A computer and some free time are enough to learn programming, at least 2 hours a week. And everything else, theory and lessons, can be found online for free. These materials will be enough to master the programming base and understand whether it is necessary to continue studying in an in-depth format with a teacher.

Today we will share proven videos, articles, and programming courses for children. 

1. Youtube channels and videos.
2. Blogs and articles. 
3. Free courses. 
4. Paid courses. 

Pixel is a children's school that actively runs a YouTube channel with free lessons on programming, 3D modeling, design, and game creation. The channel has over 58,500 subscribers, and the number of video tutorials has exceeded 709. New videos appear regularly, about 5 times a month.

Age: For children from 5 to 17 years old, because they cover all levels of training. Regardless of the child's age, he will find something interesting and useful for himself.:

• Preschoolers aged 5-6 can start with simple lessons on computer literacy and Scratch Junior.
• Children aged 6-10 will be able to create simple games and cartoons on the Scratch or Minecraft platforms.
• Teenagers (11 years and older) will have access to more advanced programming courses in Python and C#.

What can you learn on the channel?

1. Basic computer skills. Lessons that will help children learn how to use browsers, system programs, and master keyboard skills. 

2. Creating cartoons and games.

The playlists have lessons for different interests and ages of the child.:

• Scratch and Scratch Junior, where children can make their first projects: racing, quests, shooting games and mini-games.
• Roblox is a platform for schoolchildren aged 9-14 where you can create simulations, characters, and even horror games.
• Minecraft — children learn to build entire worlds and complex objects, such as rockets or skyscrapers.

3. Modeling in Blender. The playlist is for those who want to try their hand at creating 3D objects. The lessons are aimed at studying sculpting, shading, and working with animation. 

4. Programming in Python. There are more than a hundred lessons on this programming language on the channel.:

– Getting to know Python and learning how to work with variables, loops, and complex functions.

– Creation of Python games — "Who wants to become a millionaire", "Visilitsa", "Rock-paper-scissors" and others. 

– A free course on creating a discord bot from scratch. 

5. Developing games on Unity using C#. A playlist for more advanced students who are ready to delve into the world of professional development. 

Oleg Shpagin is a specialist with more than 15 years of experience in web development and system administration. He has his own channel where he shares his experience with novice programmers of all ages. The channel currently has 149,000 subscribers and over 1,100 videos. 

Who are the lessons for?

• For children and teenagers who want to try their hand at programming from scratch.
• For beginner adult programmers who want to master the creation of games and 3D projects. So parents can easily watch lessons with their child. 

What is the channel about?

1. Programming in Scratch. Lessons on creating games and cartoons in the Scratch visual environment. 
2. Server administration. Videos that explain in detail about setting up and managing servers. 
3. Creating 3D projects in Python. This course is suitable for those who are already familiar with the basics of programming and want to try their hand at 3D development.
4. Fundamentals of C# programming. Lessons for beginners who want to master C#, one of the key programming languages used to develop games and applications. 
5. Working with Unity. A series of videos dedicated to creating games using the Unity engine. The author explains how to download and install Unity, how to create characters and write scripts. 
6. Creating mobile games on 1C. Lessons that introduce the development of games for smartphones using 1C. This course will be interesting for users who want to try out non-standard platforms for creating games.
7. Working with neural networks. A fairly new direction on this channel is dedicated to working with artificial intelligence, generating images and texts. 

Loftblog is an educational platform that helps you master modern IT professions. The main directions of the school are web programming and web design. There are about 1,700 videos on these topics on the YouTube channel.

Age: for children aged 10 years and older.

What can I find out about on the YouTube channel?

1. The basics of game design. Video tutorials introduce you to the basic principles of game design, creating levels, characters, and interactions in games.
2. HTML and CSS for web development. A series of lessons on creating web pages, which explains the basic concepts of HTML layout and website styling using CSS. 
3. Working with Figma. Loftblog teaches design in a popular platform that professionals use to create layouts and interfaces.
4. Learning programming languages: Python and Java. These are the key languages for mastering both web development and programming in general.
5. Machine learning and artificial intelligence. A separate series of lessons is devoted to the basics of working with machine learning and AI technologies. These lessons are suitable for those who want to get acquainted with promising areas of IT.
6. Website parsing in C++. The channel offers lessons on parsing data from websites using the C++ language. This area is suitable for more experienced users who want to master working with large amounts of data.

There are more than 500 lessons on IT skills training available on the school's YouTube channel. 

Categories of video lessons for different ages:

• Children aged 4-6 can try their hand at creating simple games, such as Pacman in the Kodu Game Lab environment.
• Students aged 7-10 study the basics of programming and project development in Scratch.
• Teenagers from the age of 11 are even more lucky, they can study more complex topics for free, including Unity 3D, creating graphics in Photoshop and programming in Python.

The Robot League is a robotics and programming school that runs a YouTube channel with almost 9,000 subscribers. 

Age: The channel offers lessons suitable for children from 7 to 10 years old. 

What can you learn from watching videos? 

Kodu Game Lab is a visual programming constructor through which children can create their own 3D games. 

This mini-course will teach you how to create a virtual world and characters who live by the rules you set. In the learning process, children will master visual programming skills on Kodu, learn what algorithms and logical operations are. 

Age: from 6 to 9 years old.

Duration: 1 hour.

Lesson program

1. Creating a game character and supporting characters. 
2. Game world development. 
3. Creating movement paths. 
4. Working with scoring and timers. 
5. Creating conditions for the end of the game. 
6. Mastering multithreaded code using a page. 
7. Getting to know child and parent objects. 

Link to the course.

The course is about the basics of game development and programming on one of the popular engines. Teaches you how to design and create 2D games, learning the basics of C# programming.

Age: For children over 10 years old. 

Duration: 1 hour. 

Lesson program:

1. An introduction to game development and introduction to Unity.
2. Creating a game interface and working with panels. 
3. Working with animation. 
4. Setting the timer. 
5. Mastering the character's actions. 

The link to the lesson.

Another visual programming environment, only now for 2D games. With this lesson, children will develop their creative abilities, create games and interactive animations.

Age: 6-8 years old. 

Duration: 1 hour.

Course program:

1. How do I create a project? 
2. How can I customize the appearance and actions of sprites?
3. How to work with coordinates and movement? 
4. How do I adjust the sound in games? 
5. What are cycles, conditions, variables, and sensors? 
6. What are clones and events, and how to work with them? 

The link to the lesson.

The Homing platform from the YesCoding IT School offers free online programming courses for schoolchildren. The courses are aimed at familiarizing with the basic principles of coding and are built in the format of video tutorials and tests.

Age: There is no age restriction, the course is suitable for all novice programmers. 

Course content

5 lessons, after which you can evaluate your interests and abilities in programming. It is assumed that during this short course the child will be able to:

• Develop logical and analytical thinking.
• Improve your problem solving skills.
• Learn how to make informed decisions, which will be useful not only in IT, but also in other areas of life.

Additional benefits

• Mentor support: Children can receive help and recommendations during their studies.
• Motivation by results: Each module ends with tasks that allow you to see your personal progress.

The children's school has created a free introductory course on game programming. The main purpose of the course is to introduce children to various platforms for creating games and help them choose the most interesting direction for further in—depth study.

Duration: 10 lessons of 30 minutes each.

Age: For children from 4 years old with different levels of training.

Course program

• Kodu Game Lab is for children 4-6 years old. The lessons explain the basics of creating three-dimensional games, including how to make your own version of Pacman.
• Scratch is suitable for children aged 7-10 who want to start developing their first game projects.
• Python and Unity3D are designed for teenagers who have already mastered the basic tools and are ready to learn more complex technologies.

During the training, children will learn:

• Create various games such as Fruit Collector, Among Us, simple shooting games and 2D projects.
• Work with graphics in Photoshop and try to create projects using Minecraft tools.

Link to the lesson: https://free.coddyschool.com/. 

Blog topics: Game development, website creation, 3D modeling, graphic design, computer literacy.

Link to the blog: blog.pixel.study

What are they writing about? 

The articles provide reviews and attach tutorials on popular programming languages such as Python and JavaScript, as well as web development tools such as HTML and CSS.

The main directions of the blog:

• Game development: projects on Roblox, Scratch, creation of worlds in Minecraft, development of games on Unity.
• Creating Websites: Steps to create simple websites from scratch.
• Graphic design: publications about working with Figma, initial web design lessons.
• 3D modeling: articles about the first steps in designing three-dimensional objects, creating castles and rockets.
• Computer literacy: materials for the younger age group, including the use of e-mail, creating presentations and mastering interfaces.

In the free resources section you can find:

• Step-by-step guides for creating games and websites.
• Instructions for building objects in Roblox, for example, a bridge made of glass.
• Workshops on creating bots for Discord using Python.

Blog topics: Talks about programming for children and teenagers, publishes collections of lessons, clubs, and online simulators.  

For residents of Moscow and the Moscow region, the channel will be most useful, because the blog has separate sections with recommendations from robotics schools, programming schools, and children's camps in the region. 

Link to the blog: https://dzen.ru/itdlyadetej 

What to read on the channel?

1. TOP 50 computer courses for children.
2. 25 graphic design courses for children and teenagers. 
3. Top 15 Adobe Illustrator courses for kids.
4. Programming in Minecraft.
5. 3D modeling for children: TOP 25 courses.

Blog topics: Choosing a university and IT specialization, creating games, robotics, educational games, thematic Olympiads, programming languages, preparing for the Unified State Exam in computer science, resources for novice coders.

Link to the blog: informatics.ru/blog

What do they write about in the blog?

1. The choice of educational directions and universities. The articles examine various IT specialties, give advice on choosing universities, and describe career prospects in the field of information technology.
2. Game creation and robotics. Game development topics are covered, including the use of popular platforms such as Minecraft, as well as the basics of robotics for children interested in the practical application of programming.
3. Preparation for Olympiads and the Unified State Exam. Useful materials with tips and resources for computer science training are published for students participating in Olympiads or preparing for exams.
4. Interdisciplinary approaches. Some articles are devoted to the use of IT in various fields, for example, in music or art, in order to broaden the horizons of a child. 
5. Development of soft skills. This includes developing self-confidence, countering bullying, and the influence of external factors on a child's learning, such as daylight.

Blog topics: Tips for novice coders, programming facts, network security, data visualization and analysis, design, innovation.

Link to the blog: progkids.com/blog

What are they writing about?

The blog covers a range of topics aimed at students interested in programming and technology. Among the main directions:

1. Tips for beginners. The authors offer detailed instructions on the initial stages of working with the code, including creating projects in Scratch and installing mods in Minecraft.
2. Ethics and data protection. Special attention is paid to network security, personal information protection, and ethical aspects of programming.
3. The life of developers and the IT industry. The publications contain interesting facts about the lives of programmers, their unique abilities and achievements, as well as tell about significant figures in the IT world.
4. Data analysis and innovation.The articles explain the basics of data visualization and analysis, highlight innovative developments and methods of teaching programming.

In addition to programming, the blog offers materials about non-standard hobbies, such as drawing fantastic creatures, conducting meteorological observations, introducing game elements into training and other processes.

Blog topics: Tutorials, innovation news, neural networks, programming languages, course ratings, application reviews.

Link to the blog: ycla-coding.com/blog

What should I read about?

1. Programming and web development. The blog actively publishes articles on creating websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Special attention is paid to the choice of tools for novice developers, with detailed reviews of programming languages such as Python and C++.
2. Game creation and game design. The blog materials include guides for creating the first game projects on Scratch and Unity, as well as tips for novice game designers.
3. Technologies and neural networks. The publications cover modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and neural networks.
4. Cybersecurity. The articles discuss topics related to data protection, including fraud methods such as phishing and ways to protect yourself online.
5. Reviews of courses and applications. On the blog, you can find ratings of programming courses and reviews of useful applications that will help you learn and develop coding skills.

Age: From 5 to 17 years old. 

Training formats

1. Online classes in mini-groups (up to 6 people). Lessons are held via video link, students work with the teacher in real time.
2. Video tutorials. Available for self-study at any convenient time.
3. Face-to-face classes. They are held in Moscow and the Moscow region, a list of branches can be found on the website.

Courses and directions

Educational programs cover key IT skills for children of different ages:

• Basics of programming (Scratch, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Creating games in Roblox Studio and Minecraft
• 3D modeling and development of virtual worlds
• Design: graphic and web
• Introduction to Robotics
• Working with tables and presentations
• Mastering blind typing on the keyboard

Winter and summer camps

Weekly online intensive courses are held during the holidays. The camp is organized in such a way that children participate in two classes daily and complete tasks in a playful way. The groups are formed by age: the youngest is 8-12 years old, the oldest is 10-15 years old.

Tuition fees

The price of one online class lasting 1.5 hours is 1,000 rubles. A subscription for 4 lessons costs 4,000 rubles. If you pay for 12 classes, you get a 10% discount, and if you buy 36 classes, you get a 20% discount, so a lesson can cost 850 rubles. There is also a preferential system for large families and children with disabilities.

The result of the training

A completed project and a certificate of completion of the course. The school has a state educational license to teach. 

Age: From 6 to 17 years old.

Courses and directions

The school offers courses exclusively in programming and related IT areas. They teach here:

• Programming in Scratch and Python
• Game development in Roblox and Unity
• Web development in HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Design: Web and graphic
• 3D modeling and animation

There are no additional school subjects in the program, the entire learning process is focused on IT skills.

Class format

There are two training options available:

• Group classes are held once a week.
• Individual classes are conducted according to a separate schedule.All lessons are online, so you can study from any city.

Popular courses

• Games on Scratch, Roblox and Unity. Children learn how to create interactive applications and design game worlds (for students from 8 years old).
• The design of digital worlds. The course covers the basics of illustration, animation and 3D design.
• JavaScript from scratch. A training program for web programming and the creation of interactive web elements.
• Python and Python PRO. The courses are designed for beginners and those who continue to study programming (from the age of 13).
• Unity for beginners. A course for children over the age of 13 that covers the basics of game development in one of the leading game engines.

Tuition fees

The price starts from 30,000 rubles for the full course.

The result of the training

After completing the course, the children defend their graduation project.

Age: Grades 1-11. 

The programs at the Kodemika school are designed for long-term study. It is important for parents to assess in advance how ready the child is to engage in programming within 12 months. Classes are held twice a week in the format of virtual classes.

Areas of study

• Programming: Scratch, Python, Java.
• Game development: Unity, Scratch, Python.
• Web development: creating websites in HTML and CSS.
• Web design: working with Photoshop and Figma graphic editors.
• 3D modeling: basics of working in Blender.

Tuition fees

The price of the annual course depends on the level of difficulty and age group.:

• Tuition for younger students starts from 48,500 rubles per year.
• For senior classes — up to 57,500 rubles. You can also pay for tuition on a monthly basis — from 6,900 rubles per month.

The result of the training

At the end of the program, students defend their projects and receive a certificate of the established standard. 

Age of students: From 6 to 18 years old.

Areas of study

Algorithmics offers a wide range of courses that cover key IT skills and creative disciplines.:

• Scratch: learning the basics of programming through creating animations and games (from the age of 6).
• Roblox: creating games and 3D worlds (since the age of 8).
• Web development: learning how to create websites in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Mathematics: courses aimed at developing logical thinking and analytical skills.
• Game design: designing game worlds and developing game concepts.
• Video blogging: the basics of creating video content and promoting channels.
• Artificial intelligence: an introduction to machine learning and neural networks.

Class format

Classes are held online. Students receive round-the-clock access to educational materials, which allows them to study the course at their convenience.

The cost of courses

The tuition fee is about 4,000 rubles per month.

Age: From 4 to 17 years old.

Areas of study

Skysmart offers not only programming courses, but also a wide range of disciplines covering both school subjects and additional skills.:

• Programming: Scratch, Python, creating games in Roblox and Minecraft.
• Web design and graphic design: The basics of working with tools like Figma.
• School subjects: Mathematics, Russian and English.
• Preparation for the Unified State Exam and OGE: Intensive courses for high school students.
• Preparation for school: For children aged 4-7 years, courses on the development of basic skills.
• Chess: The development of logical thinking through the game.

Class format

The training takes place online. Two options are available:

• Private lessons — one-on-one with a teacher.
• Group classes are small groups for joint learning.

Tuition fees

Prices start from 7,100 rubles per month. Various installment packages are available.

In order to master programming as quickly as possible, we recommend taking lessons in a comprehensive manner. The ideal sequence for productive learning of programming languages:

1. There are several modules of online courses where the teacher will guide you by the pen in the shortest possible way and help you understand the entire programming base. If something happens, you can always ask questions. 
2. Self-study using tutorials, simulators, video tutorials on blogs of programming schools and experts in the IT industry. Ideally— you should devote at least two hours a week to classes.
3. Monitoring of news in blogs of programming schools. They often invite you to free marathons and mini-courses that will help you master additional areas of programming or design. 

We wish you a successful and exciting learning experience!