16 AI coding tools and AI-assisted coding for kids and teens

The free block-coding home for millions of kids. No AI built in, but it is where most kid-friendly AI extensions plug in. Start here before any AI coding tool.

Watch for: Comments and sharing are public; talk about what to post.

Kids train a model on words, pictures or numbers, then use it in Scratch to build a smart game or chatbot. About two dozen guided projects.

Free AI lessons and activities, including the Hour of AI dance party and units for middle and high school. No experience needed. Teachers use it, and families can too.

Train a movement model in CreateAI, then use it in MakeCode blocks or Python on a real micro:bit. A good bridge from screen to hardware.

Scratch-style coding with blocks for face detection, speech recognition and machine learning, plus support for robots and boards. Kids can make a robot or game respond to their face or voice without writing text code.

Train an image, sound or pose model and export it for use in a web page or app. A teen can build a real project around it in an afternoon.

Lessons on how machine learning works, bias, and building models, written for 11-14 year olds and free in many languages. Parents can teach a lesson at the kitchen table.

Free guided projects from Scratch to Python, including AI and machine learning projects. Works at home with no hardware for many projects. Clear steps make it easy to work alone.

Free JavaScript and SQL courses. With Khanmigo, the tutor can read a learner's code directly and give hints instead of fixing it for them. JavaScript is a fine first text language.

Block and text coding courses with AI courses included in the subscription. Lots of game projects and Minecraft mods kids enjoy. Works on tablets and computers, and the projects lean toward games kids want to show off.

Watch for: Prices vary widely by plan; check before paying.

Kids learn Python or JavaScript by typing real code to move a hero through a fantasy game. Good step after blocks. Typing real code feels grown-up to a 10-year-old.

Free block-based tool for building real phone apps. MIT is testing Aptly, which builds an app from a plain-English description, but it is still a research prototype.

Coding lessons inside Minecraft, including Hour of AI activities where players teach an AI agent. Many schools already have licenses. Ask your school whether your child has a login.

Free lessons on how AI works and how to use it responsibly, with tracks by age and a family page. Ethics lessons are as strong as the technical ones.

A coding site with an AI agent that builds and runs apps from a description. Powerful for a teen with a project idea. Teach your teen to read what the agent wrote.

Watch for: AI agent usage can add up quickly. Set a spending limit.

Verified students 13 and older can get Copilot free through GitHub Education, along with other developer tools. For teens who already code. Verification needs a school email or proof of enrollment.