Mattel brands like Hot Wheels and Monster High are jumping on-board the coding craze following a computer programming initiative struck between the toyco and edtech provider Tynker.
The partnership is designed to provide children around the world with expanded access to STEM-related activities, coding and computer science lessons. The two companies have co-developed online coding courses based on characters and content from Hot Wheels and Monster High, which will live on Tynker’s kid-centric coding platform.
The courses—designed for children in grades three and above—provide a learning system with interactive exercises, guided tutorials, creativity tools and puzzles designed to make programming fun. And once kids become proficient coders, they can advance to more sophisticated topics, such as Javascript coding, within the Tynker learning system.
To date, Silicon Valley-based Tynker has enabled more than 28 million kids to build educational games and apps through computer programming. Its mandate is one that’s been top of mind for big names within the kids industry, as more companies seek to promote the importance of coding. In January, for example, Nickelodeon UK launched Code-It, a new site that teaches kids the basics of computer coding, and last year the BBC launched a Dr. Who-themed coding game for kids.