Grasshopper: Learn to Code
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Free
- Education
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
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What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Grasshopper: Learn to Code is a free coding tutorial. While not necessarily geared toward kids, it will appeal to older kids who are comfortable with basic math operations (through multiplication) and slightly more complex math ideas (such as arrays). Grasshopper: Learn to Code asks for a Google login to get started. It has no ads or external content. Read the app's privacy policy to find out about the types of information collected and shared.
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What's it about?
GRASSHOPPER: LEARN TO CODE is a collection of progressive interactive lessons that guide users from understanding what coding is all the way through making their own animations. Each lesson teaches a discrete bit of information, from a specific command to a type of coding logic (such as a loop or a conditional statement). There are quizzes to pass along the way and kids earn trophies and achievements as they progress. It includes four courses: What Is Code?, Fundamentals, Animations, and Animations II. Kids will need to pass each one before moving on to the next. There is also a Code Playground where kids can put their new skills to the test by building out their own pieces of code.
Is it any good?
While many apps teach kids about coding logic, learning actual code is both empowering and fun. Grasshopper: Learn to Code makes learning JavaScript playful and accessible as it sneaks in a lot of important info. It starts off with a colorful set of lessons that teach kids how to draw various flags using code, which is a huge improvement from where many coding lessons begin. There are some lessons that feel like big leaps of information, and many kids will need help understanding and digesting the info. There's also the danger that the focus on interactive puzzles to teach code sometimes leads to missing the bigger picture of what's being taught. And occasionally the lessons feel too scripted, not leaving room for mistakes. Figuring out where your code went wrong is a huge part of programming, so a bit more flexibility in accepting answers can't hurt. But beyond those minor complaints, you can't really go wrong with Grasshopper: Learn to Code for getting started with JavaScript. It might be just the thing to springboard your child into a love of coding and computer science in general.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the coding logic in Grasshopper: Learn to Code. How does a computer read and understand instructions? How is that the same and/or different as how people understand instructions?
Discuss coding as a profession. What types of things do programmers do? How can you combine your other interests with software engineering or web design?
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Subjects: Math: arithmetic
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: deduction, logic, problem solving
Creativity: making new creations
Tech Skills: coding - Price: Free
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: April 26, 2018
- Category: Education
- Size: 22.30 MB
- Publisher: Area 120
- Version: 1.13.3
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later; Android 5.0 and up
- Last updated: November 26, 2019
Our editors recommend
For kids who love coding and STEM
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.