A coding competition for young storytellers
Your child learns to code in small-group classes, builds their own animated story, then presents it to the judges on competition day. No coding experience needed.
8 classes + competition entry: $250 early bird
Usual price $280. Save $30 when you register by 20 October 2026.
$400 worth of prizes to be won!
Already using ScratchJr?
Competition entry only: $30
Registration closes 25 October 2026. Places are limited by class size.
Celebrating creativity with Crayola
Back for our second year with Crayola Creativity Week
Crayola’s annual global celebration of creativity. One of our students in Singapore won a prize for a drawing submitted for the event this year!
What your child learns
What your child practises while making their story
Children think they are making a cartoon. What they are practising is the groundwork for maths, science and computing later on.
Sequencing
Putting instructions in an order that works, and seeing straight away what happens when the order is wrong. It is one of the first ideas every coder learns.
Loops and repetition
Using a repeat block instead of dragging the same instruction ten times. Children meet the idea of a pattern that runs again and again.
Cause and effect
A trigger block makes something happen. Tap here, this character moves. Children test a rule, watch the result, and adjust the rule.
Counting and estimating
How many steps to cross the screen, how many seconds to wait. Number work with an immediate, visible answer.
Space and direction
Left, right, up, down, turn. Children plan a path across the screen before they build it, which is early spatial reasoning.
Test, find the problem, fix it
When the cat walks off the screen, your child works out which block caused it and changes that one. This is debugging, and children get better at it every time they try.
How it works
Prepare for the competition in eight classes
Our eight preparation classes give your child time to build their animated story and practise presenting it before competition day.
Learn the blocks
Eight weekly classes of 90 minutes from October to January, in a small group with an MOE-registered trainer. Your child learns to make characters walk, talk, change scene and react, just by dragging picture blocks instead of typing.
Build their own story
Your child picks their own idea on the theme My Little Adventure and builds it into an animated story with a beginning, a middle and an end. Their characters, their drawings, their choices.
Present it on the day
On competition day, your child runs their story and explains it to the judges and the other families in the room. Every child leaves with a certificate, goodie bag and medal. Trophies and prizes go to the top entries.
From the 2026 challenge
What the children actually made
Twelve show-and-tell presentations from the 2026 Little Tech Explorers Challenge, filmed on the day. This is what your child will be doing on 30 January: running their own story and explaining it out loud.
Who it is for
Is this right for my child?
Children with or without coding experience are welcome. Our preparation classes teach the basics, then give your child time to build their story and practise presenting it. Children who already use ScratchJr can enter with a project made at home.
A good fit if
- Your child is between 4 and 7 years old in 2027
- Your child enjoys drawing, making up stories, or using a tablet
- You would like your child to practise explaining their own work to other people
Ideas they can be proud to share
Let them show you what they can create
Imagine watching your child bring their own story to life, then tell a room of adults and classmates how they made it.
Turn imagination into a project
Using ScratchJr picture blocks, your child creates characters and scenes, then puts instructions in order to make their story happen.
Work through a challenge
They test their ideas, spot what went wrong and try a different approach, practising how to solve problems as they create.
Practise speaking up
In the preparation classes, your child rehearses explaining their work, giving them practice expressing ideas before presenting to an audience.
Their project and competition experience can be an early step towards a portfolio they build over time, including for future DSA interests. Read more about DSA.
About Empire AI
Who is teaching your child
Two ways in
The investment
In our preparation classes, your child develops their own project, explores creative ideas and practises presenting their work. They have time to rehearse and build confidence in explaining what they have made.
Eight classes + competition entry
Twelve hours of teaching, and the competition entry is included in this price.
- 8 classes × 90 minutes, small group
- MOE-registered trainer
- Your child’s project built and rehearsed in class
- Snacks in class
- Everything in the entry-only option
Competition entry only
If your child already uses ScratchJr at home or at school.
- Entry to competition day
- Event T-shirt
- Certificate of participation
- Goodie bag and medal for every child
- Judging and prize eligibility
Class dates
8 x 90-minute sessions, weekly from October to January. Each class day has its own breaks, shown below.
Wednesday
4:30-6:00 PM · Novena & River Valley
Weekly every Wednesday, 28 Oct to 27 Jan, except 9 Dec to 13 Jan (year-end school holidays)
Thursday
4:30-6:00 PM · Novena & River Valley
Weekly every Thursday, 29 Oct to 21 Jan, except 10 Dec to 7 Jan (year-end school holidays)
Saturday
10:00-11:30 AM · Novena only
Weekly every Saturday, 31 Oct to 23 Jan, except 7 Nov (Deepavali weekend) and 12 Dec to 2 Jan (year-end school holidays)
Sunday
10:00-11:30 AM · Novena & River Valley
Weekly every Sunday, 1 Nov to 24 Jan, except 8 Nov (Deepavali public holiday) and 13 Dec to 3 Jan (year-end school holidays)
Competition day
10am-12pm · River Valley · Saturday 30 January 2027
Travelling during the programme? Tell us when you register and we will arrange replacement classes so your child does not fall behind.
Children bring their own iPad with the free ScratchJr app installed. Message us on WhatsApp before registering if you have a question regarding the tablet required.
Questions parents actually ask
FAQ
Does my child need any coding experience?
No. Our preparation classes start with the basics and include time to build and rehearse a competition project. Children who already use ScratchJr can choose competition entry only.
My child is 4. Is that too young?
Four is the youngest age we take. ScratchJr uses picture blocks, so your child does not need to read or type, and classes run in a small group with an MOE-registered trainer.
What is ScratchJr?
A free block-based coding app for young children. Instead of typing code, your child drags picture blocks together to make characters move, talk and change scene. There is no reading or spelling required to use it.
My child is at an international school. Can they take part?
Yes. Children from international schools and from local kindergartens, childcare centres and primary schools all take part in the same competition. Children must be aged 4 to 7 in 2027.
Where are the classes and the competition held?
Classes run at our Novena and River Valley centres. Competition day is at our River Valley centre, 8 Mohd Sultan Road, Singapore 238958, on Saturday 30 January 2027 from 10am to 12pm.
Do we need to buy an iPad?
Children bring their own iPad with ScratchJr installed. The app is free. Message us on WhatsApp before registering if you have a question regarding the tablet required.
What if we miss one of the classes?
Tell us at least 2 days in advance and we will move your child into the same session on another day, so they do not miss any of the eight classes.
Does this help with DSA later on?
Competition experience can be one part of the evidence schools consider for relevant DSA talent areas. This challenge gives your child a completed coding project and presentation experience to document as an early step towards a portfolio they can build over time. Each school sets its own criteria, and participation alone does not guarantee admission.
Can I stay and watch on competition day?
Yes. Parents are encouraged to stay for the presentations.
Can siblings register together?
Yes. The registration form takes up to two children in one booking, as long as each child is aged 4 to 7 in 2027. Registering three or more? WhatsApp us and we will set it up for you.
Step one
Register your child
Takes about two minutes. You will get a confirmation email straight away, and we will WhatsApp you within 1 business day with payment details.
Registration form
Places are capped by class size
Registration closes 25 October 2026, or earlier if the classes fill.