Code, Create, Connect: 5 Scratch Activities to Bring You into Your Child’s Online World
Between work, meals, school, and carpools, it can feel impossible to squeeze in “extra” time to play and connect with kids. But those small, shared moments matter — especially as kids get older and start to carve out their own worlds online.
If your child loves Scratch, you already have a window into what makes their imagination tick. The best part? You don’t need to know a single line of code to explore Scratch together. Here are five simple ways to connect with your child through Scratch — and maybe pick up a few coding tricks yourself along the way.
1. Ask for a Tour of Their Scratch Projects
Kids love to be the experts, and on Scratch, they are! Ask your child to give you a quick tour of their projects. You might ask:
- Which project are you most proud of? Why?
- What inspired you to create this project? Where do you get your ideas?
- Can you tell me about this character?
- What did you like about creating this project? What was fun about creating it? What challenges came up?
They’ll love showing off what they’ve built, and you’ll get a sneak peek into what topics, styles, and stories inspire them.
2. Remix a Project Together
Together, find a project that has been shared in the Scratch community and hit the “Remix” button. This lets you make your own version of it. You might try changing:
- The colors or costumes of a sprite
- The background music or setting
- The dialogue or ending
This activity lets your child lead creatively while you jump in as their creative partner. It’s also a great way to show curiosity about their work and the Scratch platform without taking over.
3. Try the “Story Challenge”
Start a short story together — maybe about a dog who moonlights as a superhero or a ghost that is afraid of the dark. Plan it out using Scratch’s Design Journal. Then, challenge your child to bring it to life on Scratch using animations and dialogue.
You can help brainstorm a script, record sound effects, or even voice a character! If you need inspiration, get ideas from Scratch Starter Projects here under Stories. This turns coding time on Scratch into family storytime, and gives you a first row seat to how your child thinks through problems and makes creative choices.
4. Play a Scratch Game — Then Debug Together
Let your child show you one of their favorite games on Scratch or one they have made. Play it together and if something doesn’t work, ask:
- Why do you think that happened?
- How could we fix it?
This introduces you to debugging, a fancy term for problem-solving. You’ll both see how coding helps kids practice persistence, creativity, and flexible thinking — skills that stretch far beyond the screen. Remind them that it’s okay to not have all of the answers! Finding things that don’t work will lead to new discoveries.
Everything working perfectly on that game? Ask about what features they would add or change (a time limit? a health meter? difficulty levels?) and remix to try out changes. Debugging opportunities will most certainly arise.
Learn more about debugging here!
5. Set Up a Family Coding Challenge
Kids might groan when you say it’s time for a “family fun night,” but incorporating Scratch just might be your ticket to together time. Try creating Scratch challenges grown-ups and kids will enjoy:
- Who can make a sprite dance in the funniest way?
- Who can code a joke that makes everyone laugh?
- Who can design the best digital birthday card for dad?
You can level up these challenges as kids become more advanced in their use of Scratch. Check out our Creative Learning Guide for Families here to find more tips about ways to use Scratch to ignite your child’s imagination.
Final Thoughts
Finding something you and your child share in common can get challenging as they get older and their interests change. Know that you don’t have to spend hours coding together to make a difference; even ten minutes of shared curiosity can spark a meaningful connection. When you explore Scratch alongside your child, you’re learning about who they are, how they think, and what makes them light up. And when they see you taking an interest in their interests — well, you’re just scratching the surface of what they’ll want to share with you next.