Design and implementation of a graphical programming tool for children

Since the computer is more widely used by children, the existing software for children´s amusement and study are not able to satisfy their needs any longer. To solve this problem, a kind of graphical programming language for children is proposed in the paper. We analyze the design principles of graphical programming language for children, and implement ten types of common graphical blocks, integrating the basic knowledge of object oriented programming. We also provide the function to bridge the gap between graphical and text programming. Additionally, we designed and developed a graphical programming tool - KidPipe based on Pen Interaction. Finally, a user study is carried out to verify reliability and usability of KidPipe.