Australia · Ages 7 and 8 · Live online

Coding classes for 7 and 8 year olds

Seven and eight is often the age when coding clicks. Children of this age read well enough to follow block labels, control a mouse with real precision and, most importantly, have opinions about what they want to make: a story where their dog is the hero, a game where the floor is lava, a quiz for their little brother. That combination of skill and ambition makes this a wonderful age to start properly. This page explains what a seven or eight year old can realistically build, works through the single idea that most changes how they code (the loop), shows how it lines up with Years 2 to 4 of the Australian Curriculum, and describes our live online lessons for this age group.

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In short

Coding classes for 7 and 8 year olds usually teach Scratch, a free visual language where children snap blocks together to make animated stories, simple games and quizzes. The key idea at this age is the loop: telling the computer to repeat steps instead of copying them out. It matches the Australian Curriculum, where children in Years 3 and 4 learn to "follow and describe algorithms involving sequencing, comparison operators (branching) and iteration".

Start here

Three good first courses at seven and eight

All three are built around projects a seven or eight year old can finish and show off.

Scratch Coding for Kids course thumbnail

KSEV / 01

Scratch Coding for Kids

The core course at this age: stories, games and animations, from complete beginner upwards.

Open the syllabus →
Minecraft Coding for Kids course thumbnail

KSEV / 02

Minecraft Coding for Kids

For children who already spend weekends in Minecraft and want to change how it works.

Open the syllabus →
Problem Solving and Computational Thinking for Kids course thumbnail

KSEV / 03

Problem Solving for Kids

For puzzle-lovers who like finding the rule behind a pattern before they code it.

Open the syllabus →

This stage

What seven and eight year olds can build

The jump from six to eight is large. Most seven year olds still need a teacher close by; most eight year olds start to plan their own projects and fix their own mistakes.

Coding at seven and at eight (our teaching experience)
Typical seven year oldTypical eight year old
ReadingReads block labels and short instructionsReads and writes short messages for characters
PlanningBuilds step by step with guidanceSketches an idea first, then builds it
DebuggingNotices something is wrongFinds which block is wrong and fixes it
ProjectsAn animated story with two charactersA simple game with a score and a way to win
New ideasSequence, events and the first loopLoops, simple decisions and a first variable

Why stories come first

A story with characters who talk in turn teaches sequence and timing beautifully, and children of this age care about stories. If the dragon speaks before the knight finishes, the child sees the bug instantly because the story is wrong.

Stories also make room for every kind of child: the one who loves drawing, the one who loves jokes and the one who loves dragons.

Then games

Games add the idea of rules: what happens when the player touches the coin, what happens when time runs out. Rules mean decisions, and decisions are the next big idea after loops.

By eight, many children are designing games for their friends and family to play, and that audience motivates them like nothing else.

Most seven and eight year olds in Australia are in Year 2 or Year 3, though starting ages differ a little by state. If your child has never coded at all, our page for 5 and 6 year olds has an unplugged game that makes a good warm-up.

A worked example

The first loop: how much does repeat save?

This is the lesson that most changes how a seven or eight year old codes. The task: make a Scratch cat walk around the outline of a shape and finish where it started.

To walk around a square, the cat needs to move forward and turn a quarter turn, four times. Without a loop, that is eight blocks: move 100 steps, turn 90 degrees, move 100 steps, turn 90 degrees, and so on. With Scratch's repeat block, it is three: one repeat 4 with the move and the turn inside it. Children then try other shapes, and a pattern appears that we ask them to explain. We call this exercise loop compression: measuring how much shorter the repeat makes a program.

Walking the outline of a shape in Scratch (our worked example, checked in Python)
ShapeSidesTurn each timeBlocks without a loopBlocks with repeatBlocks saved
Triangle3120 degrees633
Square490 degrees835
Pentagon572 degrees1037
Hexagon660 degrees1239
Decagon1036 degrees20317

Two patterns hide in the table

Without a loop, the number of blocks is always twice the number of sides. With a loop, it is always three, however many sides the shape has. So the loop saves more and more as shapes get bigger: two times the sides, take away three.

The turn is always a full turn, 360 degrees, shared equally between the sides. Eight year olds who discover this for themselves are using division without being told to.

Why the saving matters

Fewer blocks means fewer places for a mistake to hide. If a child wants to change the size of the decagon, they change one number inside the loop instead of ten numbers outside it.

That is the real reason programmers love loops, and seven and eight year olds can feel it with their own hands: changing one block is quicker than changing ten.

Predict first

Before running, the child guesses: will the cat end up back where it started? Then they run it and see.

Break it on purpose

What happens if the turn is 80 instead of 90? The square does not close, and the child sees why the angle matters.

Invent a shape

Children choose their own number of sides and work out the turn. Some try a star and are delighted when it works.

The Australian Curriculum

How this matches Years 2 to 4 at school

Seven and eight year olds sit at the meeting point of two bands of the Australian Curriculum v9: the end of Years 1 and 2, and the start of Years 3 and 4.

Digital Technologies expectations around ages 7 and 8, Australian Curriculum v9 (quoted)
Band or pointThe curriculum's wording
Years 1 and 2 (AC9TDI2P02)repeating steps, for example "practise spelling a word 5 times or throw and catch a ball with a partner 10 times"
By the end of Year 2students "follow and describe basic algorithms involving a sequence of steps and branching"
Years 3 and 4 (AC9TDI4P02)"follow and describe algorithms involving sequencing, comparison operators (branching) and iteration"
By the end of Year 4students "follow and describe simple algorithms involving branching and iteration and implement them as visual programs"

Iteration is the curriculum's word for loops

Where we say "loop" or "repeat", ACARA says iteration. The Years 1 and 2 example of a ball thrown and caught ten times is exactly a loop: one action, a fixed number of times.

By Years 3 and 4, children are expected to build iteration into visual programs, which is what the shape-walking lesson does.

Passwords at eight

The same Years 3 and 4 band (AC9TDI4P08) expects children to "access their school account using a memorised password and explain why it should be easy to remember, but hard for others to guess".

We reinforce that habit in lessons: children never share passwords with classmates, and parents set up any accounts.

ACARA wording verified on 7 October 2026 in its F-6 Digital Technologies file (a Word download). Block names are from the Scratch Foundation's scratch-blocks repository.

Projects

Projects seven and eight year olds finish in a term

Each project is small enough to finish in a few lessons and teaches one new idea properly.

Starter projects for ages 7 and 8
ProjectWhat the child makesThe idea it teaches
Talking petsTwo animals have a conversation, taking turnsSequence and timing
Shape walkerA cat walks the outline of any shapeLoops and angles
Dance partyCharacters repeat dance moves to musicLoops inside loops
Catch the appleApples fall and the player catches themMovement and touching
Animal quizQuestions with right and wrong answersDecisions and a score

Their idea, our structure

The teacher sets the idea to learn; the child chooses the characters and story. That keeps the project theirs.

Shown at home

Finished Scratch projects can be played on any computer at home, which is a lovely moment for grandparents.

Ideas between lessons

Children who want more can try our list of Scratch project ideas, sorted by difficulty.

Coding and maths

The maths that coding quietly practises at this age

Parents are often surprised how much primary maths turns up in a Scratch lesson, practised for a reason rather than for a worksheet.

Number and measurement

Angles, multiplication and division appear the moment a child walks a shape. Moving a character 10 steps at a time across the screen is skip counting with a purpose.

Scores in games are addition, timers count down, and "how many lives are left?" is subtraction children actually care about.

Patterns and logic

Loops are patterns made precise. Decisions ("if the cat touches the apple, add one to the score") are logic that children reason about aloud.

For children who love the maths side, our course on Maths Through Coding takes this further from age ten.

Stages

Four stages for seven and eight year olds

With weekly lessons, most children of this age reach the third stage in two to three terms.

Coding stages at ages 7 and 8
StageWhat your child can do
1. SequencesMakes characters move and talk in the right order when the green flag is clicked
2. LoopsUses repeat instead of copying blocks, and explains how many blocks it saved
3. DecisionsMakes a game react: if the player touches something, something happens
4. Own designPlans a small game on paper, builds it and fixes it with little help

What if my child gets frustrated?

Frustration usually means the project is one step too big. Teachers split it into smaller wins, and every lesson ends with something that works.

Seven and eight year olds also learn a great deal from watching a teacher make a mistake and fix it calmly, so we do that on purpose.

Around school and sport

Many families choose a weekend lesson at this age, when children are fresh. Lessons can pause over school holidays, and billing is monthly.

The day and time are agreed in the free first class.

The catalogue

Courses for ages 7 and 8

Grouped by what your child is most excited to make.

I

Stories and games

Most popular at this age

KSEV / FUN / 01

Scratch Coding for Kids

Stories, games and animations in Scratch.

Open the syllabus

KSEV / FUN / 02

Coding for Kids

Scratch first, then apps and simple games across a school year.

Open the syllabus

KSEV / FUN / 03

Minecraft Coding for Kids

Coding inside Minecraft worlds.

Open the syllabus
II

Thinking and maths

For puzzle lovers

KSEV / THINK / 01

Problem Solving for Kids

Patterns, logic and algorithms.

Open the syllabus

KSEV / THINK / 02

Mental Maths for Kids

Fast, confident calculation.

Open the syllabus

KSEV / THINK / 03

Microsoft Office for Kids

Typing, documents and slides with confidence.

Open the syllabus
III

Coming next

From about 8 or 9

KSEV / NEXT / 01

Game Development for Kids

Bigger games in Scratch, Roblox and Minecraft.

Open the syllabus

KSEV / NEXT / 02

App Making for Kids

Real phone apps built with blocks.

Open the syllabus

KSEV / NEXT / 03

Vibe Coding for Kids

Scratch and kid-safe AI tools, ages 8 to 12.

Open the syllabus

How lessons run

Live lessons for young coders in Australia

We teach from India, and every Australian state is some hours ahead of us. An after-school or weekend lesson in Australia therefore lands during our normal working day, which keeps teachers fresh and lesson times flexible.

Weekday, after school

Works well once children have had a snack and a break.

Saturday morning

A favourite for this age group.

Sunday

For families with Saturday sport.

A free first class

Your child makes a small animation with a teacher, and you see how they respond.

Groups

Fifteen to twenty children of similar age who enjoy showing each other their projects.

One to one

For a child who wants to race ahead or needs a quieter start.

Hands on the mouse

The child builds every project. Teachers ask questions instead of taking over.

Families can join

Lessons are live, and a parent is always welcome to watch.

Free software

Scratch runs in a web browser at no cost.

Student work

Projects built by our students

Built by older students who, at seven or eight, were making talking pets and falling apples. More in our student labs.

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AI and ML

NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

by Bhavya · Open it

Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot

AI and ML

Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · Open it

GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot

AI and ML

GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · Open it

SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot

Web app

SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

Fees for ages 7 and 8

Australian families pay in US dollars, one fixed amount a month. Joining is free and there is no contract for a term or a year.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

  • A small animation made together
  • A suggested first course
  • No card or bank details
Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

  • Fifteen to twenty children per group
  • The same teacher each week
  • Friends to share projects with
  • Stop after any month
Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

  • A teacher entirely for your child
  • Pace set around them
  • Room for a big project of their own
Enquire

What families say

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

In the words parents and students used on our Google profile, unchanged.

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"The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content."

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★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease."

Samriddha Mondal

Student

★★★★★

"One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development."

Vansh Agarwal

Student

★★★★★

"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."

Sonam Oswal

Parent of Dhairya

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."

Sonu Goyal

Parent

★★★★★

"I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding."

Ritu Kedia

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Questions from parents

What parents of 7 and 8 year olds ask

What coding is right for a 7 year old?

A block language such as Scratch, used to make animated stories and very simple games. Seven year olds learn sequence and their first loops, ideally with a teacher close by.

What can an 8 year old learn in coding?

Eight year olds can usually plan and build small Scratch games with loops, simple decisions and a score, and start fixing their own mistakes. Some begin Minecraft or Roblox coding too.

What is a loop in coding?

A loop tells the computer to repeat some steps instead of writing them out again. In Scratch it is the repeat block; walking a square takes three blocks with a loop instead of eight without one.

Is my 7 year old too young for coding classes?

Usually not. If your child reads simple words and can use a mouse, they are ready for a block language with a teacher. The free first class shows whether they are.

Should my 8 year old learn Python?

Most 8 year olds do better with Scratch first, because typing and punctuation slow them down. Python usually suits children from about nine or ten.

Does coding help with maths?

It gives maths a purpose: angles to walk a shape, multiplication to move across the screen, addition for a score. It practises maths rather than replacing maths lessons.

What does the Australian Curriculum expect at this age?

By the end of Year 2, children follow and describe basic algorithms with steps and branching. In Years 3 and 4, they add iteration (loops) and build simple visual programs.

How often should lessons be?

Once a week suits most seven and eight year olds and leaves room to play with projects in between.

What computer do we need?

A laptop or desktop with a mouse and a modern web browser. Scratch is free and nothing needs to be installed.

What does it cost?

The trial lesson costs nothing and no card is taken. There is a monthly fee for a group place and another for private lessons, both shown under Fees, and nothing to pay to join.

Elsewhere on this site

Related pages

More for Australian families of young coders.

Coding classes in Australia

Every guide we have written for Australian families.

Coding for 5 and 6 year olds

Unplugged games and first Scratch.

Coding for 9 and 10 year olds

The next stage, towards variables and coordinates.

Coding for 8 year olds

Our general guide for eight year olds.

Kids coding languages

Why Scratch comes first.

Game development for kids

Where Scratch games can lead.

Start here

Book a free first class

Send your details and we will call when it suits you. In the free class your child makes a small animation with a teacher, and afterwards you hear which course would suit them and why.

To see a lesson from the inside, read how we teach; for older and younger children too, browse the full course list.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

From an Australian phone, WhatsApp tends to be fastest. Our team is in India, hence the +91 number; there is no Australian office.

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