If you're looking for ways to help your child learn programming, video resources can be a great place to start. Videos provide a visual learning experience, and can also be easily stopped and started. So today we'll share some of the best programming for kids videos, divided into age groups that will find them most helpful: elementary school, middle school, and high school. We'll also highlight some free live online coding classes that might be a good fit for your child.
Discover some of the best programming for kids videos
Explore beginner coding basics, fun coding games, and more all through these free YouTube videos. Check them out!
Watch programming for kids videos for elementary school
For younger students just getting started with coding, here are some fun programming videos to learn everything from how a computer works, to basic coding concepts, and even how to make a pong game.
1. Scratch Garden: Camp Coding Camp Video
Looking for a fun way to introduce your kindergartener or first grader to coding? Check out this channel's educational musicals! Their series "Camp Coding Camp" has tons of music videos with songs that guide students through important coding tasks and games. Kids can learn about hardware vs. software, and coding concepts such as sequencing, variables, loops, conditions, bugs, and more.
Level: Beginner, Best for: Ages 5-8
2. Coding Lessons for Kids Videos
The Create & Learn YouTube channel has a fun series of videos on using Scratch coding to make all sorts of games and add-ons to any project. Watch this getting started with Scratch video tutorial, and then try your hand at making falling snow. Progress to making a PacMan game. You can also find out how to start Minecraft coding using the free Minecraft Education Edition. Learn how to code a house in Minecraft.
Level: Beginner, Best for: Ages 8+
For live expert guidance learning Python, and to follow a curriculum designed by experts from Google, Stanford, and MIT, join our free Scratch coding class:
3. Scratch YouTube Video Channel
This is the official YouTube Channel of Scratch. Scratch is a highly popular beginner programming langauge designed especially for kids. This YouTube channel shares resources and stories about Scratch, including tutorials for how to program your own interactive stories, games, and animations. Try some of the fun challenges on the Scratch channel including: how to make a story and how to make a jumping game. The channel also features live create-alongs from time to time which are worth watching out for!
Level: Beginner; Best for: Ages 8+
4. Learning Mole: Coding for Kids
The Learning Mole channel provides videos that cover the basics of coding all the way to more advanced concepts. The videos introduce kids to the concepts of coding and how it's used to create software, apps, and websites. They also reveal some of the most popular coding languages, including Python, Java, and Scratch, including the unique features and capabilities of each. There are also some real-world projects, which helps kids learn how to plan, design, and build their own programs and see their creations come to life.
Level: Beginner; Best for: Ages 5-12
5. How Do Computers Work? Video
SciShow Kids' instructional film "How Do Computers Work?" aims to teach kids the fundamental ideas behind how computers function. The movie explains the various parts of a computer and examines how they cooperate to carry out tasks using clear language and illustrations.
Level: Beginner; Best for: Ages 5-12
Explore programming for kids videos for middle school
From designing an obstacle course in popular game Roblox, to learning Python, and designing an app - explore programming videos that will help middle schoolers learn to code.
5. Roblox Studio Videos
Does your tween love Roblox? With this helpful video series, your child will be well on their way to creating their own games in Roblox. Start from the beginning by learning how to setup and download Roblox Studio. Then progress to making an obby and add in a fading trap part!
Level: Beginner; Ages: 11+
For live expert guidance learning Roblox coding join our fun class:
6. NPStation Python Videos
The NPStation channel teaches middle school kids how to code. The channel is owned by a middle-school-aged girl who is very passionate about teaching others! She has a YouTube series that covers the basics of programming through Python, using content from the book written by the Girls Who Code Founder, Reshma Saujani.
Level: Beginner through advanced; Ages: 11+
Your student might also enjoy this Python projects video series for making a Harry Potter Sorting hat, a chatbot, and more.
For live expert guidance learning Python, and to follow a curriculum designed by experts from Google, Stanford, and MIT, join our free Python coding class:
7. Code.org Videos
Code.org's YouTube channel provides tons of computer programming videos ranging from videos revealing all sorts of possible professions in computer science from the experts themselves, to thorough series on how computers, the internet, and AI work. There is also a wide range of CodeBytes tutorials to choose from, which are filmed versions of their previously live, interactive computer science mini lessons. We recommend watching popular videos on: What is the Internet? and Design Apps for Good, to learn the basics of designing a simple app in AppLab that you can immediately share with others - to get started.
Level: Intermediate through advanced; Ages: 11+
Discover programming for kids videos for high school
From conquering JavaScript to mastering Python and making games, explore programming videos for high school students.
8. The Coding Train Videos
The Coding Train channel is chock full of creative coding video tutorials on subjects ranging from the basics of programming languages like JavaScript to algorithmic art, machine learning, simulation, generative poetry, and more. Beginner learners can discover all the basics of code (variables, conditionals, loops, objects, arrays) in JavaScript with p5.js. After you've conquered that set of challenges, enjoy an introduction to developing creative coding projects with machine learning, with the Beginner's Guide to Machine Learning in JavaScript.
Level: Intermediate to advanced; Ages: 15+
9. Khan Academy Computer Science Videos
Khan Academy's video tutorials provide education on coding principles and problem-solving techniques. Their computer science series is focused mostly on the Python programming language. Start with an Introduction to Data Types and Variables, before moving onto Python for Loops. Eventually, you'll be able to tackle exercises such as Writing a Sorting Function.
Level: Intermediate to advanced; Ages: 15+
10. CsDojo Videos
A software engineer who is passionate about teaching teenagers created this channel with tons of coding tutorials. In addition to teaching a variety of subjects such as software development, data structures, and algorithms, he teaches coding basics in an accessible way with Python and Java. Get started with variables, and work your way up to learning how to use dictionaries in Python
Level: Intermediate to advanced; Ages: 15+
For even more fun, check out how to make a cool domino game using popular game engine Unity.
Join programming for kids live online video classes
Videos are great source of learning for anyone interested in gaining new skills, but having a live instructor and classmates to learn from, ask questions to, and collaborate with makes the learning experience even better! Here at Create & Learn we offer plenty of live online coding courses for all age groups and learning levels. Students will enjoy our small classes size of just five students maximum, led live by an expert. Our award-winning curriculum designed by professionals from Google, Stanford, and MIT uses an inquiry-based and project-based learning method that keeps lessons engaging and helps kids unlock their creativity, as well as true love for computer science. You can explore curriculum by grade level here: K-2 | 2-4 | 4-6 | 6-9 | 9-12.
Our most popular class with beginners is the Scratch coding class. Using fun drag-and-drop block-based coding, students learn important coding concepts while making cool games. Start free here.
Another student-favorite is our creative Minecraft engineering class. Join this fun class to build all sorts of amazing electric machines in your Minecraft games, and learn about circuits, and how computers work, as well as engineering! Start free here.
Older students often prefer to begin with our Python coding class. This live online class covers not only the basics of Python coding for kids and teens, but also puts a strong focus on the elements of Python that are most relevant to Artificial Intelligence, including data structures and libraries. Start free here.
Enjoy programming for kids videos
Now that you know helpful videos for growing your child's love of computer programming, explore ways to keep your child motivated to learn coding.
Written by Create & Learn instructor Andrew Harper. Andrew has always had an interest in coding, and after he got his degree and certification in education, he realized that he could be a coding teacher! From there, he started researching and learning a lot on how to integrate computational thinking into education. His dream is to one day create educational software, materials, board games, and video games that encourage students to apply critical thinking and STEM foundations to improve their classrooms and communities. He always tells his students, “If you can imagine it you can create it in code!”