On May 16, 2009, learn more about Scratch, the free programming tool for kids.

Video Lessons from Pluralsight (Web, Free): Online training site Pluralsight offers three video courses for kids, teaching them how to program in C# using Visual Basic, use Scratch, and use App ...

A new book from No Starch Press, Super Scratch Programming Adventure!: Learn to Program By Making Cool Games makes it even easier to teach your kids basic programming skills.

One of the best way to get young kids started on programming is with Scratch, the MIT-developed programming environment that lets them script sprites and otherwise dip their little toes into ...

Patrice Gans, a technology teacher and library-media specialist in Connecticut, reviews Super Scratch Programming Adventure (No Starch Press, 2012).

Scratch Jr was inspired by the popular Scratch programming language for older kids. Developers say they redesigned the interface and programming language to make it appropriate for younger children.

Along the way, Scratch helps programmers learn about loops, conditionals and event-driven programming. Scratch is written in Squeak (more about that in a moment) and is an open source project.

Perhaps the only online coding community that could compete with Scratch for kids’ attention is Minecraft, which aims to provide kids with a similar sense interest- and peer-based exploration.

MIT's Media Lab is gearing up for Scratch Day 2009, to introduce new people to their programming language for kids.