App review
ScratchJr
Children snap visual blocks together to move, jump, hide and otherwise control characters across scenes, then draw/customize characters, record sounds and link scenes into stories. This activity loop is documented by Common Sense.
- Route
- Make
- Ages
- 4+
- Best for
- First block-code stories
At a glance
- Developer
- Scratch Foundation
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, Chromebook
- Cost
- Free
- US App Store
Free download; no IAP or ads reported
The short version
A genuinely creative, offline-feeling introduction to sequencing and multimedia creation, with no purchase wall. The old Android support and privacy ambiguity merit parent notes.
Creative agency: High. Learning value: High. Age fit: strong for early elementary.
What we found
Strengths
- Creative agency: High.
- Learning value: High.
- Staying power: Medium-High through open-ended scene creation.
Watch-outs
- Parent view: Medium because privacy policy is dated April 2022 and Android versions may be unsupported.
- Privacy policy last updated 2022.
Before you download
- Age guidance
- 5–7. Adult involvement: Medium (text instructions and setup are parent-facing)
- Privacy
- Medium because privacy policy is dated April 2022 and Android versions may be unsupported Privacy policy last updated 2022.