Traffic -Programming for Beginners is a new Top Pick!

Bottom Line: Traffic is an introduction to coding app that hits the mark for fun, educational content and keeping kids motivated to pick up this invaluable technology skill before their brains get too old and crotchety (like mine) to think in a complex way.

If you'd like to download this fun tool for learning code, please use this handy link we've provided:

iPhone/ iPad (FREE w/in-app purchase)

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This app has no ads, no external links and one in-app purchase of $1.99 to access levels 7-32.

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I am a forty-three year old app reviewer and I don't know how to program anything. I was happiest when VCRs went the way of the DoDo bird because if the power went out, the time would have to stay wrong until my more tech-savvy brother would visit. Forget about knowing how to program or "code" anything related to a computer.

My kids, however, have been interested in coding since they understood that they could make their own apps and this left me in a pickle. Mama don't know code. Thanks to Traffic, I am not only able to hand this app to my kids and say "have at it", but I can get a better grip on what in the world all this coding stuff means. It's that good and that easy.

The app opens to a home screen where users are prompted to name themselves so more than one child can utilize the app and have their progress tracked. The homepage also has a "credits" button and a "?" button that gives a video introduction to the app and what to expect. Once a player has been selected, that player is shown a quick video and then pop-ups appear that direct users how to play. The app is set up so that users aren't learning a specific coding language, but are given the reasoning behind what coding does. The coding done within the app progressively gets harder as new skills are learned. By manipulating the movement of cars on the road with strict rules of "if, then, else, and, or, while," kids (and 43 year old mothers) are given the chance to understand what goes into programming and the reasons those choices are made.

During play, the left side of the screen shows the car and road while the right side of the screen shows the code being used. The bottom of the screen has buttons for accessing levels, seeing the goals that must be accomplished in the current level, a "cheat" button to see the solution, a help button that will show a short video demonstrating the current goal concepts and the ability to create, switch or delete programs. Levels must be completed in order to move to the next level. Belts are earned as levels increase to wear as badges of honor and add a nice incentive to continue learning.

While running the programs, codes are highlighted to show what part is being utilized and help users see what might have gone wrong in that attempt, thus, giving kids their first experience with "debugging". The appearance of this app is attractive and a good fit for preteens. Background music is minimal and sporadic depending on what's happening in the game. The only thing I feel is missing is narration for the super-helpful videos. The illustrated animations are one of the stand-out parts that makes this a good app but having them narrated could help even more kids that might learn best with both visual and auditory lessons. Other than that, the app performs superbly with no crashes, bugs or those pesky misspellings that seem to crop up in text-heavy apps.

I must say that I have found this app fun and challenging. The number of steps that have to happen in order to make a car drive around while following traffic rules and whether or not to turn on the radio in code form are an eye-opener to me. I'm on level seven right now with my yellow belt and now I have to slow down over train tracks. I'm not going to ask my 10 tear old for help. I have a cheat button.