Scratch Jr was inspired by the popular Scratch programming language for older kids. Developers say they redesigned the interface and programming language to make it appropriate for younger children.

Scratch has a new sibling. The MIT Media Lab-developed programming environment intended for children recently welcomed ScratchJr into the world of kids' coding tools.

ScratchJr, a new ipad app, is the result. A Kickstarter funded educational tool designed to inspire schoolchildren to adopt the Scratch programming language and ‘code to learn’.

Students will use iPad to capture and edit images of themselves, their family, and their neighborhoods, and then craft their stories about why they matter using the PBS Kids Scratch Jr. coding app ...

The PBS KIDS Scratch Jr. app, which is designed for children ages 5 – 7, began in early fall. Pre- and Post-tests were given as part of this project.

They don’t even have to know how to read. So how does it work? Children can snap together graphical programming blocks to make characters and other elements move, jump, talk and change size.

"We have a whole school technology curriculum that sees our youngest students advancing through Scratch Junior coding, and our upper kids coding drones to complete obstacle courses,” ms Facer said.

Ten years ago, a computer programming language called Scratch emerged from the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.