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Parents' Guide to

Code Karts - Pre-coding logic

By Dana Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Race cars to learn early programming skills in cute coder.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Free to try Education
Code Karts - Pre-coding logic Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Code Karts App: Screenshot #1
  • Code Karts App: Screenshot #2
  • Code Karts App: Screenshot #3
  • Code Karts App: Screenshot #4
  • Code Karts App: Screenshot #5

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Privacy Rating Warning

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether personal information are shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Unclear whether data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
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What’s It About?

To play CODE KARTS - PRE-CODING LOGIC, first sign up for a "grown-ups' account" by entering your email and password. Then enter your kid's name and return to the home screen. Kids choose one- or two-car mode by tapping on one or two cars. Kids tap the number "1" to begin the first puzzle. Watch as a pointing finger shows which brick to move first (the brick with the purple key is always first to start the car) and where. Decide what directional brick comes next and so on to move the race car. When finished placing the bricks to "program" the car, tap it and watch it move around the track. If a kid has completed the puzzle correctly, the car will cross the finish line and applause will sound. If not, they will hear an "awwww" sound and the car will not move at the point of error. Bricks can be moved back in place to make corrections. Upon the completion of a level, the game automatically moves to the next puzzle.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

If you're looking for an app to help your preschooler dip their toes into the coding waters, this is a terrific choice. The word "preparation" is key in understanding the purpose of this app because Code Karts - Pre-coding logic isn't going to give kids the nuts-and-bolts knowledge needed to code anything. But what kids will get is a developmentally appropriate understanding of how step-by-step patterns, cause-and-effect relationships, and their own input into a device affects the output of that device. That alone is plenty to make the time spent on the app worthwhile for any preschooler growing up in the digital age. Plus, it's fun! One suggestion: It would be nice if the visuals changed from race cars to other objects (racing snails, bananas, kids?) on some levels to pique the interest of kids who aren't into race cars. Overall, though, it's is an excellent, pre-beginner coding experience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about various ways to express directions. Young kids are just learning right from left, up from down, and cardinal directions. Parents may need to help kids learn this language over time, so kids can focus more on the coding aspects in Code Karts - Pre-coding logic.

  • Explain to your kid in simple terms how skills like the ones they're learning in the app help program other games they play.

  • Talk about clues kids can use on this app. Note the color-coded bricks, the arrows on the track, and the ability to move bricks back and retry if your kid doesn't solve the puzzle correctly.

App Details

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