this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2023
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Programming

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Advice needed, son wants to learn how to program (lemmy.world)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by foofiepie@lemmy.world to c/programming@programming.dev
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Hi all,

My 8 year old is asking if he can learn how to program. He has asked specifically if I could set him up with a ‘programming kit with lessons’ for a Christmas present. I’d like to support this, and it seems like it’s not a transient interest as he’s been all over scratch, and using things like minecraft commands for the last year. I have an old (pre 2017) MacBook Air I can set up for this. How do I / what would you advise I set up for him, to a) keep him safe online (he’s 8!) and b) give him the tools he needs in a structured way.

I am not a programmer. I know enough bash/shell and basic unix stuff to be dangerous and I was a front end dev a very long time ago, but I wouldn’t call myself a programmer and don’t know what concepts he needs to learn first.

Hugely appreciate any advice, thanks.

Edit: So I posted this then had a busy family day and came back to so many comments! I will methodically go through these all, thanks so much.

A couple of things on resources: he has expressed interest in 3D worlds and I noticed comments on engines, but wonder if that’s too advanced?

Totally agree with the short feedback loop rather than projects that take days.

He has an iPad 6 and I’m happy to pop a Linux distro on the Air, so certainly open to that.

So many links to research. Hugely grateful.

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[–] dansity@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 11 months ago

There was a software developed in Bratislava called the Comenius Logo. It was specifically developed as a programming environment for kids and we did 2 full years learning it in primary school, I'm still thankful for my teacher for making kids learn this. He shouldn't have to do that it was not part of the program. I'm out of the education scene so I'm not sure if there are modern options to this but you may look it up as well. It uses a C-like code to move a turtle around the screen and draw shapes.