Code.org – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Code.org

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2014

95%

WISE Score

4.6

App Store

The coding app that actually teaches kids to code—through play, puzzles, and building their own games.

Code.org

app

Everyone, 2014

95%

WISE Score

4.6

App Store

The coding app that actually teaches kids to code—through play, puzzles, and building their own games.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

This is what educational apps should be: genuinely teaching valuable skills while feeling like play. Code.org (via the codeSpark app) nails the balance between structured learning and creative freedom, letting kids progress from simple puzzles to publishing their own games.

The safety infrastructure is excellent—moderated user content, no ads, no manipulative mechanics, parent dashboard. The curriculum is research-backed and used in schools worldwide. Parents consistently report kids choosing this over passive entertainment and developing real confidence as creators.

The subscription model is fair (7-day trial, up to 5 profiles for annual subscribers), and the free Hour of Code option lets you test-drive before committing. If you've been looking for screen time that actually builds skills without feeling like homework, this is it.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 3-10 as advertised, with pre-coding activities for preschoolers and increasingly sophisticated creation tools for elementary-aged kids. Older kids (11+) might outgrow the aesthetic but could still find value in the game design features if they're genuinely interested in coding.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Ad-free, no micro-transactions, and designed for independent learning without chaos. The collaborative features (multiplayer games, contests) encourage cooperation and creativity. Parents consistently praise how it builds confidence and perseverance. The word-free interface removes reading barriers and keeps the experience calm and accessible.

Imaginative

This is fundamentally a creativity engine. Kids aren't just solving pre-made puzzles—they're designing and publishing their own games and stories, participating in monthly coding contests, and exploring projects made by other kid coders worldwide. The open-ended creation tools and 'Made by Kids' gallery turn learners into makers. Research-backed curriculum from MIT, Princeton, and Carnegie Mellon ensures the imaginative scaffolding is solid.

Safe

Every user-created game and story is reviewed before publishing. No ads, no micro-transactions, no distractions. Parent dashboard for profile management and progress tracking. The platform is explicitly designed as a trusted environment for independent learning. The only minor consideration is the social sharing aspect, but with pre-publication moderation, this is about as safe as educational apps get.

Enriching

Teaches genuine computer science concepts (sequencing, loops, conditionals, events, debugging) and computational thinking (problem-solving, logic, pattern recognition). Reinforces early reading and math skills. Builds perseverance and design thinking by letting kids turn ideas into working projects. Award-winning curriculum used by teachers worldwide. Kids learn to see themselves as creators and problem-solvers, not just consumers. The educational value is exceptional and research-backed.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Kids as young as 3 can start with pre-coding activities, and older kids can design and publish actual games—it scales beautifully across ages
Word-free interface means early readers can dive straight into computational thinking without getting stuck on instructions
The 'Made by Kids' gallery and monthly contests turn coding into a creative community, not just solo screen time
Research-backed curriculum from MIT, Princeton, and Carnegie Mellon—this isn't edutainment fluff, it's legitimate computer science
Parents report kids actually choosing this over YouTube and asking to become programmers, which is basically the dream

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What to Watch For

Full access requires a subscription after the 7-day trial (though Hour of Code content is free)
The multiplayer and contest features mean kids see other people's creations—all moderated, but still a social element to discuss
Some kids might find the puzzle progression challenging and need encouragement to push through debugging frustration (which is actually the point, but worth knowing)

Conversation Starters

"What game or story are you working on right now? Can you show me how the code makes it work?"
"What was the trickiest bug you had to fix today? How did you figure it out?"
"If you could add any feature to your game, what would it be? Do you think you could code that?"
"Have you played any games made by other kids? What made them cool or interesting?"

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