Free Python for Kids Resources Online for 8-18 Year Olds

Curious how to learn Python for kids ages 8 to 18? Discover some of the best free Python resources for kids, including free classes, tutorials, and worksheets you can use with your student to help them master this approachable yet powerful coding language favored by industry leaders such as Netflix and Google.

Middle and high school students can have fun learning Python programming with the support of an engaging, expert instructor in our award-winning live online free Python class, designed by experts from Google, Stanford, and MIT.

Free Python Resources For Kids And Teens

Programming is both an art and a science, requiring strong problem-solving skills and logical thinking—much like solving a fun puzzle. Python makes coding easy to learn and use, thanks to its simple and readable syntax. Unlike Java or C++, Python is beginner-friendly while still being powerful. Plus, it has tons of cool modules and libraries that let you do everything from analyzing data to building games, or even exploring computational biology.

If your student is new to coding or would like to enhance their skills, get started with free Python course, interactive tutorials, and free Python coding games. Before long, students will be on their way to writing algorithms that can manipulate data or generate beautiful visualizations!

Enjoy Free Beginner Python Courses For Kids

Live online Python classes offer the benefits of structured learning from the comfort of home. Real-time interaction with experienced instructors allows students to ask questions, receive immediate feedback, and engage in discussions that deepen their understanding of the material. This interactive environment mimics a traditional classroom experience, fostering motivation and accountability. For students that prefer to learn at their own pace, there are also on-demand classes. Let’s explore a few options.

1. Free Beginners’ Python Class (Live Online)

This award-winning online course, designed by professionals from Google, Stanford, and MIT, guides students through beginning to learn one of the most popular and versatile languages. Led live by an expert, students get introduced to Python by creating an animate and drawing and building their own story with Python coding. Once you’ve completed this course, continue learning with the full Python course for kids and teens. Required: creativity and a passion for learning to code!

Ages: 10-18

Class type: Live online, small group

Class length: 55 minutes for one free session, 70 minutes for the complete course’s sessions

2. Introduction to Python Programming (Video)

Offered through Udemy, this free Python course introduces Python to anyone with little-to-no experience or those who are refreshing their skills. Topics covered include variable assignments, data structures like lists and dictionaries, loops, conditional statements and built-in functions (that don’t require importing modules). Access through a free account is required.

Ages: 10+

Class type: Free access to pre-recorded coding sessions with instructor narration

Class length: Self-paced. <10 minute, each video. Total: 1.5 hrs.

3. Python for Data Science (Video)

Python is a powerful language in data science for its capability to develop artificial intelligence (AI). This Udemy course is designed especially for beginners with an interest in learning and applying basic python in the context of data science. The course highlights practical skills by using the IDE Jupyter Notebook, leading you through its installation to its use for coding basic python data structures, functions, if/else statements and loops.

Ages: 10+

Class type: Free access to pre-recorded coding sessions with instructor narration

Class length: Self-paced. <10 minute, each video. Total: 4 hrs.

Note: This course does not offer hands-on experience with AI. Once comfortable with the course’s basic Python skills, you can continue your Python journey through Create & Learn to explore hands-on experiences with AI-oriented projects (see AI Creators I).

4. Introduction to Python with DataCamp

Offered by DataCamp, this introductory course to Python provides insight into Python applications, variables, and data types and how to manipulate them. These lessons are interactive with a coding interface made directly available to you. Upon making your free account, there will be the following prompts to lead you to your first class: Learn Python > Programming > Python Fundamentals.

Ages: 10+

Class type: Access to a Python interface as well as prompted questions

Class length: Self-paced with prompted guidance

5. IBM’s Python for Data Science, AI & Development

On Coursera, IBM offers an introduction to python that requires only interest in the language. The curriculum involves data types, variables, data structures and core python libraries such as Pandas and NumPy. Registration requires choosing a certification you are interested in earning related to AI, data science, or software engineering. Interest in the aforementioned fields is recommended.

Ages: 14+.

Class type: Free access to pre-recorded lectures and discussion forums for a 7-day trial period.

Class length: Total: ~21 hrs.

Note: Once the trial has ended, the course will cost $39 USD per month to continue. When registering for the free trial, it will prompt you to choose a certificate that you will earn upon completion of the course; the choice only matters if you plan on completing the full course.

Free Python Exercises And Worksheets For Kids

For additional learning and answers to specific Python questions, explore any of the following websites for fun challenges and activities.

6. Your First Python Project

Get started learning Python with Create & Learn’s AI Coach powered by ChatGPT in this simple interactive experience. Learn basic Python syntax challenge before moving onto a fun animation project. Ask questions and get immediate answers from your AI Coach if you get stuck. This is a web activity version of the essential content covered in our Free Python Class, which you can enroll and join online to learn with an experienced teacher live.

7. Python Skill Builder – Create Projects with an AI Coach

Whey you learn a new programming language like Python, it is very important to practice by creating projects. This Python Skill Builder has been created to help students accomplish exactly that!

The first 2 projects are completely free for everyone. If you are taking the Intro to Python Class for kids and teens, the entire workbook is free and you will find that the projects are mapped to the Python classes so you can use the Python Skill Builder as a companion tool when learning Python.

8. W3Schools

W3Schools is one of the earliest programs that offers beginner-friendly tutorials that cover fundamental concepts and practical applications of Python. The site includes interactive examples and exercises, allowing students to practice coding directly in their browser and see immediate results. Additionally, W3Schools provides comprehensive reference materials, quizzes, and projects to reinforce learning and build confidence in programming skills.

9. CodingBat

CodingBat helps students build their skills progressively. This website provides a wide range of coding problems that are designed to reinforce key concepts and improve problem-solving abilities. Each Python exercise comes with immediate feedback, allowing students to learn from their mistakes and understand the correct solutions. The site is user-friendly, making it easy for students to navigate and focus on practicing coding.

10. Visual Studio Code Education

Visual Studio Code for Education is a version of Visual Studio Code designed specifically for students in grades 9-12 and beyond. The platform has been growing nicely recently with backing from Microsoft and it is completely free. The Introduction to Python tutorial is one of the build-in courses and introduces essential concepts of Python coding.

11. GeeksforGeeks

GeeksforGeeks organizes a range of lessons from basic coding in Python (e.g. using print()) to coding more specialized tasks (importing the Pandas library and creating a Pandas dataframe). This can also serve as a helpful reference for any questions related to python.

Pandas + Python is a powerful combination that will help your child understand the foundation of Data Science and explore an exciting field. Join our live online class to learn the basics of Pandas.

12. Python’s Website

The Python website has a beginner’s guide for non-programmers that is very helpful. It’s a useful first step to get on your way writing programs with Python! There is also plenty of Python documentation which can help you along the way.

13. Google’s Python Course

Google’s Python class has many, lengthy tutorials that go through extremely detailed examples of various Python concepts. This class has lots of good information, great mini projects, and does a good job correcting common misconceptions that beginner coders often have. Also, software downloads are required.

14. Raspberry Pi Python

Raspberry Pi Code Club takes your students through multiple modules that drill down on specific Python skills. Using an embedded code IDE (Trinket.io), your child can code along with the instructions. RPCC has multiple levels so students can begin where they most feel comfortable.

Explore Free Python Tutorials For Kids

Python tutorials can help students practice, problem solve, and build critical thinking skills. Here are a few of our favorites to challenge your student’s new skills.

15. Write A Message Python Game Tutorial

Simplicity wins! So, no matter how confident of a programmer you may be, always start off by making a simple game in Python. To help you get started, we have put together a step-by-step tutorial for a simple Python game we call Write a Message.

16. Build Your First Animation

See the simple steps it takes to build a stick figure and animate it in Python. Try the extra challenge of adding eyes and hair!

17. Make a Harry Potter Hat Game

Learn how to make a Hogwarts Sorting Hat-inspired game! Use basic concepts in Python starting from importing packages, interacting with the user using input(), and ending with taking decisions using if-elif-else structures. Simply use this template and follow along!

18. Make a Chatbot with Python

This tutorial has all the steps and libraries needed to code a cool chatbot in Python!

19. Make Python Turtle Art

Learn how to make awesome animal art and fonts such as bubble letters in Python with this beginner-friendly project!

Free Python Resources For Kids

Now that you know some of the best free resources to learn Python, it’s time to take your skills further! There is a lot more to Python than just learning Python programming language. Python for Kids is also about applying it to popular real world applications such as AI, Data Science, and Computational Biology. By exploring these areas, you can solve real-world problems while continuing to practice and refine your Python skills.

We wish you luck on your journey! We look forward to seeing you in our Python for AI – An Intro to Python class soon.

Written by Nicole Maeser, a PhD student in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology program at the University of Minnesota, developing and deploying artificial intelligence-based solutions to understand and treat cancer. Along her academic and professional journey, Nicole has been teaching since 2013, and recently held a 4-hour workshop in May 2021 entitled “Introduction to Deep Learning and Creating Neural Networks in Python and R.” She hopes to inspire a growth of technical skill and confidence in the field of artificial intelligence.