Video Game Coding for Kids

There’s a reason many kids are drawn to video games: Not only are the interactive stories interesting and challenging, but there’s also the incredible visual effects in many of today’s most popular games like Minecraft, Roblox, or Among Us.

At theCoderSchool, we let kids take a peek behind the curtain to learn what goes into making some of their favorite games. Video game development is rooted in coding, and we’ll show your kids how it’s done.

Our video game development camps and courses are best for students in the 7-to-9 age group who have beginner to intermediate coding skills. There are no prerequisites to entering the courses, however a strong interest in computer science is helpful for new students.

Both the classes and coding camps help students grasp fundamental coding concepts for video game development. Your child will come away with an understanding of variables, loops, conditionals, and if/then logic. We’ll introduce video games designed for coders, helping them continue their learning beyond their course.

We’ll get into Cartesian Coordinates and the Sprite Movement, homing in on key topics such as event detection, score-keeping, and game design. Foundational to this course is also simple math logic, which will set your child up for a fundamental understanding of how coding works.

By turning your kid’s hobby into a useful skill, they’ll have an even greater appreciation for the games they play, and may even one day create video games designed to help others. Our Code Coaches will help find the best coding program for your child, whether it’s a summer camp coding course or an after-school class with one of our professionals.

How Our Video Game Coding Classes Work

Not all students thrive in the same setting, which is why we offer video game coding classes in a variety of formats. All formats are typically available as both in-person and online coding courses at theCoderSchool locations.

Our most popular video game development tutorial are coding camps held during school breaks. We have spring break camps, summer camps, and winter break camps that can be taken either online or in-person, depending on your location.

Our camps are still considered low-ratio, with six students per coach in a typical camp. Each camp is one week long, typically starting at 9 a.m. and finishing around 3 p.m., depending on your location and whether you choose in-person or an online format.

What your child will need

For the in-person camps, theCoderSchool will provide the necessary equipment for the course. For online camps, students will need to have a computer (Windows PC, Apple/Mac, or Chromebook), an internet connection of at least 15 Mbps, a microphone and speakers, and a video or web camera for classes.

What your child will learn

Students will learn to code in Snap! or Scratch from MIT, depending on their location. Along with picking up coding knowledge, campers will also gain general skills such as problem solving, teamwork, code debugging, and logical thinking skills required to become a programmer. We’ll introduce coding games to make the process fun and engaging.

Other video game coding course formats

Our video game development courses can also be taken as a low-ratio after-school class, or private lessons. The private and semi-private tutoring is typically once per week with Code Coaches, and are either 2:1 or 1:1, depending on your child’s needs.

We recommend the low-ratio 2:1 classes because students often learn from one another and enjoy the collaborative process.

The Coder Tree Philosophy

At theCoderSchool, we believe that learning to code is a progression, starting with foundational concepts and moving onwards with more complex coding concepts and eventually, more advanced coding technologies. We call it the Coder Tree, and it involves three distinct phases. All coding courses outside of our camps use the Coder Tree philosophy—so students aren’t restricted to learning about a single coding topic or following a set progression of topics. If your child is interested in video game coding specifically, they can start exploring whenever they’re ready!

The first learning phase of the the Coder Tree is foundational learning, which we target towards younger coders or students who are fairly new to using computers. This is the root stage of the tree, and we use fun games to take students through critical thinking concepts and essential skills including sequential coding, logical thinking, Cartesian coordinates, and basic game logic. Coding languages such as Scratch and Snap! are great for this stage in the learning process.

The next phase of the the Coder Tree is the trunk of the tree, which digs deeper into coding concepts such as algorithms, data structure, and website building. Students get a taste of more complex programming languages such as Python, HTML, CSS, and Javascript during this phase, further expanding their coding skills.

The final phase of the Coder Tree is the branches, which leads students into more advanced computer programming technologies. We go much more into detail into programming concepts and topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), data manipulation, and network coding in this more advanced phase. Programs such as MySQL, Swift, Unity, and PlayPrograms are commonly taught in this phase.

Using Hands-On STEM Learning to Create Games

Kids often learn best by doing, and this couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to STEM learning. We believe that hands-on learning is best when teaching complex topics such as coding, and our video game development classes reflect that.

When students learn to code in an interactive setting, they not only gain confidence in technology, but they also gain valuable skills such as logical thinking and problem solving during the game creation process.

Working collaboratively with other students helps instill teamwork skills. The satisfaction of seeing hard work come to life by creating their own game is an amazing step in the coding journey.

Video Game Programming for Kids FAQs

What is the right age to start coding?

Coding can be great for kids as young as 7.

Can a kid make a video game?

Yes! Our coding kids make their own games in the video game development coding course.

What are the benefits of video game coding for kids?

Teaching kids video game development helps show kids the basics of coding in a fun, interactive way. When learning video game design students will not only see games come to life. They'll come away with a deeper knowledge of how coding concepts work and enhanced programming skills, setting them up for success in the future of writing code.

What programming languages are best for video game coding?

We teach both Snap! and Scratch to our students in the video game development classes. These programming languages used in game development are great for new coders because rather than staring at lines of code, they’re highly visual and fun to use. Scratch uses colorful drag-and-drop visual blocks that make the coding process easier for new students.

Find a Video Game Coding Class Near You

When you’re ready to sign your child up for a video game coding class, be sure to find a video game development class near you. TheCoderSchool has locations across the US, with many online options for students who are further afield. We’ll help start your child on their journey of becoming a coder, instilling useful skills that they’ll use for the rest of their life.