App & tool guide · Made for kids
ScratchJr
ParentMode's take
6+ with parent co-use; 8+ independently
ScratchJr is a block-based visual programming tool designed to teach logic and creativity through hands-on coding play. It requires reading fluency and sustained focus but contains no chat, social features, or generative AI—limiting exposure to typical digital risks.
On the App Store
- Apple age rating
- 4+
- Developer
- Scratch Foundation, Inc.
- Category
- Education
- Average rating
- 3.9 ★
- Last updated
- 2023-11-28
Source: Apple App Store, retrieved 2026-07-10. View the current listing →
What a parent can do
Data & privacy
Check the app's privacy label in the App Store; ScratchJr is developed by a non-profit focused on education, but parents should review what account data (if any) is collected during project creation or sharing.
Controls
Use device-level parental controls (Screen Time on iOS, Family Link on Android) to manage time spent and restrict in-app purchases or account sign-ups if enabled.
A cautious next step
This app is already among the safer creative-coding options; pairing it with offline coding toys (e.g., tangible block-based systems) offers screen-free alternatives.
The age rating, developer, and advisories above are Apple App Store facts. The guidance is ParentMode's own protective, conservative editorial — general parenting guidance, not clinical, legal, or diagnostic advice, and not an endorsement or a warning from Apple or Scratch Foundation, Inc.. Apps change; always check the current listing.