Scratch: A programming language designed for kids ages 8 to 16. It’s separate from Arduino but still widely used in schools for creating games, programming robots, designing animations, and more.

Juni Learning wants to give every kid access to a quality education in computer programming. The company, part of Y Combinator's latest batch of startups, is taking the same approach that turned ...

Together they formulated the Introduction to Programming course comprising of 16 weeks of tutorials covering programming basics, though with a clear focus on games and interactive media.

With the ability to import your own graphics, collision detection, and sound effects, I could see kids programming some advanced games that are limited only by their imagination.

More than 150 characters are available for kids to use. The app's tutorial video is wordless and textless, except for a few numerals required for programming timers.

A student completes the Minecraft-themed coding tutorial that Microsoft built with Code.org. (Microsoft Photo) Microsoft wants to turn kids’ love of Minecraft into a love of computer programming ...

So, what is the process for getting kids involved? Children are receptive to acquiring this new language of computer programming and the strategic thinking and reasoning processes that go with it.

Mark Zuckerberg credits video games with getting him into programming, and he thinks they could help others kids, too.

Learning tools: A few free written and video tutorials that cover the basics and some that dive more into how to make specific genres of games like turn-based RPGs, tower defense, and farming games.