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ScratchJr

ScratchJr is a free, block-based visual programming language and mobile application designed for young children aged 5 to 7, allowing them to create their own interactive stories, games, and animations by snapping together graphical programming blocks.^[1] Introduced in July 2014, it simplifies coding concepts to match early childhood developmental stages, focusing on drag-and-drop interfaces without requiring text-based input or complex syntax.^[2] The app is available on iOS, Android, and ChromeOS devices, promoting computational thinking through playful creation rather than traditional instruction.^[1] Developed as a collaborative project by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab (led by Mitchel Resnick), the Developmental Technologies Group at Tufts University (led by Marina Umaschi Bers), and the Playful Invention Company (led by Paula Bontá and Brian Silverman), ScratchJr builds on the principles of the original Scratch programming environment but adapts them for preschool and early elementary learners.^[2] The Android version was specifically developed by Two Sigma under the leadership of Mark Roth.^[1] Funded initially through grants and a successful Kickstarter campaign, the project emphasizes accessibility, with the app translated into over a dozen languages by volunteer contributors and now maintained by the Scratch Foundation.^[1] This interdisciplinary effort aimed to introduce programming as a new form of literacy, helping children develop skills in sequencing, problem-solving, and creative expression from an early age.^[3] Key features of ScratchJr include a paint editor for customizing characters and backgrounds, motion and control blocks for directing sprite behaviors, and tools for adding sounds, voices, and even device camera photos to projects, all within a tablet-optimized interface that encourages experimentation without fear of errors.^[1] Unlike more advanced platforms, it omits variables, loops, and conditionals to avoid overwhelming young users, instead prioritizing intuitive play that fosters numeracy, literacy, and social-emotional growth through collaborative coding activities.^[3] Educators and parents often use it in classrooms and homes to build foundational digital fluency, with research highlighting its role in enhancing children's confidence in technology and iterative design processes.^[4]

Introduction

Overview

ScratchJr is a free, block-based visual programming application designed to introduce young children to coding by enabling them to create interactive stories and games.^[1] Developed as an accessible tool for early learners, it simplifies programming concepts through intuitive graphical interfaces, allowing users to build animations without requiring text-based coding or prior experience.^[2] At its core, ScratchJr operates by letting children drag and snap colorful graphical blocks to control characters, modify backgrounds, and apply effects such as motion, sounds, and appearances on tablet devices.^[5] These blocks are organized into categories like motion and looks, facilitating the creation of sequenced actions that bring projects to life through play-based exploration.^[6] Through engagement with ScratchJr, children aged 5-7 develop key skills including computational thinking, sequencing instructions, problem-solving, and creativity, as they design and iterate on their own projects.^[2] The app promotes these outcomes by encouraging self-expression and logical reasoning in a low-stakes environment.^[1] ScratchJr is available as a free app for iOS devices like iPads, Android tablets, and Chromebooks, with projects saved locally in an internal database on the device, requiring no internet connection for core functionality.^[7] It serves as a simplified precursor to the broader Scratch ecosystem, providing a foundational stepping stone for younger users before transitioning to more advanced tools.^[2]

Target Audience and Educational Goals

ScratchJr is designed primarily for children aged 5 to 7, a developmental stage where foundational cognitive skills are emerging, with intended use supported by parents, educators, or peers to facilitate guidance and collaboration in project creation.^[2]^[1]^[8] This age group aligns with kindergarten to second grade, where the app's icon-based interface accommodates pre-readers and those with developing fine motor skills through simple drag-and-snap mechanics that require minimal dexterity.^[9]^[8] The educational goals of ScratchJr emphasize enhancing early literacy through storytelling and narrative construction in interactive projects, numeracy via recognition of patterns and spatial relations in programming sequences, and social-emotional development by encouraging collaboration in design and sharing of creations.^[9]^[8] It introduces core computational concepts such as sequencing of actions, loops for repetition, and event handling for triggering responses, all adapted with visual icons to suit short attention spans and promote problem-solving without text-based reading.^[9]^[2] Broader objectives include bridging playful exploration with structured learning to foster creativity and prepare young users for advanced tools like Scratch, while promoting equity in access for diverse learners through its free availability on multiple platforms and culturally adaptable content.^[1]^[9] The simplified design, including large touch targets and quick project iteration, ensures age-appropriateness by aligning with children's limited attention spans and emerging executive functions.^[8]^[9]

Development

Origins and Collaborators

ScratchJr originated as an extension of the Scratch programming language, which was developed by the MIT Media Lab in 2007 to introduce children aged 8 and older to computational thinking through visual block-based coding.^[10] Recognizing a significant gap in accessible tools for even younger learners, the project adapted these concepts for preschool-aged children (5-7 years old) to foster early coding education amid growing emphasis on digital literacy in early childhood.^[3] Development efforts began around 2013, building on prior research into developmentally appropriate programming interfaces that align with young children's cognitive and motor skills.^[3] The project was a collaborative endeavor involving leading experts in education technology. The MIT Media Lab's Lifelong Kindergarten Group, directed by Mitchel Resnick, provided foundational expertise from the original Scratch project.^[10] Tufts University's DevTech Research Group, led by Marina Umaschi Bers, contributed insights from studies on technology integration in early childhood development.^[1] Additionally, the Playful Invention Company (PICO), founded by Paula Bontá and Brian Silverman, brought specialized knowledge in designing intuitive, playful software for young users.^[11] This interdisciplinary team emphasized constructivist principles, drawing from educational theories that view children as active creators rather than passive consumers of technology.^[3] Funding for ScratchJr came from multiple sources to support its research, prototyping, and initial development. The National Science Foundation provided a key grant (DRL-1118664) to explore how block-based programming could build foundational skills like sequencing and problem-solving in young children.^[1] The Scratch Foundation offered additional backing, aligning with its mission to expand coding access, while a 2014 Kickstarter campaign raised over $75,000 to fund tablet adaptations and broaden device compatibility.^[12] Contributors like the LEGO Foundation and British Telecommunications also supported early phases.^[10] Central to the design philosophy was creating a tablet-optimized, touch-based interface that accommodates the physical and attentional limitations of preschoolers, such as shorter attention spans and developing fine motor skills.^[10] This approach prioritized simplicity—using larger, colorful blocks and intuitive gestures—over complex syntax, enabling children to snap together code to animate stories and games without typing or precise mouse control.^[3] The goal was to make programming feel like natural play, integrating computational concepts with creativity and expression to suit early learners' developmental stages.^[10]

Release History and Updates

ScratchJr was initially released as a free app for iPad on July 23, 2014, developed through a collaboration between the MIT Media Lab, Tufts University, and the Playful Invention Company.^[8]^[13] The Android version, developed by Two Sigma under the leadership of Mark Roth, launched in March 2015, expanding accessibility to a broader range of tablet devices. A ChromeOS version followed in March 2016.^[14]^[1] Version 1.0 marked the core launch in 2014, providing essential programming blocks for young children to build interactive stories and games, including motion, looks, and control categories.^[13] Subsequent early updates, such as 1.0.1 and 1.0.2 in late 2014 and early 2015, focused on bug fixes related to iOS stability and app freezing issues.^[15] In 2016, version 1.2 introduced key sharing features, allowing users to export projects via email and, on iOS devices, AirDrop, enhancing collaborative learning opportunities.^[7] This update built on the foundational tools while addressing user feedback for easier project distribution. Version 1.5, rolled out progressively in 2023 with releases including 1.5.3 in January, 1.5.10 in May, and 1.5.11 in November, primarily delivered minor bug fixes and improved compatibility with contemporary operating systems.^[13]^[16] These enhancements ensured smoother performance on supported hardware without introducing major new functionalities. The Scratch Foundation has overseen maintenance since the project's inception, with the most recent updates occurring in 2023.^[17] As of November 2025, no web-based version exists, though the foundation remains in early planning stages for such a development to potentially increase platform accessibility.^[7]^[18] To address evolving device ecosystems, ScratchJr requires iOS 9.3 or later (recommended 11.0 or later) on iPads and Android 5.0 or later (recommended 7.0 or later) on tablets with screens of 7 inches or larger.^[13]^[7] Support for older operating systems, including iOS versions below 9.3 and Android below 5.0, was deprecated around 2022, meaning those installations no longer receive updates or security patches.^[19]

Programming Features

User Interface

The ScratchJr user interface features a full-screen stage at the center where users view and interact with their projects, allowing characters to be dragged to set starting positions and deleted by pressing and holding on them.^[20] Above the stage, a top bar provides essential tools including a Save button to store projects and return to the home page, a Green Flag to start scripts, options for adding pages (each with its own characters and background), changing backgrounds, adding text, resetting characters, toggling a grid for coordinates, entering presentation mode for full-screen viewing, and undo/redo functions.^[20] At the bottom, a toolbar organizes block categories by color—such as yellow for triggering, blue for motion, and green for sounds—alongside panels for managing characters (adding, editing, deleting, or copying via a paintbrush icon that opens the paint editor) and assembling scripts in a programming area.^[20] Designed for touch-based interaction on tablets, the interface relies on large, colorful icons and intuitive gestures like dragging blocks to connect them, tapping to select or run scripts, and pressing to access menus, eliminating the need for typing or precise mouse control to accommodate young children's motor skills.^[1] The project gallery, accessible from the home screen, enables saving, loading, and browsing of multiple projects, while the integrated paint editor allows customization of sprites and backgrounds through simple drawing tools without text input.^[20] Sensor integration supports device features, such as microphone access for recording custom sounds in projects and camera permissions for capturing images as sprites.^[21] Accessibility is prioritized through high-contrast, color-coded elements that distinguish block categories visually, simple hierarchical menus that reduce cognitive load, and an overall design tailored for pre-readers with icon-only navigation.^[1] Although projects require manual saving via the top bar, the interface minimizes data loss risks by prompting users upon exit and supporting quick iterations.^[20] Compared to the full Scratch platform, ScratchJr employs a simplified palette with fewer block options and exclusively icon-based labels to suit non-readers, alongside a more horizontal, touch-optimized layout that enhances usability for ages 5-7 without advanced text or keyboard features.^[1]

Coding Blocks and Tools

ScratchJr employs a block-based programming interface where users drag and drop colorful, puzzle-piece-like blocks that snap together to create scripts for characters known as sprites. These blocks are designed to be intuitive for young children, using icons and minimal text to represent actions, ensuring immediate visual feedback as projects run in real-time preview mode.^[5]^[22]^[23] The blocks are organized into categories accessible via tabs in the programming area. Motion blocks enable sprite movement on a grid-based stage, including Move Right, Move Left, Move Up, Move Down (each advancing a specified number of squares), Turn Right, Turn Left (rotating by degrees, with 12 units equaling a full circle), Hop (a vertical jump), and Go Home (returning to the starting position). Looks blocks alter a sprite's appearance, such as Grow and Shrink (scaling size), Reset Size (restoring default), Hide and Show (fading in or out), and Say (displaying text in a speech bubble). Control blocks manage script flow, featuring triggers like Start on Green Flag (begins on project start), Start on Tap (on sprite touch), Start on Bump (on collision), and Start on Message (on color-coded signal); sequencing tools including Wait (pauses in tenths of seconds), Repeat (loops a set number of times), Repeat Forever (endless loop), Set Speed (adjusts execution rate), Stop (halts all scripts), Send Message (broadcasts a signal), Go to Page (switches project pages), and End (script terminator with no functional effect). Sound blocks add audio elements, with Pop (a simple sound effect) and Play Recorded Sound (user-recorded voice or noise).^[5]^[22] By stacking blocks into scripts attached to sprites, children can program interactive sequences; for instance, a script might combine Motion blocks like Move Right and Turn Left with a Looks block such as Say to animate a default cat sprite walking across the stage while "speaking" a greeting.^[5]^[22]^[24] Supporting these blocks are additional tools for project setup. The sprite library, accessed by tapping a plus icon in the characters panel, provides pre-made options such as animals (e.g., cat and penguin) for selection and programming. The background selector, via a dedicated button, allows choosing or creating stage settings like a theater scene to contextualize animations. Effects like hiding and showing sprites integrate directly into Looks blocks for dynamic visibility changes.^[20]^[24] To maintain a safe, child-focused environment, ScratchJr imposes limitations such as no external links, no open-ended user input, and restricted parameters (e.g., movement limited to under 25 grid units), preventing unintended access or complexity while keeping all activities local to the device.^[23]^[21]

Educational Applications

Curriculum Integration

ScratchJr provides a range of official and supplemental resources designed to facilitate its integration into early childhood curricula, enabling educators to incorporate computational thinking alongside traditional subjects. The Official ScratchJr Book, published in 2015 by No Starch Press and authored by Marina Umaschi Bers and Mitchel Resnick, serves as a primary hands-on guide for parents and teachers, featuring over 18 interactive coding activities tailored for children aged 5 to 7 that build foundational programming skills through creative projects.^[25]^[26] Additionally, the ScratchJr website offers free downloadable guidebooks, such as the Animated Genres curriculum, which includes lesson plans for creating stories, games, and collages using core blocks like motion and sequencing commands, along with introductory videos demonstrating app features and project creation.^[27]^[28]^[29] These resources align with educational standards, including the Common Core State Standards for literacy and mathematics, by reinforcing skills such as sequencing events in narratives and applying mathematical concepts like patterns and geometry through coding activities.^[30]^[31] NSF-funded initiatives, supported by grants like DRL-1118664, have developed structured curricula such as Coding as Another Language (CAL) for ScratchJr, comprising 6- to 12-week units that integrate computer science with subjects like reading and math to foster problem-solving and expression.^[32]^[33] For instance, project ideas include story starters that practice sequencing by animating character movements in a narrative, or science integrations like simulating plant growth cycles using repeat loops and growth effects to model biological processes.^[34]^[35] Educators benefit from teacher tools such as detailed lesson plans that emphasize debugging—identifying and fixing code errors through trial and error—and iteration, where students refine projects by testing variations, promoting resilience and creative refinement.^[36]^[37] Assessment rubrics specifically for ScratchJr projects evaluate aspects like code structure, expressiveness, and computational concepts, allowing teachers to gauge progress in creative coding without relying solely on final outputs.^[38]^[39] For extensions, adaptations like ScratchJr Bots introduce physical computing by connecting the app to robots, enabling three-dimensional outputs such as LED displays and movement controlled by ScratchJr code, as explored in recent maker literacy projects.^[40]

Classroom Implementation and Research

ScratchJr is typically implemented in preschool and kindergarten classrooms via structured 45-minute sessions that blend coding with literacy and creative expression, often conducted in small groups of 2-3 children to promote collaboration and hands-on exploration under teacher guidance.^[39] These sessions follow curricula like Coding as Another Language (CAL), incorporating warm-ups, technology circles for discussion, and unplugged activities to build foundational skills without overwhelming young learners.^[39] A 2025 comparative study involving 60 kindergarten children found that ScratchJr enhanced coding skills—particularly problem-solving (59.2% improvement) and design (68.10% improvement)—more effectively than Tynker Jr, with overall post-intervention gains of 56.18% in logical thinking, sequencing, and project creation.^[41] Another 2025 investigation using the CAL curriculum with ScratchJr and gamification elements demonstrated sustained improvements in computational thinking skills, self-efficacy, and intrinsic motivation among second-grade students over a full school year.^[42] Key challenges in deployment include device access inequities in low-resource settings, which limit participation for underserved children; solutions involve targeted outreach, such as DevTech Research Group's partnerships providing tablets and unplugged alternatives to bridge gaps.^[43] Educator training addresses these through workshops like the 2024 Mississippi State University program, where 4-H agents and early childhood teachers learned to integrate SmartJr via a mix of device-free and app-based lessons.^[44] Impact metrics highlight ScratchJr's role in boosting STEM engagement among underrepresented groups, with DevTech initiatives reaching 40 educators and hundreds of preschoolers in southern U.S. communities historically excluded from tech education.^[43] Longitudinal data from a four-year randomized control trial across 43 schools show seamless transitions to tools like Scratch, with 1,600 K-2 students developing advanced computational concepts after initial ScratchJr exposure.^[43] Notable collaborations include PBS KIDS ScratchJr, which ties lessons to media content from shows like Peg + Cat, enabling children to code interactive stories with familiar characters for deeper narrative engagement.^[45] The SmartJr initiative at Mississippi State University supports adaptive learning by customizing activities to individual needs, combining unplugged problem-solving with flexible app use to accommodate diverse classroom dynamics.^[44]

Global Reach

Supported Languages

ScratchJr offers multilingual support to enable young children from diverse linguistic backgrounds to engage with programming concepts. As of 2024, the app fully supports approximately 20 languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Catalan, Thai, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Polish.^[7] Additionally, community contributions have led to partial translations in up to 48 languages by 2024.^[43] The translation process relies on an icon-based core interface, where visual elements remain universal, supplemented by localized text overlays for user-facing elements. This approach facilitates accessibility without disrupting the block-based programming experience. Translations are primarily volunteer-driven, with contributors submitting work via a Google Forms application since the app's 2015 launch; the ScratchJr team reviews and integrates these efforts to expand global reach.^[7]^[43] Upon app startup, users select their preferred language from a menu, which applies localization across key components such as menus, coding block labels, and default sprite names. This ensures that instructional text and interface prompts are presented in the child's native language, promoting intuitive use for ages 5-7. At its initial release in 2014, ScratchJr launched with support for a limited set of languages, primarily English and select European ones, but has since expanded significantly through ongoing volunteer initiatives.^[7]^[43] Despite these advancements, certain limitations persist in the localization. Some languages do not include fully adapted audio assets, such as localized sound effects or voice prompts, relying instead on default English audio. Furthermore, the app lacks adaptations for right-to-left (RTL) scripts, which affects usability for languages like Arabic and Hebrew despite available text translations.^[43]

International Adoption and Impact

ScratchJr has seen widespread international adoption, with over 60 million users and 277 million projects created globally as of May 2025.^[46] The top countries by usage include the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, India, Iran, Australia, Peru, Canada, Germany, and Brazil, reflecting its integration into early education systems in regions such as Europe and Asia.^[43] For instance, countries with strong computer science initiatives, including the UK and Nordic nations, demonstrate high engagement levels, often through curriculum incorporation.^[47] Cultural adaptations of ScratchJr have enabled its relevance across diverse contexts, with teams localizing the Coding as Another Language (CAL) curriculum to incorporate region-specific resources.^[43] Examples include adaptations in Greece featuring new books tailored to local narratives, Hebrew-language materials in Israel, and Spanish versions in Argentina and Uruguay that align with national educational goals.^[43] Partnerships, such as those with Uruguay's Plan Ceibal for accessible digital tools and EU Code Week initiatives promoting computational thinking, have further supported digital literacy efforts in Europe.^[43]^[48] The app's global impact lies in advancing early coding education and fostering creativity, as evidenced by 2024-2025 research highlighting gains in maker literacies—encompassing design, programming, and building—across cultures.^[40] A 2025 study on ScratchJr Bots, for example, reported improvements in computational thinking, collaboration, and socio-emotional skills like patience among young children in pilot programs, including cross-cultural implementations in Uruguay.^[40] A 2025 study notes that UNESCO's 2024 report recognizes such tools as pivotal for achieving digital literacy goals under Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 worldwide.^[41] Community efforts have extended ScratchJr's reach through outreach in developing regions, with volunteer translations into 48 languages facilitating access in low-resource areas like Ecuador, Nigeria, Peru, and India.^[43] Since 2022, a special interest group involving 31 organizations across 17 countries has supported teacher training and curriculum implementation, reaching thousands of students in places like Argentina via the Varkey Foundation.^[43] Programs such as PBS KIDS outreach target underserved communities to promote equitable participation.^[49] Looking ahead, a web version of ScratchJr remains in early planning stages, potentially broadening accessibility beyond mobile devices and increasing global adoption.^[7] Ongoing support from collaborators like the Scratch Foundation emphasizes equity, with continued professional development and randomized trials aimed at diverse educational contexts.^[43]^[50]

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