One of the simplest ways to introduce programming is through stories your kids already know and love. When you teach coding with stories, your child learns how to think step by step, solve problems, and spot patterns. And best of all, they can do it without ever touching a screen.

Fairy tales and fables are full of characters making choices, solving problems, and repeating actions. These are perfect for learning how algorithms, loops, and logic work in coding. It all starts with a storybook and a little imagination.

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Start with Simple Sequences

Every story has a beginning, middle, and end. That’s the same idea behind a coding sequence.

Try this at home:

1. Pick a favorite fairy tale
2. Ask your child to tell you what happened first, next, and last
3. Turn those events into a simple code or drawing

For example, The Three Little Pigs might become:

• Build straw house
• Wolf blows it down
• Build stick house
• Wolf blows it down
• Build brick house
• Wolf fails

That is a sequence. And it is a great way to teach logic through stories.

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Add If/Then Logic to the Story

Once your child can list story events, introduce decisions. These are called if/then statements in programming.

In Little Red Riding Hood:

• If she sees the wolf, then she runs away
• If it is Grandma, then she talks to her

This kind of logic is simple but powerful. It helps children understand cause and effect, and it brings coding ideas into storytime naturally.

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Look for Loops in Repeating Patterns

Fairy tales often repeat scenes. These become loops, which are common in programming.

Think about The Three Billy Goats Gruff:
Each goat crosses the bridge and talks to the troll. That is a repeating action.

Turn it into code:

Repeat 3 times:

• Walk to bridge
• Meet troll
• Say something
• Cross safely

This teaches kids to look for patterns and group repeated actions.

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Let Kids Invent Their Own “Code-a-Story”

Once your child understands sequences, logic, and loops, invite them to create their own story and turn it into a program.

Have them:

• Write or tell a short story
• List each step in order
• Add one if/then decision
• Include something that repeats

You can sketch it out with arrows, boxes, and icons like a comic strip or flowchart. It’s a fun way to teach coding with stories that they create themselves.

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Want More Story-Based Coding Ideas?

Explore more unplugged ways to build STEM thinking:

• How to Teach Debugging: A Simple Guide for Kids
• Best Logic Games for Kids
• Flowcharts for Kids

Printables and activity packs are coming soon to the Wired Me shop.

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Final Thoughts

You can teach coding with stories your child already loves. No screens. No complicated setup. Just a book, a pencil, and a little imagination.

Next time you open a storybook, think like a programmer. That is where early STEM learning begins.

For more ideas on unplugged coding, check out CS Unplugged, a free resource with hands-on computer science activities for kids.