Learning programming from childhood is the easiest way to start with lessons in Scratch. This programming language does not require knowledge of the code, knowledge of algorithms and functions at a high level. 

All you need is to learn how to work in a special platform with visual blocks. It's very easy. The blocks are multi-colored rectangles that need to be arranged in the right order, depending on the purpose of your project. Each color is responsible for a specific command. 

The blue blocks are needed to create commands related to movement and rotation. 

The purple blocks are responsible for changing the costumes and replicas of the characters. 

The yellow blocks are responsible for performing actions.

Pink blocks are for sound effects and music. 

Etc. Scratch also has green, orange, and blue blocks, which are used in games and animations to create cycles and conditions, perform mathematical operations, and create a connection between the platform and the keyboard and mouse. 

If all these descriptions seem complicated to you so far, the questions will disappear if you try to create at least one simple Scratch game.

We have collected 13 lessons in which you or your child can create an exciting game and learn programming techniques. 

Are you ready to embark on an adventure with a small but ambitious hamster? In this game, each of your clicks brings the hero closer to a new standard of living. We start with an ordinary fluffy hamster, which needs to be upgraded and its clothes and standard of living improved. 

The rules of the game

1. At the start, each click earns the player only 1 point, which can be used to upgrade the hero.

2. When you score 10 points, the hamster gets the opportunity to change its image and move on to the next level, where 2 points are awarded per click.

3. The more you click, the more stylish the hamster becomes.

Why is it worth a try? The game is very easy to develop and is perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics of working with sprites, changing costumes and basic conditions. In addition, you can add music and visual effects during the process. 

In Scratch, you can create a classic racing game that can be played together.

How does the game work?

1. At the first stage, a track is created: you can choose a standard track or add original elements such as sand, puddles or even rocks that will slow down movement.

2. Then two cars are created, for which control with different keys is programmed.

3. The winner is the one who crosses the finish line first.

What is the benefit?

This project teaches you how to work with coordinates, object management, and victory conditions. You can also add various bonuses such as boosters or repair points, which will make the race more dynamic.

The game is perfect for friends or siblings who like to compete with each other.

Tip: If you want to boost the competitive spirit, add a timer that will show how many seconds it takes for players to complete the track.

Fantasy stories never go out of fashion, and you can create your own fairy tale in Scratch. In this game, you will become a hero who goes to rescue a princess who got lost in a gloomy forest. But not everything is so simple — traps, magical creatures and unexpected obstacles await you along the way.

How do I create a game?

1. Characters. At the start, create sprites for the main character (for example, a knight), a princess, as well as minor characters — a magician, a local resident, and enemies.
2. Locations. Work through the forest, add trees, rocks and clearings. You can create several levels where there will be different types of obstacles: boulders, magical barriers or hidden pits.
3. Dialogues. Set up simple dialogues between the characters to add a story element. For example, a magician can give a hint on how to proceed, and a local resident can offer to exchange resources for bonuses.
4. Tasks. To complicate the game, you can add collecting items: the hero must find three keys to open the gate and get to the princess.

How is the project useful?

This game teaches you how to work with sprites, costumes, the interaction of objects and conditions. The development of such a quest will especially appeal to children with creative abilities, because they can come up with their own plot and unusual mechanics.

Tip: To add more excitement to the game, you can create a system of lives or a timer that limits the time to complete the level.

For fans of sea adventures, Scratch offers the opportunity to create a classic Sea Battle game. But here everything is much more interesting, because you can customize all the elements yourself: from ships to shells.

Game Features

1. Players create their own flotillas, program the launch of projectiles and determine the rules for hitting targets.

2. Difficulty levels can be adjusted: more ships, less time to make decisions and strengthen the enemy.

3. The development process helps to master the concept of cycles, conditions and interaction of objects.

The game is suitable for young strategists and those who like logic puzzles.

Do you remember the legendary Flappy Bird game? You can create your own version of this Scratch game. Control the bird, maneuver between obstacles and try to fly as far as possible.

What makes the game useful?

1. Developing Flappy Bird in Scratch helps you understand the basics of working with physics and gravity.

2. You can add your own difficulty levels by changing the distance between obstacles.

3. Suitable for all ages starting from 7 years old.

In this game you have to become a ghost hunter. In a certain amount of time, you need to catch as many ghosts as possible that appear in different parts of the night city.

What makes the game interesting?

1. Programmers will have to create sprites for ghosts, set up their random appearance and prescribe scoring rules.

2. Time is limited, so you need to catch the maximum number of ghosts in the allotted seconds.

3. You can add bonus items: catch a rare ghost and get extra points.

The game is great for the youngest programmers who are just starting to get familiar with creating dynamic objects.

Your goal is to tap on a delicious slice of pizza to earn points. The more clicks, the faster your "pizzeria" grows.

What makes the game interesting?

1. For accumulated points, you can buy automatic upgrades. For example, a robot cook who collects points by himself while you rest.

2. The game is suitable for children from 7 years old, as it develops thinking and teaches planning: what to spend points on, how to increase your "income" faster.

3. Suitable for those who want to understand how loops and basic programming conditions work.

Warning: This game can only be played on the official Scratch platform. 

Do you like fiction? Then this game is what you need. You control a rocket that must fly as high as possible. At first it will be quite difficult — there is not enough fuel, and the rocket is not very powerful. But the more you fly, the more currency you earn, and with it you can already buy improvements to your flying object. 

How is the game useful?

It teaches resource management, long-term planning, and demonstrates how to gradually upgrade your project.

Imagine: You are a chef, but instead of cooking delicious dishes, you save your food from knives falling from the ceiling. In this game, you need to move objects around the table so that they are not cut into salad ahead of time.

Why is it worth a try?

1. A great project for those who want to train reaction and coordination of movements.

2. The game evolves gradually, adding elements of surprise, such as a "super knife" that aims directly at your product.

3. Recommended for children 8 years and older, as it requires quick reactions and patience.

If you have always dreamed of feeling like a commander, then this project is created for you. You build your own army from a variety of sprites: knights, archers, mages, zombies — the choice is limited only by your imagination.

How to play?

1. Assemble an army, choose a starting position and start the battle.

2. The winner is the one who better allocates resources and competently positions the fighters.

3. Suitable for children from 10 years old, as it requires strategic thinking.

A game based on popular mechanics from Minecraft and Google Chrome Dino. Your task is to run forward, jump over obstacles and score points.

Features

1. One of the main differences of the game is the need for accurate calculation of jumps.

2. There is a global ranking that motivates players to beat other people's records.

3. Ideal for children from 8 years old, as it develops attentiveness and reaction speed.

In this game, the main character is the famous Scratch cat. The task is to collect all the coins and stay alive, despite the treacherous platforms and the constantly moving map.

What is interesting about the game?

1. Each platform is not just a surface, but a piece of code. Players can explore the software blocks that make up the game on the go.

2. The difficulty level increases as you progress. The card goes up, and if you don't make it, the game is over.

3. You can add your own elements: musical instruments, vegetables or any other objects that the characters will collect.

4. Recommended for children who are already familiar with the basics of Scratch and want to create something unusual.

Swingers resembles Flappy Bird, but with an important difference: here your character "swings" on a rope like a little Spider-Man. You need to calculate the exact moment to catch on the blocks and not fall.

Why is it worth a try?

1. The game seems simple, but already at the first level it becomes clear that it will not be so easy to go further.

2. It develops coordination of movements, reaction speed and patience.

3. Control is performed using the mouse or the space bar.

4. Suitable for players who like challenging challenges.

You can start creating games from this list in any order. Beginners will be able to do all of them, while more advanced students will be able to add their own elements and create more complex animations. 

All these projects will help children develop logic, creativity, and visual coding skills. Don't be afraid to experiment, add your own elements and create unique worlds.