--- title: "Coding Classes for 5 and 6 Year Olds in Australia" description: "Coding classes for 5 and 6 year olds in Australia: what the Foundation year curriculum expects, games that teach sequencing at home, and live classes from age 6." canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/coding-classes-for-5-and-6-year-olds-australia source: src/pages/coding-classes-for-5-and-6-year-olds-australia.html --- > Coding classes for 5 and 6 year olds in Australia: what the Foundation year curriculum expects, games that teach sequencing at home, and live classes from age 6. In short Coding classes for 5 and 6 year olds teach the ideas underneath programming: putting instructions in order, making simple choices and repeating steps. At five, those ideas are easiest to learn through games without a screen. From six, most children can begin a block language such as Scratch in short, guided online lessons. The Australian Curriculum expects the same: by the end of Year 2 students "follow and describe basic algorithms involving a sequence of steps and branching". Start here ## First courses for the youngest coders Live coding lessons begin at six. The third card is a maths course that suits curious five year olds. [![Scratch Coding for Kids course thumbnail](/images/scratch-kids.webp) KFIV / 01 Scratch Coding for Kids From age 6. Snap-together blocks, moving characters and first small games, at a gentle pace. Open the syllabus →](/courses/scratch-programming-complete-course)[![Coding for Kids course thumbnail](/images/kids-coding.webp) KFIV / 02 Coding for Kids From age 6. A longer path that starts with Scratch and grows into apps and simple games over the year. Open the syllabus →](/courses/kids-coding-blocks-masterclass)[![Early Math Foundations course thumbnail](/images/early-math-k2.webp) KFIV / 03 Early Math Foundations Ages 4 to 7. Playful number sense and patterns, the maths that early coding leans on. Open the syllabus →](/courses/early-math-foundations) Five or six? ## What is realistic at five, and what changes at six The difference between a five and a six year old is large for coding, mostly because of reading, attention and fine motor control. Neither age is too young for the ideas. | | At five | At six | | --- | --- | --- | | Reading | Recognises some words; relies on pictures | Reads short labels such as "move" and "say" | | Attention | Short bursts with lots of movement | Can follow a short guided lesson with a teacher | | Mouse and keyboard | Dragging is still tricky for many | Can drag blocks and click accurately enough | | Format that suits | Games at home with a parent, no screen needed | Short live online lessons, ideally with a parent nearby | | What they build | Step-by-step instructions for a toy or a friend | A character that moves, speaks and reacts on screen | ### Why we start live classes at six Our online lessons need a child to recognise a few words on screen, use a mouse with some control and stay with a teacher for a whole lesson. Most children can do that at six; many five year olds cannot yet, and that is entirely normal. Starting too early can turn coding into a frustration. Waiting a few months, while playing the kind of games below, usually means a child starts at six already confident. ### What five year olds can do now Five year olds are often superb at the thinking itself: they notice when a story is told out of order, they argue about the right way to make a sandwich, and they love giving instructions to adults who follow them too literally. All of that is programming in disguise. The arrow-card game further down turns it into something deliberate, with no screen at all. The name of the first school year varies around Australia (Kindergarten, Prep, Reception, Pre-primary or Transition, depending on where you live), but the curriculum calls it the Foundation year everywhere. Most five and six year olds are in the Foundation year or Year 1. Our page on [online coding classes for Australian kids](/online-coding-classes-for-kids-australia) lists each state's name and starting age, and our guide to [the right age to start coding](/best-age-to-start-coding) looks at readiness more generally. The Australian Curriculum ## What the Foundation year and Years 1 and 2 expect Digital Technologies starts in the Foundation year of the Australian Curriculum v9. The early expectations are modest and very sensible, and they describe thinking more than screens. | When | What ACARA expects | | --- | --- | | By the end of Foundation | "students show familiarity with digital systems and use them for a purpose. They represent data using objects, pictures and symbols" | | Foundation, digital systems (AC9TDIFK01) | "recognise and explore digital systems (hardware and software) for a purpose", for example a "programmable toy" | | Foundation, privacy (AC9TDIFP01) | "identify some data that is personal and owned by them" | | By the end of Year 2 | students "follow and describe basic algorithms involving a sequence of steps and branching" | ### A sun on a weather map ACARA's description of the Foundation year gives a lovely example of early computational thinking: representing an idea "with a symbol, object or picture that is understood by others, such as a sun indicating fine conditions in a weather forecast". That is the same idea as a block in Scratch: a picture that everyone agrees means "move forward" or "say hello". ### Socks before shoes For Years 1 and 2, ACARA suggests children work out when the order of steps matters, with the example that "socks must be put on before shoes but a jumper can be put on before or after shoes". Spotting which steps can swap and which cannot is a real programming skill. Professional programmers spend whole careers on the grown-up version of it. Checked on 7 October 2026 against ACARA's Word download of the [Digital Technologies content for Foundation to Year 6](https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/content/dam/en/curriculum/ac-version-9/downloads/technologies/digital-technologies/technologies-digital-technologies-curriculum-content-f-6-v9.docx). Try this at home ## The arrow-card game: a first program with no screen This is the unplugged activity we recommend most for five year olds, and we use a version of it in first lessons with six year olds too. You need paper, a pencil and a small toy. ### 1. Draw a grid Draw a 4 by 4 grid of squares, big enough for the toy. Put the toy in the bottom-left square and draw a star in the top-right square. ### 2. Make cards Cut out small cards and draw one arrow on each: up or right to begin with. Each card means "move one square that way". ### 3. Program the toy Your child lays cards in a row, then "runs" the program by moving the toy one card at a time. If it misses the star, they find the wrong card and fix it. ### The maths hiding in the game To reach the star, the toy must move up 3 squares and right 3 squares, so every shortest program uses exactly six cards. How many different six-card programs work? By our count, 20, because a program is just a choice of which 3 of the 6 cards point up (six choose three). Five year olds will not calculate that, but they will discover that "up, up, up, right, right, right" and "right, up, right, up, right, up" both work, which is the real lesson: there is more than one correct program. ### Making it harder, slowly Add a "wall" square the toy cannot enter, and some of the 20 programs stop working. Add left and down arrows. Let your child design a grid for you to solve. For six year olds, add a "repeat" card: a card that says "do the next card three times". Suddenly six cards can become two, and the child has invented a loop. Watch for the moment a child says "that one's wrong" and points at a single card. That is debugging, and it is the most important habit in programming. Praise the fix more than the first attempt. From six ## What a first live lesson looks like for a six year old Our first lessons for six year olds are built around one small success at a time, with a teacher guiding every step and a parent welcome to sit alongside. | Week | The child makes | The idea underneath | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | A cat that walks across the screen when the green flag is clicked | A program runs in order, from the top | | 2 | The cat says hello, then waits, then says goodbye | Steps happen one after another; waiting is a step too | | 3 | The cat dances by repeating a few moves | Repeating saves blocks: the first loop | | 4 | A second character answers the first | Two characters can each have their own program | ### Short and lively Lessons for this age switch between watching, trying and talking often, because six year olds learn by doing, not by listening for long. ### A grown-up nearby For six year olds we ask that a parent or carer is in the room, especially for the first few lessons, to help with the mouse if needed. ### Celebrating small wins Each lesson ends with something on screen that moves, so the child leaves proud of what they made. Scratch is free and runs in a web browser, so there is nothing to buy. A laptop or desktop with a mouse is easier than a tablet for little hands. Once a child is comfortable, our guide to [coding at seven and eight](/coding-classes-for-7-and-8-year-olds-australia) shows what comes next. Screen time ## Coding and screen time for young children Parents of five and six year olds often worry about adding more screen time. It is a fair concern, and it is one reason the unplugged games matter so much at this age. ### Making, not watching An hour of coding is a different kind of screen time from an hour of videos: the child is deciding, testing and fixing, and nothing happens unless they make it happen. Even so, at five and six the right balance is plenty of off-screen play around a short lesson. ### Privacy from the first day The Foundation curriculum asks children to "identify some data that is personal and owned by them". We follow the same principle: young children never need to share personal details in a lesson, and accounts are set up by a parent. If a class uses a username, it is chosen with a parent and contains no surname or school name. Stages ## Four early stages, from cards to Scratch Five year olds usually spend months on the first two stages at home; six year olds in live lessons reach the third within a term. | Stage | What your child can do | | --- | --- | | 1. Orders steps | Puts picture cards for a familiar routine in the right order and explains why | | 2. Programs a toy | Lays out arrow cards that move a toy to a target, then fixes a wrong card | | 3. First Scratch | Snaps together blocks so a character moves and speaks when the green flag is clicked | | 4. First loop | Uses a repeat block instead of copying the same blocks again and again | ### Does my child need to read? For the arrow-card game, no. For Scratch lessons at six, only a little: blocks have short labels such as "move" and "say", and the teacher reads anything longer aloud. Coding often gives reluctant readers a reason to decode words, because the words make something happen. ### Fitting into the school week Six year olds are often tired after school, so many families choose a weekend lesson. Billing is monthly, so it is easy to stop over the holidays. We agree the day and time in the free first class. The catalogue ## Courses for young children Live coding courses start at six; the maths courses suit children from four. I ### First coding From age 6 KFIV / CODE / 01 #### Scratch Coding for Kids Snap-together blocks, characters and first games. [Open the syllabus](/courses/scratch-programming-complete-course) KFIV / CODE / 02 #### Coding for Kids A full year from first blocks to small apps. [Open the syllabus](/courses/kids-coding-blocks-masterclass) KFIV / CODE / 03 #### Microsoft Office for Kids Computer confidence for children from seven. [Open the syllabus](/courses/microsoft-office-kids-mastery)II ### Early maths From age 4 KFIV / MATH / 01 #### Early Math Foundations Number sense, shapes and patterns through play. [Open the syllabus](/courses/early-math-foundations) KFIV / MATH / 02 #### Mental Maths for Kids Quick, confident calculation for primary children. [Open the syllabus](/courses/mental-maths-mastery-kids) KFIV / MATH / 03 #### Abacus Mental Maths Calculation with an abacus, then in the head. [Open the syllabus](/courses/abacus-mental-maths-course-for-kids)III ### Next steps Ages 7 and up KFIV / NEXT / 01 #### Problem Solving for Kids Patterns, logic and algorithms from age seven. [Open the syllabus](/courses/problem-solving-and-computational-thinking-for-kids) KFIV / NEXT / 02 #### Minecraft Coding for Kids Coding inside a world children already love, from seven. [Open the syllabus](/courses/minecraft-coding-for-kids-course) KFIV / NEXT / 03 #### Game Development for Kids Real games in Scratch and beyond, from eight. [Open the syllabus](/courses/game-development-masterclass-for-kids) How lessons run ## Gentle live lessons, at Australian times Our teachers are in India, and India time is behind every Australian state, so weekend mornings and after-school times in Australia are easy for us to cover. Saturday or Sunday morning Often when six year olds are freshest, before they tire. Weekday, after school Works for children who are fresh after school. One to one For a shy child or a family with an unusual timetable. ### A free first class The teacher checks whether your six year old is ready, and tells you honestly if waiting would be better. ### Groups Fifteen to twenty children of a similar age and level, with plenty of turns. ### One to one Every minute is your child's, at exactly their pace. ### Their own clicks The child moves every block. The teacher guides with questions and demonstrations. ### Parents in the room For this age we encourage it, and you will see exactly what your child learns. ### Nothing to install Scratch runs in a browser; you just need a computer with a mouse. Student work ## Projects built by our students Older students made these; every one of them started with a first program as small as a moving cat. More are in our [student labs](/student-labs). ![NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot](/images/projects/nutrilife.webp) AI and ML #### NutriLife An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target. by Bhavya · [Open it](https://nutrilife-bhavya.lovable.app) ![Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot](/images/projects/misti.webp) AI and ML #### Misti A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student. by Harshit · [Open it](https://misti.modernagecoders.com) ![GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot](/images/projects/guardianx.webp) AI and ML #### GuardianX An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online. by Vivaan · [Open it](https://guardianx-cybersaver.lovable.app) ![SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot](/images/projects/skycast.webp) Web app #### SkyCast A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location. by Krish Fees ## Fees for early coding Families in Australia pay a single monthly fee in US dollars. There is no joining fee, and lessons can stop after any month. Free first class USD 0 no card required - A short, playful first lesson - An honest view on readiness - No card or bank details Book it Group batch USD 100 a month, billed in US dollars - Five to ten young children - A familiar teacher each week - Plenty of turns for everyone - Stop after any month Start here One to one USD 150 a month, billed in US dollars - A lesson shaped around one child - Pace set by attention span - Ideal for a shy first coder Enquire What families say ## Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews These are the families' own words, unedited, from our Google listing. ★★★★★ "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." Ria Mukherjee Parent ★★★★★ "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 Parent Questions from parents ## What parents of 5 and 6 year olds ask ### Can a 5 year old learn coding? Yes, the ideas: ordering steps, making simple choices and repeating actions. At five these are learned most easily through games without a screen, such as programming a toy with arrow cards. Typing and screen-based coding usually come a little later. ### Are there coding classes for 5 year olds? Our live online classes start at six, because they need a little reading and mouse control. For five year olds we suggest the unplugged games on this page and a first class once they turn six. ### What do coding classes for 6 year olds involve? Short, guided lessons in a block language such as Scratch, where children snap blocks together so a character moves, talks and reacts. Each lesson ends with something the child made and can show. ### What is unplugged coding? Unplugged coding teaches programming ideas without a computer: putting instructions in order, following them exactly and fixing mistakes, using cards, toys, drawings or games. ### Does coding count as screen time? It uses a screen, but it is active making rather than watching. For five and six year olds we still recommend short lessons and plenty of off-screen play around them. ### Is coding part of the Foundation year at school? Digital Technologies starts in the Foundation year of the Australian Curriculum v9, focused on recognising digital systems and representing ideas with objects, pictures and symbols. Sequencing steps follows in Years 1 and 2. ### Should my child use a tablet or a computer? A laptop or desktop with a mouse is easier for Scratch. Tablets are fine for picture-based apps, but dragging small blocks with a finger frustrates many young children. ### Do I need to know how to code to help? Not at all. Playing the arrow-card game, asking your child to explain their program and celebrating fixed mistakes help more than any technical knowledge. ### How long should lessons be for a 6 year old? Shorter and livelier than for older children, with frequent changes of activity. The teacher adjusts to your child's attention on the day. ### What does it cost? The first lesson is free and asks for no card. Group places and one-to-one lessons each have a monthly fee, listed under Fees above, with no sign-up charge. Elsewhere on this site ## Related pages More for families of young children in Australia. ### [Coding classes in Australia](/coding-classes-in-australia) Where every page for Australian families is listed. ### [Coding for 7 and 8 year olds](/coding-classes-for-7-and-8-year-olds-australia) The next stage, with first loops and stories. ### [Online coding for Australian kids](/online-coding-classes-for-kids-australia) Year levels and lesson times by state. ### [Kids coding languages](/kids-coding-languages-australia) Why blocks come before typing. ### [The right age to start coding](/best-age-to-start-coding) Readiness at six, nine and twelve. ### [Scratch coding classes](/scratch-coding-classes-for-kids) The block language in detail. Start here ## Book a free first class Leave your details and we will call at a time that suits you. If your child is six, the free class is a short, playful first lesson. If they are five, we are happy to talk through the games on this page and suggest when to start. Before booking, you might like [how we teach](/how-we-teach), which follows one lesson from start to finish, or the [courses](/courses) for older children. [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/919123366161?text=Hello%20Modern%20Age%20Coders%2C%20we%20are%20in%20Australia%20and%20our%20child%20is%205%20or%206.%20Could%20you%20tell%20us%20whether%20they%20are%20ready%20for%20a%20first%20coding%20class%3F) · [+91 91233 66161](tel:+919123366161) · [connect@modernagecoders.com](mailto:connect@modernagecoders.com) The quickest way to reach us from Australia is usually WhatsApp. The number starts with +91 because the team works in India; we have no office in Australia. ### Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo A priority demo is a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. After the class the mentor sends a written skill report and a personal learning roadmap on WhatsApp. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee. Share your demo Order ID with us on WhatsApp and we take it off. [Book a priority demo](/book-demo) ## Keep exploring Modern Age Coders ### By class and age - [Coding Classes for 11 and 12 Year Olds in Australia](/coding-classes-for-11-and-12-year-olds-australia) - [Coding Classes for 9 and 10 Year Olds in Australia](/coding-classes-for-9-and-10-year-olds-australia) - [Python for 9 Year Olds: First Python Programs, Turtle Graphics & Games](/python-for-9-year-olds) - [Coding Classes for 10 Year Olds Online: Scratch to Python](/coding-for-10-year-olds) - [Python for 17 Year Olds: Class 12 Board CS, College Portfolio, ML & DSA](/python-for-17-year-olds) - [Coding Classes for 11 Year Olds: Python, Web and AI Projects](/coding-for-11-year-olds) - [Python for 12 Year Olds: OOP, Pygame](/python-for-12-year-olds) - [Coding Classes for 9 Year Olds: Scratch Games and First Python](/coding-for-9-year-olds) - [Coding Classes for 16 Year Olds: Full Stack, AI and DSA, Class 11](/coding-for-16-year-olds) ### Learn more - [Primary Digital Technologies Coding Help](/digital-technologies-primary-coding-help) - [Coding for Homeschool Kids in Australia](/coding-for-homeschool-kids-australia) - [Coding Games for Kids in Australia](/coding-games-for-kids-australia) - [Online Maths Tuition for Kids in the UK](/online-maths-tuition-for-kids-in-uk) ### Free resources - [JavaScript Tutorial: Build Interactive Websites](/resources/javascript) - [Images, Audio, and Video](/resources/html-and-css/images-and-media) - [Introduction to JavaScript](/resources/javascript/introduction-to-javascript) - [Pseudo-classes and Pseudo-elements](/resources/html-and-css/pseudo-classes-and-pseudo-elements) ### From the blog - [Coding for Kids: Guides for Parents](/blog/topic/kids-coding) - [30+ Scratch Project Ideas for Kids: Starter Projects to Advanced Games](/blog/30-plus-scratch-project-ideas-kids-fun-coding-beginner-advanced) - [Coding for 7 Year Olds: What to Learn](/blog/coding-for-7-year-olds-what-how-kids-should-learn-programming) - [Coding for 6 Year Olds: How to Start, Best Tools](/blog/coding-for-6-year-olds) ### Start here - [Book a free demo class with Modern Age Coders](/book-demo) - [Real projects built by Modern Age Coders students](/student-labs) Free class[Priority demo](/book-demo)[Call us](tel:+919123366161) --- *Canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/coding-classes-for-5-and-6-year-olds-australia*