Summer is the perfect time for kids to dive into new hobbies, and coding is one of the most exciting and rewarding skills they can explore. Whether they’re new to technology or already passionate about it, coding projects are a fantastic way to keep their minds active while allowing them to create something they can be proud of.

If you’re looking for some fun coding projects to get your child started this summer, here are 10 beginner-friendly ideas. These projects are simple, engaging, and designed to help kids learn new skills while having fun. No tech background required—just a bit of curiosity and creativity!

1. Create Your Own Game with Scratch

If your child enjoys playing video games, why not help them create their own? Scratch is an intuitive, kid-friendly programming platform that uses visual blocks to teach coding. Your child can design characters, backgrounds, and even add sound effects to build a unique game.

Best for: Ages 7 and up
What you’ll need: A computer and internet connection

Tip for parents: Let your child choose the theme for their game. It could be something simple, like a cat chasing a mouse or a bouncing ball.

2. Animate a Short Story

For kids who love storytelling or drawing comics, animating their story can be a fun project. Using Scratch or Tynker, they can create characters, backgrounds, and animation sequences to bring their stories to life.

Best for: Ages 6 and up

Tip for parents: Encourage your child to write a short story before starting the animation. It’ll help them organize the plot and think about how to visualize it.

3. Code a Simple Robot

For children who enjoy hands-on projects, coding a robot is a great mix of screen time and physical activity. Robotics kits like micro:bit or LEGO Spike allow kids to build and program simple robots that can respond to sensors like touch, sound, or light.

Best for: Ages 8 and up
What you’ll need: A beginner robotics kit (micro:bit is a good, affordable option)

Tip for parents: Let your child experiment with different movements. It’s okay if the robot doesn’t work perfectly the first time—it’s all part of the learning process.

4. Build a Quiz or Puzzle Game

If your child enjoys trivia or riddles, they’ll love creating a quiz game. Using Scratch or a basic coding language like Python, they can write their own questions and program the game to offer feedback based on the answers.

Best for: Ages 7 and up

Tip for parents: Have your child create a quiz based on their favorite topic—whether it’s dinosaurs, sports, or their favorite TV show—and invite the family to play!

5. Code a Music App

For kids interested in music, creating a soundboard or virtual instrument can be a fun project. With tools like Sonic Pi or Scratch, your child can code buttons that play different sounds, beats, or melodies.

Best for: Ages 8 and up

Tip for parents: Help your child record their own sounds or mix samples to make the project more personal and creative.

6. Build a Nightlight That Turns On Automatically

Incorporating coding into real-world projects can be incredibly rewarding. Using a micro:bit or an Arduino board, kids can create a nightlight that turns on when the room gets dark—perfect for learning about sensors and simple electronics.

Best for: Ages 10 and up
What you’ll need: Basic coding kit with sensors and LED lights

Tip for parents: Supervise closely, especially when connecting wires and power sources, to ensure everything is set up safely.

7. Design a Personal Website

Building a website is a fantastic project for older kids or preteens. They can create a homepage to share their hobbies, write a blog, or even build a fan site for their favorite book or TV show.

Best for: Ages 10 and up
What you’ll need: A free website builder like Glitch or Replit, or a text editor and browser

Tip for parents: Encourage your child to sketch out their website layout before starting to code. This helps them think about design in a more structured way.

8. Recreate a Classic Game (Like Flappy Bird)

Recreating classic games like Flappy Bird or Pong is an excellent way to teach game logic and basic physics. Kids can use Scratch, Code.org, or MakeCode to build their version of these iconic games.

Best for: Ages 8 and up

Tip for parents: Once your child gets the basics down, challenge them to customize the game—change the background, adjust the speed, or tweak the rules to make it their own.

9. Create a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Game

For kids who love reading, a choose-your-own-adventure game is an excellent way to combine storytelling and coding. Using a simple language like Python, they can create a text-based story where readers make decisions that lead to different outcomes.

Best for: Ages 11 and up

Tip for parents: Help your child outline the story using a flowchart. This will make it easier to visualize how each decision impacts the storyline.

10. Build a Summer Planner App

If your child loves to organize, they can create their own summer planner app. Using platforms like MIT App Inventor or Thunkable, kids can design a to-do list or daily schedule app, helping them stay on track while also learning basic app development.

Best for: Ages 9 and up

Tip for parents: Encourage your child to include fun tasks in their app, like “Build a fort” or “Finish reading a book,” making it more like a game than a chore.

Final Thoughts

Coding doesn’t have to be intimidating. These projects are a fun and accessible way for kids to explore technology, build problem-solving skills, and create something tangible. Whether it’s designing a game, building a robot, or coding a simple app, your child will learn valuable skills they can apply in countless ways.

Best of all, coding can be a shared experience, so take some time to explore these projects together and see what new creations you can come up with. Summer is the perfect time to spark curiosity and creativity!