The Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT decided to create a programming program for kids. “Scratch” is a free program that allows kids to program their own games, stories and animations. They can then share these online with other users.
The point of the program, which is specifically designed for children age 8 to 16, is to help young people to “think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.” MIT sees these as essential skills in today’s world.
Scratch has millions of users in homes, schools, community centers, etc. Considering the value of knowing how to code in our modern world, Scratch could potentially give children who use it a huge advantage as they grow up.
It is used in more than 150 countries and is available in 40 languages. It is used in many different schools, many different grade levels and across disciplines, such as math, language arts and social studies.