and learning level.
For example, materials centered on visual programming are easier for lower-grade children to engage with, while upper-grade students can more easily challenge themselves with text-based programming.
To ensure learning progresses smoothly, check if the structure is designed to increase in difficulty in stages.
Compare and consider free and paid services
Free services may have limited features, but they have the advantage of being easy to try out first. Paid services offer more comprehensive support and materials, so choose based on your budget and learning goals.
Starting with a free service to learn the basics and then stepping up to a paid service is also a good approach.
Check the support system
Services that offer individual guidance or Q&A support provide peace of mind. Services with community features are helpful for maintaining motivation.
Check if there is a system in place where you can consult someone when you are in trouble.A high-quality support system is an important factor in increasing the continuity of learning.
10 Programming Learning Services for Elementary School Students
In this chapter, we will introduce 10 carefully selected programming learning services for elementary school students. We have covered a variety of services, from free apps to full-scale online courses.
This time, we have narrowed our selection to online and app-based services that can be learned from home.
Please find the best service to match your child's age, learning style, and budget.
1. Nurturing Computational Thinking! A Completely Free AppProgramming Zemi
A highly reliable free app recommended by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which promotes the introduction of programming education in elementary schools.It uses cute characters and block-based visual programming that can be operated intuitively even by preschoolers and lower-grade elementary school children. While creating animations and games, children can naturally learn concepts like "sequential processing," "loops," and "conditional branching" as if they were playing. The convenience of being able to start immediately with just one tablet (compatible with both iOS and Android) is also a major appeal, making it recommended as a first step for home learning.
2. Play and Create Like a Game! A Free AppSpringin'
A free app that allows you to freely create your own games, picture books, animations, and more within the app.With a visual interface, you can operate it intuitively without any programming knowledge, fostering both creativity and expressive power at the same time. Completed works can be published to other users in the app's "Springin' Market," and you can also play with other people's works. Children feel the joy of having their work evaluated, which leads to further creative motivation.
The experience of parents and children coming up with ideas together and creating a work can also serve as a catalyst for communication.
3. A Classic Used Around the World! A Free Programming Language You Can Learn in a BrowserScratch
A free visual programming language developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and widely used in schools and homes around the world.You can freely create animations, games, interactive art, and more just by dragging and dropping blocks in a web browser. The biggest appeal of Scratch is its active user community that spans the globe.
In addition to abundant official tutorials, you can maintain high learning motivation by referring to other users' works and publishing your own works to receive feedback.
If you have basic computer skills, you can start a full-scale programming experience from elementary school.
4. Serious Learning Through Games! Online Learning Services"Digitane" [Monthly Subscription]
An online service where you can learn programming practically, set in the worlds of popular games like "Minecraft" and "Roblox" It also includes a "Disney Course," making it recommended for girls as well.
You can master everything from the basics to advanced programming while having fun, as if you were playing a game.
It supports a wide range of ages from first-grade elementary students to junior high school students, and since typing practice is included in the curriculum, you can expect comprehensive digital skill development. Because you can learn systematically through videos and workshop formats, it is characterized by being easy to stick with without getting bored.
Although it is a monthly subscription service, a free trial period is also available, so you can test whether your child is interested.
5. Full Support System! Online Lessons"Tech Kids School" [Monthly Subscription]
A programming school for elementary school students operated by the CyberAgent Group. Even online, you can learn systematically, from the basics using Scratch to full-scale programming such as Swift used for iPhone app development and JavaScript for web development.
Dedicated mentors (instructors) provide careful support according to the student's learning progress, so even children who are not good at studying at home can continue with peace of mind. Understanding is checked through weekly interviews, and chat-based question support is also extensive.
Because you can receive detailed guidance tailored to individual progress, it is recommended for children who want to steadily acquire skills.
6. Serious Learning with a Game Feel! Online Programming Materials"QUREO" [Monthly Subscription]
An online programming learning material co-developed by DeNA and CA Tech Kids that can be learned from the lower grades of elementary school. With a game-like curriculum that runs in a browser, you can enjoy learning the basics of programming while moving characters.
Because it comes with an automatic grading function, you can immediately check and review points where you tend to stumble, allowing you to learn efficiently. It emphasizes not just learning programming, but also cultivating logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
By learning continuously, it is designed so that you can acquire programming knowledge and skills at a high school graduate level by the time you graduate from elementary school, fostering abilities that will lead to the future.
7. Nurturing Creativity! Small-Group Online Programming School"Miraigoto Lab" [Monthly Tuition]
An online programming school with small class sizes that values children's desire to "want to try." Since it is a live-format class, it is easy to ask the instructor questions on the spot, and you can learn happily while being stimulated through interaction with other students.
It supports programming using Scratch and Minecraft. In addition to basic learning according to the curriculum, they also value "free creation" time where children can freely create their own works.
Because you can receive detailed feedback from instructors tailored to individual interests and progress, you can greatly develop creativity and problem-solving skills. Trial classes are also held from time to time, so you can start after knowing the atmosphere of the actual class.
8. Digging Deeper into "Likes"! STEAM Education-Compatible Online Experiential Learning"SOZOW Park" [Monthly Subscription]
An online service where you can learn across diverse digital creative fields, not just programming, but also design, video editing, website production, and even entrepreneurship.
The biggest feature of "SOZOW Park" is that it provides project-based practical learning with children's "likes" and "interests" as the entry point. Rather than one-way lectures, it centers on event-style learning where children think and create for themselves according to a theme.
Regardless of grade level, by cooperating with peers of different ages, children comprehensively cultivate "life skills" that will be useful in the future, such as self-expression, presentation skills, and problem-solving abilities. You can participate in various courses and events with a monthly subscription.
9. Challenge Serious Content! Online Video Materials with Extensive Free Courses"Life is Tech ! Lesson"
While the official website mainly focuses on content for junior high and high school students, "Life is Tech ! Lesson" also offers introductory courses where you can learn the basics of programming, making it recommended for motivated elementary school students (especially upper grades).
It is a content-rich material where you can also learn app development, video editing, and design, and you can also challenge yourself with full-scale languages such as Python and HTML/CSS. As a first step toward becoming an engineer in the future, it is perfect for children who want to acquire serious skills with abundant learning content.
10. The First Step into Programming! Completely Free Introductory Material Site"Hour of Code"
This is a free introductory programming resource experienced by hundreds of millions of children around the world. No special registration is required, and as soon as you access the site, you can experience programming concepts like a game.
Many lessons are short, lasting from 10 minutes to an hour, and the key feature is that they are fun to work on, like solving puzzles. Since you can choose from a variety of characters and themes to start with, you can stay focused without getting bored.
While many materials are English-based, there is also an abundance of content available with Japanese translations, making it easy for even programming beginners to give it a try.
Miraigoto Lab & Digitane Experience Report | Impressions After Actually Using Them
I will introduce "Miraigoto Lab" and "Digitane", which we actually used in our home, along with our personal experiences.
Both have their own merits, and I felt it was important to choose based on your family's style and your child's interests.
[Experience 1] "Miraigoto Lab," where Zoom instruction was great
The reason my child became interested in programming was that they liked "Minecraft." As an extension of that, we started a course centered on video learning at "Miraigoto Lab" when they entered elementary school.
At first, a refurbished computer was loaned to us, and it was set up so that we could keep it after taking the course for more than six months, which made the hurdle for starting low.
The first year was a curriculum where they could learn both Minecraft and Scratch, and I had them work at their own pace. If there were any questions, there was a system where they could be addressed during Zoom consultations held on fixed days and times, and the instructors were also kind.
In the second year, we changed to a course that included Zoom lessons twice a month (50 minutes per session). It was a style where everyone would gather at the beginning, and then individual support would be provided in breakout rooms, with instructors rotating to provide careful guidance.
The content itself was good, but for my child, the style of "having to do it at a fixed time" started to feel a bit like they were "being forced to do it," and it became a burden.
Also, due to the parent's desire for them to move on to the next stage after Scratch, we withdrew at a good stopping point.
[Experience 2] "Digitane," where you can learn at your own pace
While looking for the next place to learn, my child found "Digitane" in a YouTube ad and said on their own, "I want to do this!" The goal was because they wanted to try programming with the popular "Roblox".
The cost was also lower than "Miraigoto Lab," so we signed up immediately. Before joining, we were advised that "having experience with visual programming makes it go smoothly," but since they already had Scratch experience, it was not a problem.
Although there was initial anxiety about typing, the strong desire to "want to try it" won out, and now they are working on it by entering code themselves.At Digitane, you can also challenge yourself with courses other than Roblox, and the fact that it is a flat rate is very attractive.
On the other hand, since there is no system to frequently ask questions on Zoom, the child needs to have a certain degree of self-propulsion. If a parent can provide support, it will likely proceed more smoothly.
Currently, we have set a rule to "always make progress sometime on Saturday or Sunday," and while matching the child's pace, they are continuing to learn happily without strain.
Common Questions from Parents Q&A
Q1. Is programming really necessary for elementary school students?
Yes. Programming education in elementary schools has been mandatory since the 2020 school year, and it is now positioned not as a special skill, but as "standard learning." In the future, its importance will increase as a skill related to choices for higher education and employment.
Q2. Is it okay if parents have no knowledge?
There is no problem. Many services are designed with beginners in mind and are devised so that children can operate them intuitively. Also, since there are plenty of explanatory videos and help functions, it is rare for parents to have trouble providing support.
Q3. When is a good time to start?
Visual programming is recommended for lower grades. It is fine to start little by little from the moment they begin to show interest. Value the feeling of "wanting to try it" more than the grade level.
Q4. Is it useful for future entrance exams or employment?
In recent years, there has been a trend for programming-type problems to appear even in "thinking-ability-focused" junior high school entrance exams, and it is indirectly useful in terms of training thinking and expressive skills. Also, looking ahead to a future where IT talent shortages continue, early cultivation of this knowledge will likely be a major weapon in higher education and employment.
Points to Note When Starting Programming Learning
When starting programming learning, understand the importance of learning continuity, study time, and parental support.
Learn at a pace that you can continue without strain
It is important to develop the habit of studying every day, even for short periods. If concentration wanes, take a break, as long study sessions can sometimes be counterproductive. Continuing at a comfortable pace is the secret to enhancing learning effectiveness.
Parental support is necessary
Check the progress of their learning and work together to resolve any questions or points of confusion. Finding ways to boost your child's motivation is also essential. Active involvement from parents is a key factor that significantly influences learning outcomes.
Choose learning content that matches your child's interests
If they are interested in creating games, choose a game development course; if they are interested in animation, choose an animation production course. It is best to choose learning content that aligns with your child's interests.
By choosing content that stimulates their curiosity, you can increase their motivation to learn. Learning in a fun way will naturally deepen their understanding of programming.
Summary
In this article, we introduced 10 programming apps and services for elementary school students, points for choosing a service, differences from classrooms, common questions from parents, and testimonials from Digitane.
Please choose the best service for your child based on their age, interests, and your family's situation, and start their programming journey in a fun way.
Programming not only fosters logical thinking and problem-solving skills but also serves as a power to expand future possibilities.
Take that first step toward nurturing your child's potential today!