TL;DR
If your kid has outgrown the "baby" version of coding apps, they’re likely eyeing the "full" version of Scratch. It’s a massive jump from the offline, simplified ScratchJr to the full-blown social ecosystem of Scratch 3.0. Think of it as "Baby’s First Social Network" where the currency isn't just likes, but "remixes" and "faves." It's incredibly educational, but the shift from creating to consuming other kids' projects—and commenting on them—is where parents need to pay attention.
Quick Links for the "What's Next?" Crowd:
- Best for beginners (Ages 5-8): ScratchJr
- The "Full Version" (Ages 8-14): Scratch Website
- The logic-heavy alternative: Tynker
- For the "I want to make real games" kid: Roblox Studio
- Transitioning to text-based code: Swift Playgrounds
When kids talk about the "full version" of Scratch, they’re usually talking about the browser-based platform hosted by MIT. While there is a Scratch Desktop app you can download, the "Full Version" experience is synonymous with the online community.
It uses a "block-based" coding language. Instead of typing out confusing syntax like if (x === 10) { do Thing; }, kids drag and drop colorful blocks that snap together like digital LEGOs. It’s brilliant because it removes the frustration of typos while teaching the actual logic of computer science.
But for older kids (the 10-13 crowd), Scratch isn't just a tool; it's a destination. It’s where they go to play "Platformers," watch "MAPs" (Multi-Animator Projects), and participate in "CCs" (Coloring Contests).
You might see your kid staring at a screen that looks like a 1990s web portal and think, "Is this really better than Minecraft?"
The answer is yes, but for different reasons. Older kids gravitate toward the "Full Version" because of The Community.
- Remix Culture: On Scratch, every single project’s code is public. If your kid sees a cool game, they can click "See Inside," see exactly how it was built, and then "Remix" it to make it their own. It’s the ultimate expression of "standing on the shoulders of giants."
- The Clout: Kids can follow each other, leave comments, and "love" projects. Getting a project on the "Trending" page is a massive dopamine hit.
- The Memes: Scratch is a mirror of current kid culture. You will find thousands of Skibidi Toilet parodies, "Ohio" memes, and recreations of Five Nights at Freddy's. It’s how they process what’s popular.
Ask our chatbot if Scratch is actually teaching your kid to code or just to play games
If your kid started with ScratchJr on an iPad, the full version will feel like moving from a tricycle to a Tesla.
- ScratchJr: No text, limited blocks, no internet connection, completely safe/siloed.
- Scratch (Full): Requires reading, involves complex math (x/y coordinates, variables), and is inherently social.
Most schools introduce Scratch around 3rd or 4th grade. By 6th grade, many kids are doing things with "Cloud Variables" that would make a professional dev sweat. If your tween is still on the "junior" version, they're likely bored. The "Full Version" is where the real skill development happens.
Ages 8-10: The "Creator" Phase
At this age, the focus should be on building. They’ll likely make simple animations or "Chase" games.
- The Goal: Understanding loops and conditionals.
- Parental Role: Set up the account with them. Use a "family" email address so you get the notifications when someone comments on their project.
Ages 11-13: The "Social" Phase
This is when they start joining "Studios" (groups) and collaborating. They might start "Roleplaying" in the comments of projects—a very common Scratch phenomenon.
- The Goal: Collaborative problem solving and digital citizenship.
- Parental Role: Discuss what "constructive feedback" looks like. Scratch moderators are great, but kids can still be mean or "spammy."
Ages 14+: The "Transition" Phase
By high school, Scratch starts to feel a bit limiting. If they’re still on it, they’re likely "power users" who are basically hacking the system to do things it wasn't meant to do.
Is Scratch safe? Generally, yes. It’s one of the most vigorously moderated platforms on the planet. MIT doesn't play around. However, because it’s a social network, there are things to watch for:
- The Comments Section: This is where 99% of the drama happens. While there are filters for profanity, kids are creative. They use "leetspeak" or symbols to get around filters.
- Personal Info: Kids love to share. They might try to share their Discord tag or their Roblox username. Scratch officially forbids this, but it’s a constant cat-and-mouse game.
- Unfiltered Content: Since anyone can upload sounds and images, you might occasionally stumble upon a project with a song that has questionable lyrics or "scary" imagery (lots of horror game recreations).
Learn more about Scratch's community guidelines and safety features
We often hear that coding is the "new literacy" and that Roblox is teaching kids to be business owners. Scratch is a bit different. There is no money on Scratch. No "Scratch-bucks," no ads, no selling projects.
This is actually its greatest strength. It’s a "pure" creative space. When your kid spends 10 hours making a game on Scratch, they aren't doing it for a payout; they’re doing it for the "Love" and "Favorite" icons and the pride of authorship.
However, it does teach the "Soft Skills" of entrepreneurship:
- Debugging: Learning that failure is just a bug to be fixed.
- Iterating: Taking feedback from commenters and updating the game.
- Marketing: Designing a "thumbnail" for their project that makes people want to click it.
If your kid is "done" with Scratch, don't let the momentum die. Here are the logical next steps:
If they want to make games people actually play for "money" (Robux), this is the leap. It uses a language called Lua, which is text-based but relatively easy to learn.
Great for structured, curriculum-based learning. If Scratch feels too "wild west," Code.org is the classroom equivalent.
If you have an iPad, this is the best way to learn the language used to build actual iPhone apps. It’s gamified and beautiful.
The "Gold Standard" for a first real-world programming language. It’s used in AI, data science, and web dev.
The "Full Version" of Scratch is a playground, a workshop, and a social club all rolled into one. For an intentional parent, the move here is to be the interested beta-tester.
Ask them: "Can I play your game?" "How did you make that cat jump?" "What do the comments say?"
You aren't just monitoring their screen time; you’re validating their work. In a world of passive consumption (looking at you, YouTube and TikTok), Scratch is one of the few places where kids are actually building the digital world rather than just scrolling through it.
- Check the "Shared" projects: Have your kid show you their profile page. Look at their "Shared Projects" and the comments they've received.
- Discuss "Remixing": Talk about the difference between "stealing" someone's work and "remixing" it with credit. It's a huge lesson in digital ethics.
- Explore the "Explore" tab: Spend 10 minutes looking at what's "Trending" on the Scratch Website. You’ll learn more about what your kid thinks is "cool" than you would in a month of school pickups.
Ask our chatbot for a list of the best Scratch tutorials for beginners