Ages 8–12Code Typer — included in Family Plus on TotType
Code Typer lets your child type real programs, key by key, in a code editor with colors like a programmer's, then run them. There are three languages: Web pages (HTML and CSS), Python and JavaScript, with eight short programs each. A program says what it does before it runs; then the console prints the output, or a little browser shows the page. Each one ends with an idea to try, and every program is real code that works in any editor.
- Ages
- 8–12
- Teaches
- First ideas of programming: printing, variables, loops, if and else, lists and functions · HTML tags and attributes, and CSS colors and sizes
- Plan
- Family Plus plan ($9.99/month) — try a free 60-second demo first
- Plays on
- Any browser — keyboard or touch, nothing to install
How to play Code Typer
Pick a language with 1, 2 or 3, then a program. Type the code exactly, brackets, quotes and semicolons too; the cursor moves only on the right key. Press Enter at the end of a line, and the editor does the indent for you, like a real code editor. When the last key is typed, the program runs. Stars come from accuracy. Print a program to keep, or press Enter for the next one. The on-screen keys of a tablet skip symbols, so a real keyboard is best.
What your child learns
- First ideas of programming: printing, variables, loops, if and else, lists and functions
- HTML tags and attributes, and CSS colors and sizes
- The symbol keys: brackets, braces, quotes, the equals sign and the semicolon
- Reading code and predicting what it does
- Typing carefully, because one wrong character changes a program
Why it works at this age
Children learn a language by meeting it, and code is no different: typing a program character by character makes them notice every bracket and quote, and running it straight away shows what each part does. Short programs with one new idea each keep it within reach, and the symbol keys get the practice that ordinary typing never gives them.
Tips for parents
- Ask what the program will print before it runs.
- Pick one program a week to change together in a free online editor.
- Print a favorite program and stick it on the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Code Typer for?
Ages 8 to 12. The programs are short, from one line to six, and each one explains itself in plain words, so a child who can type and read can start. Web pages suit younger coders; Python and JavaScript suit older ones.
Does my child write their own programs?
Not in the game. Code Typer is about reading and typing real code accurately and seeing what it does. Each program ends with an idea to try, so your child can change it in a free online editor with you.
Code Typer or Code Bot?
Code Bot is a first coding game for ages 5 to 8, with arrow-key programs for a robot. Code Typer is the next step for ages 8 to 12, with real languages and real code.
Is it on a paid plan?
Code Typer is in the Family Plus plan. Anyone can try the first web pages free in the demo.
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