If you want your kids to learn to code, where do you start? Try some of these programming languages for kids to get them started creating their own computer programs.

Scratch is a free programming language for kids, developed by MIT's Lifelong Kindergarten Lab. The free language is supplemented by getting started tutorials, curriculum instructions for parents, and a robust user community. There are even flashcards that kids can use to learn Scratch programming concepts when they're away from the computer.

Scratch uses a visual interface with building blocks to create a tiered experience for kids and parents. You stack programming components, such as actions, events, and operators, on top of each other.

Each block has a shape that can only be combined with a compatible object. For example, repeating loops are shaped like a sideways "U" to let you know that you should place blocks between the beginning and end of a loop.