Best Apps for Kids Aged 3-7 to Develop Pre-Coding and Early Coding Skills
Early Childhood Education
Apr 4, 2025
Explore engaging apps that teach coding and math skills to children aged 3-7 through interactive games and puzzles.
Want your child to start coding early? Apps like Funexpected Math, Thinkrolls, Kodable, and Tynker Junior make it easy and fun for kids aged 3–7 to learn coding basics while improving math and problem-solving skills. These apps use interactive games, puzzles, and stories to teach patterns, sequencing, logic, and algorithms in a way that’s simple to understand.
Quick Overview:
Funexpected Math: Combines math and coding with 10,000+ tasks and adaptive learning.
Thinkrolls: Physics-based puzzles for logic and problem-solving.
Kodable: Game-based coding with guided learning paths and JavaScript basics.
Tynker Junior: Picture-based coding for pre-readers with interactive adventures.
Each app is designed to match the learning pace of young children, offering engaging activities that build essential skills in just 15 minutes a day. Keep reading to find the best fit for your child!
1. Funexpected Math
Funexpected Math combines early coding lessons with fundamental math and logic skills, creating an engaging learning experience for children aged 3–7. The app’s curriculum introduces coding concepts through playful, age-appropriate activities, blending learning and fun seamlessly.
The early coding curriculum helps children explore basic algorithmic ideas like simple programs, conditional operators, and flowcharts. It’s designed to grow with kids, offering tailored challenges for different age groups:
Age Group | Learning Focus | Skills Developed |
|---|---|---|
Ages 3–4 | Play & Experiment | Basic number sense, spatial awareness |
Ages 4–5 | Interact & Learn | Simple algorithms, pattern recognition |
Ages 5–6 | Build & Extend | Conditional logic, sequential thinking |
Ages 6–7 | Practice & Apply | Problem-solving, flowchart basics, visual coding |
A digital tutor customizes lessons based on individual progress, ensuring each child gets a learning experience suited to their needs. With over 10,000 tasks spread across 675 lessons, kids can practice concepts through interactive and hands-on activities. This thoughtful design blends gameplay with structured learning, making Funexpected Math a standout choice.
Parents and educators praise its impact. A parent from Big Tech shared:
"I have a math background myself and I wanted to find an app with a wide curriculum. Smth about logic and geometry, not just counting. And this one was the perfect choice. I see how my daugther starts to understand even complex concepts." – Jon Favertt969[1]
The app fosters a calm, supportive environment, encouraging children to explore math, logic and coding without pressure. Its quality has been recognized with multiple international awards (like the EdTech Breakthrough Award for Best Math Learning Solution) and a spot on the American Library Association's Notable Media List.
Funexpected Math is available in 16 languages, completely ad-free, and offers short, manageable sessions to keep kids focused while building their skills. It offers several subscription options, including $10.99/month and $64.99/year.
The app keeps things fresh by regularly adding new content. For example, the recent Hanami Math Adventure (launched in March 2025) introduces seasonal, themed challenges inspired by cultural events.
Funexpected’s AI-driven tutor adjusts to a child’s learning pace, helping them develop early coding skills and strengthen their mathematical thinking [2][3].
2. Thinkrolls
Thinkrolls introduces coding concepts through fun, physics-based puzzles and interactive challenges involving algorithms. Designed for kids aged 3–7, the app offers over 2,000 activities and two difficulty levels to suit different skill sets:
Age Group | Mode | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
Ages 3–5 | Easy Mode | Basic logic, spatial awareness, simple problem-solving |
Ages 5–7 | Hard Mode | Advanced puzzles, critical thinking, sequential reasoning |
What sets Thinkrolls apart is how it simplifies algorithms using everyday objects and scenarios. For instance, kids navigate mazes with items like cookies and ice blocks, encouraging forward planning and problem-solving [5].
The app’s Version 5.0, launched on March 26, 2025, introduced Thinkrolls Art Studio and 75 new community puzzles, showing a commitment to regular updates.
Parents and educators have seen positive outcomes. One teacher shared:
"Thinkrolls teaches both patience and problem-solving skills in a very fun, cute and engaging way." – Jason G., Teacher [5]
Parents.com also praised the app, noting:
"Your child won't realize they are basically in physics class" [4]
The app’s drag-and-drop interface allows kids to create and code their own puzzles without needing prior reading or coding experience. They can safely share their games within a moderated community, boosting collaboration and creativity.
With 207 puzzles updated monthly, Thinkrolls provides an engaging way to build early coding skills. It offers two subscription options, including $9.99/month and $69.99/year.
Next, we’ll dive into another top app for early coding education.
3. Kodable
Kodable introduces coding to children aged 3–7 through its Kid Optimized Developer Environment (KODE) and an engaging, game-based platform filled with vibrant, interactive worlds. Kids can design and test their own games, while parents monitor their progress in real time. Combining structured lessons with creative play, Kodable is a good choice for introducing young learners to coding.
The platform provides tailored learning paths:
Ages 3–5: Focus on basic sequences, recognizing patterns, and solving problems.
Ages 5–7: Includes game design, introductory JavaScript, and hands-on coding activities.
All Ages: Offers guided tutorials and tools for tracking progress.
Kodable's step-by-step approach helps kids move from simple ideas to more advanced programming concepts. "FuzzBuzz the handy fuzz fairy" offers hints along the way, making learning fun and approachable [7]. Over 50% of U.S. schools use Kodable, and students in the Pro program are 12 times more likely to master beginner coding skills [6].
A parent from Bellevue, WA shared her experience:
"My daughter has been coding for 2 years and loves it. After attending STEM night, her interest soared!" – Bree H. [6]
Kodable offers three subscription options: Monthly Pro for $24.99, Annual Pro for $99.99, and Lifetime Pro for $199.99.
4. Tynker Junior
Tynker Junior introduces kids aged 5–7 to basic coding concepts through a simple, picture-based interface. Designed for pre-readers, it uses tap-friendly interactions instead of drag-and-drop, making it easier for children with developing motor skills to engage with the app [8].
Key features of Tynker Junior include:
Picture-based coding blocks that don’t require reading
Voice-guided instructions to explain tasks without giving away answers
A gradual difficulty increase to keep kids motivated
Interactive feedback that encourages problem-solving and exploration
The app includes three adventure courses that teach key programming ideas:
Adventure | Key Concepts | Activities |
|---|---|---|
Ocean Odyssey | Sequencing, Path Finding | Help Gillie the goldfish collect coins to learn cause and effect |
Robots | Events, Parameters | Repair a robot factory and create simple games |
Wild Rumble | Counting Loops, Delays, Parameters | Guide endangered animals through a jungle path |
In addition to structured lessons, Tynker Junior offers creative spaces like the Art Studio and Music Studio. These areas let kids explore and experiment while building coding skills [11].
The app also stands out for its voice guidance system, which makes the learning process smooth and engaging. Mieke VanderBorght from Common Sense Education highlights this feature:
"Early coders will enjoy the colorful interface and variety of activities as they progress through different worlds and develop foundational programming skills." [10]
Tynker Junior’s impact is impressive. Tynker platform is used in more than 150,000 schools. The app is also affordable, costing just $4.99 per month or $49.99 annually[9].
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Transform Math Learning for Kids
Explore Funexpected's interactive math program designed for children aged 3-7. Build math fluency, logic, and problem-solving skills through engaging, hands-on activities and a personalized digital tutor.