Tynker iPad App Teaches Kids Programming

Here’s a different kind of iPad app to intrigue the little minds. It’s called Tynker. Tynker allows children to easily learn programming with visual code blocks and is used by over 8,000 schools and five million people.

With the Tynker iPad app, kids can solve fun puzzles and learn to code – simply drag and drop visual code blocks and program your characters to beat the level. The first adventure includes 20 puzzles that are free to play. Additional adventures and puzzle levels are available as in-app purchases.

Children enjoy solving the fun puzzles, while learning programming concepts like sequences, repetition, and conditional logic, and building computational thinking skills like logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and problem solving.

Tynker’s visual programming language makes it easy for children to get started with programming by simply dragging and dropping visual blocks to build a program. The Tynker iPad app contains puzzles that children solve by programming visual code blocks to achieve a goal. The initial release includes the following adventures to engage kids with appealing storylines:

• Puppy Adventure, where kids use logic and loop variations to help Pixel, the lost puppy, find his way home;

• Lost in Space, where kids learn more advanced programming concepts like conditional logic and apply spatial orientation skills to lead astronaut Biff to his moon base avoiding astroids and black holes

• Sketch Racer, where Snap the Turtle can be programmed to draw complex geometric

shapes using simple commands.

This initial release includes over 130 puzzles that teach children computational thinking and the basics of computer programming. By solving these puzzles, children learn to recognize patterns; break down a problem into smaller steps; engage in programming concepts like sequencing, loops and conditional logic; develop computer drawing and algorithmic thinking skills; and debug programs.

The Puppy Adventure, with 20 puzzle levels, is available for free. The Lost in Space and Sketch Racer adventures are being offered at the introductory price of $1.99 each or $2.99 for the set (offering an additional 120 levels, and additional programming concepts) Additional adventures will be available for purchase in the Tynker iPad app over time to introduce more advanced programming concepts.

My Thoughts

What a fabulous idea! I’m all about getting kids prepared for their future and this app is great for that. I’m also all about making learning fun. The app is incredibly easy for older children. As long as the child can read, he/she can program.

My favorite game in the app is the Puppy Adventure game. There are so many puzzle levels that are available for free. Once you’ve completed those, you’ll be hooked and you’ll have to end up purchasing the full package (which is super cheap, by the way). Overall, a great app and very unique!