Scratch
Product by The Scratch Foundation
The Bottom Line
Yes. Scratch teaches foundational computational thinking through a highly effective block-based visual interface. By stripping away syntax errors, it reduces cognitive load and allows students to focus entirely on logic, sequencing, and problem-solving. While unstructured, its constructionist approach deeply engages children in building real projects rather than completing rote drills.
Pros
- Reduces cognitive load by eliminating syntax errors through a visual, interlocking block-based interface.
- Employs a constructionist learning model where students demonstrate mastery by building functional games and animations.
- Provides immediate visual feedback, allowing learners to instantly test and debug their logic sequences.
- Supports peer learning and the use of worked examples by allowing users to remix and examine the code of existing community projects.
Cons
- Lacks structured, progressive lesson plans, leaving self-directed learners without a clear path to mastery.
- Offers no targeted feedback on inefficient code, meaning students can unintentionally reinforce poor programming habits.
- Features an open community gallery that requires parental monitoring for younger children despite moderation efforts.
What Do We Know About Scratch?
Scratch is highly effective for teaching foundational computer science concepts through hands-on project creation. Your child will not learn to type complex programming languages like Python or Java here. Instead, they will learn the underlying logic that makes all programming work: loops, variables, conditional statements, and sequencing. Because Scratch uses a visual block-based interface, it removes the frustration of syntax errors. This significantly lowers the cognitive load for beginners, allowing them to focus entirely on problem-solving. The platform operates on a constructionist learning model. Your child learns by doing, constructing games, stories, and animations from scratch. This active engagement yields better long-term retention of computational concepts than passive video tutorials or rote coding drills. However, parents must understand that Scratch is a sandbox, not a curriculum. It does not guide your child through carefully sequenced lessons. If your child struggles with open-ended tasks, they may need you to provide external tutorials or project prompts. Additionally, while the Scratch Foundation moderates the platform, it includes a massive community sharing feature. You should review the community guidelines and monitor your child's interactions, as they can view, comment on, and remix projects created by millions of other users worldwide.
How Does Scratch Work?
Scratch uses an open-ended, constructionist sandbox environment rather than a linear, mastery-based progression. Your child starts with a blank digital canvas and a library of code blocks categorized by function, such as motion, looks, sound, and control. These blocks snap together like puzzle pieces, but only if the logical sequence is valid. This physical affordance prevents syntax errors and forces learners to engage directly with computational logic. To build a project, your child drags these blocks into a workspace to control digital characters called sprites. The environment provides immediate, observable feedback. When your child clicks the run button, the sprite instantly executes the code. If the sprite behaves incorrectly, your child must use retrieval practice and troubleshooting to identify the logical flaw and adjust the blocks. Scratch also relies heavily on worked examples through its remix culture. Learners can open any project on the platform, view the exact block sequence used by the original creator, modify the variables, and observe how those changes impact the final output.
Strengths and tradeoffs of Scratch
The biggest strength of Scratch is its ability to eliminate syntax frustration, while its biggest weakness is the complete lack of structured instructional sequencing. Cognitive Load Reduction: By utilizing visual blocks, Scratch removes the working memory burden of memorizing text-based syntax. This allows novice programmers to dedicate all their cognitive resources to grasping high-level computational concepts like algorithms and boolean logic. Active Learning and Constructionism: Scratch excels at active learning. Instead of answering multiple-choice questions about coding, your child must actively construct working programs. This deepens encoding and ensures they are actually applying problem-solving skills. Worked Examples: The platform's open ecosystem is a massive library of worked examples. Students can peek under the hood of complex games, dissecting the code to understand how experts solve specific problems. Lack of Scaffolding: Because Scratch provides no built-in curriculum, it violates the principles of spaced repetition and guided practice. A student can use Scratch for years without ever encountering or practicing advanced concepts like lists or custom blocks unless they actively seek them out. Absence of Corrective Feedback: If your child writes a bloated, inefficient script that technically works, Scratch will not correct them or suggest a more elegant solution, potentially cementing poor coding habits.
Who Might Benefit From Scratch?
Scratch is best for elementary and middle school students who thrive in creative, open-ended environments and want to build their own digital projects. It is the ideal starting point for children in grades 2 through 8 before they transition to text-based languages. Because it lacks a built-in curriculum, it works exceptionally well when paired with classroom instruction, coding clubs, or parent-guided project prompts. Highly self-directed learners will flourish in this sandbox, while students who require explicit, step-by-step instruction may need external resources to get the most out of the platform.
Data Transparency
Does Not Meet Data Transparency Standard
Scratch does not meet our data transparency standard. Its privacy policy does not document basic protections, including a statement that it does not sell data, a commitment against targeted advertising and limits on sharing children's data.
12 of 35 checks passed
Evaluated September 2026
Scratch Privacy Policy : Scratch Help Center →Level 1 · Basic protections
Does not sell data or target ads at students, limits sharing, and lets parents see and delete their child's data.
Not documented: a statement that it does not sell data, a commitment against targeted advertising, limits on sharing children's data, contractual limits on service providers, parents' right to see their child's data, parents' right to delete their child's data
Level 2 · Parent control (meets the standard)
Families can get their data out, know who processes it, and know how long it is kept.
Not documented: a data retention timeline, named service providers
Level 3 · Direct data access
Families or schools can pull their own data through an API, in a stated format.
Not documented: an API for retrieving their own data, a named export format
View all 35 checks
Parent Access3/8
Does the policy mention parents specifically?
“We may also request the email address of your parent or guardian.”
Can parents view their child's data?
The policy does not give parents a right to view their child's data.
Can parents modify their child's data?
The policy does not give parents a right to change their child's data.
Can parents delete their child's account?
The policy describes account deletion only for the account holder, not for parents.
Is there a dedicated Children's Privacy section?
“Children and Student Privacy Scratch takes children’s privacy seriously.”
Does it reference COPPA compliance?
The policy does not mention COPPA.
Does it reference FERPA compliance?
“Scratch does not collect information from a student’s education record, as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).”
Is parental consent required for child accounts?
The policy says it may ask for a parent's email but does not say parental consent is required for child accounts.
Data Portability2/5
Can users access their personal data?
“Access, Correction and Data Portability: You may ask for an overview of the Personal Information we process about you and to receive a copy of your Personal Information.”
Can users download/export their data?
“Access, Correction and Data Portability: You may ask for an overview of the Personal Information we process about you and to receive a copy of your Personal Information.”
Is there a self-service data access tool?
The policy offers self-service updating and deletion, but data access only by emailing help@scratch.org.
Is a specific data format mentioned for export?
The policy does not name a format for exported data.
Is there an API for data access?
The policy does not mention an API for getting data.
Data Minimization3/6
Is data collection itemized?
“When you create student accounts through your teacher account, we ask for a username, password, birthdate, gender, and country of residence.”
Can the app be used without a real name?
“When you create student accounts through your teacher account, we ask for a username, password, birthdate, gender, and country of residence.”
Can the app be used without an email?
The policy says standard accounts are asked for an email address, though bulk student accounts created by teachers do not need one.
Does it state collection is limited to what is necessary?
“Scratch collects only minimal information from its users, and only uses and discloses information to provide the services and for limited other purposes, such as research, as described in this Privacy Policy.”
Is IP address anonymized or truncated?
The policy says IP addresses are collected and does not say they are anonymized or truncated.
Is location tracking explicitly excluded?
The policy says it works out users' general location from their IP address.
Third-Party Protection1/7
Does it explicitly state no selling of data?
The policy does not say that Scratch does not sell personal data.
Are third-party providers named?
The policy describes kinds of service providers but does not name any.
Are providers contractually restricted?
The policy does not say service providers are contractually limited in how they use data.
No-targeted-advertising commitment?
The policy makes no promise against targeted advertising.
Is AI/ML data sharing addressed?
“De-identified or aggregated information may be shared with third parties who develop safety tools, learning tools, and to train AI models to improve the safety of the Scratch Website and develop new features for the Scratch Website.”
Child-specific sharing restriction?
The policy says student data is not disclosed to third parties except as described in the policy, which adds no limit beyond the general sharing terms.
Cookies/tracking limited or opt-out?
The policy describes cookie use and points to a Cookie Policy but offers no way to limit or opt out of tracking.
Deletion & Retention3/5
Can users delete their account?
“If you want to have all of your Personal Information removed from our servers, please contact help@scratch.org for assistance.”
Self-service deletion mechanism?
“Select "Account Settings," then click the "I want to delete my account" link at the bottom of the page.”
Specific data retention timeline?
The policy says data is kept only as long as needed, with no specific time period.
Auto-deletion of inactive accounts?
The policy does not say inactive accounts are deleted automatically.
Post-deletion handling described?
“Deleting your account hides all Personal Information from public view, but does not remove all of your Personal Information from our servers.”
Advertising0/4
Advertising model explicitly disclosed?
The policy does not say whether there is advertising.
Free from third-party advertisements?
The policy does not say whether there are third-party ads.
Children excluded from ad targeting?
The policy does not address whether children's data is used to target ads.
Ad-free option available?
The policy does not say whether there is advertising or an ad-free option.
What This Means
The policy review did not meet our data transparency standard. The checks above show the documented findings and unknowns. A missing statement does not establish how the app handles data in practice.
About this evaluation: Based on automated analysis of Scratch Privacy Policy : Scratch Help Center using the Common Sense Privacy Program framework. Quoted text is copied from the policy; unquoted notes are our summary. Results describe the policy disclosures we assessed; unknown checks are excluded from scores. Privacy policies can change. This review reflects the version we analyzed and does not determine legal compliance.
Sources and review method
TLS combines product information and editorial analysis to explain how Scratch works, its tradeoffs, and the questions to ask before choosing it. Product features, an instructional rationale and evidence of learning outcomes are different kinds of information.
Formal Learning Standard assessment: not yet completed. Data Transparency findings are reported separately and do not establish learning effectiveness. Read our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scratch
Is Scratch free?
Yes, Scratch is completely free. The platform is operated by the nonprofit Scratch Foundation, and there are no paywalls, subscription tiers, or in-app purchases required to access any of its coding features or community projects. Parents do not need to worry about hidden fees or premium content locks. This makes it an incredibly accessible and equitable tool for introducing early computer science education into your home.
Is Scratch good for elementary school students?
Yes, Scratch is highly effective for elementary and middle school students. The visual block-based interface is specifically designed for learners in grades 2 through 8. It allows them to grasp complex logic and computational thinking without needing advanced typing skills or syntax memorization. By removing the barrier of text-based coding errors, younger students can successfully build working games and animations, which significantly boosts their confidence and engagement with STEM subjects.
What does Scratch teach?
Scratch teaches foundational computer science logic and computational thinking. While it does not teach a specific text-based language like Python or Java, it teaches the universal programming concepts that underpin all software development. Your child will learn sequencing, loops, variables, conditional statements, event handling, and basic debugging skills. More importantly, the platform teaches creative problem-solving and algorithmic thinking, requiring students to break large problems down into manageable, logical steps.
Has Scratch been evaluated by The Learning Standard?
Scratch is currently pending evaluation by The Learning Standard. While we have analyzed its pedagogical framework and learning mechanics here, the app has not yet been subjected to our rigorous, data-driven rating process. We have not yet tested it against our complete rubric for instructional efficacy and engagement. Please review our methodology page for more detailed information on how we test and rate educational applications.
Scratch vs Tynker: Which is better?
Scratch is best for free, open-ended exploration, while Tynker is better for structured learning. Tynker provides guided lesson plans, gamified progression, and built-in tutorials that Scratch completely lacks. If your child needs a step-by-step curriculum to learn coding, Tynker is the stronger choice. However, Scratch offers a more robust free experience, a much larger community of shared projects to analyze as worked examples, and better fosters unstructured creative problem-solving.
Has The Learning Standard evaluated Scratch?
TLS has not yet completed a Learning Standard evaluation of how well Scratch teaches. Its privacy policy has been reviewed for Data Transparency and does not yet document the basic protections (Level 1).
Is Scratch COPPA compliant?
A COPPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with COPPA. Policy review note: The policy does not mention COPPA.
Is Scratch FERPA compliant?
The reviewed privacy policy references FERPA. A policy reference alone does not establish FERPA compliance. Policy review note: The policy names FERPA when describing how it handles student education records.
Does Scratch have a children's privacy policy?
The reviewed policy includes a dedicated children's privacy section. Policy review note: The policy has a section headed Children and Student Privacy.
Does Scratch sell student data?
A statement ruling out data selling was not found in the reviewed policy. This does not establish that the app sells student data. Policy review note: The policy does not say that Scratch does not sell personal data.
Can you delete your data from Scratch?
The reviewed privacy policy describes account deletion. We have not tested the deletion process. Policy review note: Users can delete their account and can ask for all their data to be removed.
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