The first concept of block coding was introduced by MIT in 2003, when they created a basic computer language called Scratch. This form of coding was introduced to children to learn basics of programming. Scratch also gives access to an online community where children can program and people provide interactive media. As children familiarize themselves with programming through Scratch, they tend to collaborate, think creatively and develop reasoning and analytical thinking.

Scratch is specifically designed for people aged 8 to 16 years old, but people of younger age can try ScratchJr. which is a simplified version designed for children aged 4 to 7 years old.

Scratch coding has a library of blocks that allows users to animate cartoon characters called sprites. Sprite can be thought of as a character or an object, thus creating a character is analogous to painting a sprite. Some of the examples of scratch coding are look, motion, sound, pen, video sensing, Lego blocks.

Using Scratch coding blocks is a fun and interactive way for children to develop their programming skills as children have the easily and rapidly access that can bring their imagination to life.

The most efficient way for children to learn about block coding is by using the scratch app or website. They can help children to start developing their coding skills through the platform. Children as young as 4 years old are starting to develop their coding skills through the different activities provided with the Scratch app.

With block coding, children can let loose their inner Bill Gates or Steve Jobs and create a number of sprites and bring those characters to life with animation. Children through Scratch can make Clicker games where a player clicks things in order to earn points for example, popping balloons. Chase games allowing sprites to chase another sprite. Pong games or the most complex of all, an adventure game.

Now there is a question of whether children can learn block coding from books as traditionally taught? Yes, if you are not comfortable with your child is given access to an electronic gadget with insufficient supervision, they can also learn how to do block coding from books. There are numerous block coding books on the market for children of different ages from 6 to 16 years old. For younger children, some books containing visual instructions to help them develop an interest in coding and its concepts are also available. There are also some fun activities which are also a way to help them practice skills for computer programming.

The activity with picture block coding books is ideal for children which are yet unable to read but for older children, there are Scratch coding books that feature step-by-step guides into developing characters for animations and games. There are also books on the market which employ hybridized approaches and concepts of Scratch and Pythons coding. These two coding languages are frequently used due to their ease of understanding and their abstract yet user-friendly syntax.

The cool and most fruitful feature about block coding is that it allows the users to have a more tangible coding experience not only on screen but also children can hold something in their hands called Scratch Cards which is a set of cards offering a physical and visual representation of different coding lessons and concepts.