Microsoft Kids corner and Small Basic
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
Repost: http://www.codeproject.com/Messages/3238101/Programming-for-kids.aspx[^] Okay, it's not really. To be honest I've not seen or heard anything on it since then but it hasn't been around that long really. Trying to teach a six year old programming... seems like it might be tough, and you wouldn't want to put them off it either. On the other hand if you can get her interested then it can be quite rewarding.
My current favourite quote is: Punch them in the face, see what happens!
-SK Genius
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For a six year old I still firmly believe that if they cannot see pretty-much instantaneous results they lose interest more quickly that they will anyway. Bearing that in mind, for an introductory introduction, I still believe that turtle graphics (logo)[^] style language is best. If they show any interest then that is the time to move them towards more mainstream languages.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” Why do programmers often confuse Halloween and Christmas? - Because 31 Oct = 25 Dec. Business Myths of the Geek #4 'What you think matters.'
Still, for the kids, I believe lego is better than logo... :-D
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
Still, for the kids, I believe lego is better than logo... :-D
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles]Absotively! If the expense of a small 'MindStorms' kit is not beyond reach, then it is even more interactive.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” Why do programmers often confuse Halloween and Christmas? - Because 31 Oct = 25 Dec. Business Myths of the Geek #4 'What you think matters.'
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Absotively! If the expense of a small 'MindStorms' kit is not beyond reach, then it is even more interactive.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” Why do programmers often confuse Halloween and Christmas? - Because 31 Oct = 25 Dec. Business Myths of the Geek #4 'What you think matters.'
That's really good, can't wait my son Matteo grows up to 10! :)
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
That's really good, can't wait my son Matteo grows up to 10! :)
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles]In between posting here, coding and having supper I have just watched a BBC TV program of a concert by Stevie Winwood and Eric Clapton. One of the songs they did was Voodo Chile. Not as good as Jimi, but bloody good all the same.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” Why do programmers often confuse Halloween and Christmas? - Because 31 Oct = 25 Dec. Business Myths of the Geek #4 'What you think matters.'
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
I don't know if a product exists for the propose - but it would be great if you introduce her to flowcharts. i.e. creating flowcharts for simple activities like going to school, going to park or something similar - just make sure let her do any thing she likes and not you likes.
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In between posting here, coding and having supper I have just watched a BBC TV program of a concert by Stevie Winwood and Eric Clapton. One of the songs they did was Voodo Chile. Not as good as Jimi, but bloody good all the same.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” Why do programmers often confuse Halloween and Christmas? - Because 31 Oct = 25 Dec. Business Myths of the Geek #4 'What you think matters.'
:thumbsup: Also Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Little Wing" was very good.
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
For a six year old I still firmly believe that if they cannot see pretty-much instantaneous results they lose interest more quickly that they will anyway. Bearing that in mind, for an introductory introduction, I still believe that turtle graphics (logo)[^] style language is best. If they show any interest then that is the time to move them towards more mainstream languages.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” Why do programmers often confuse Halloween and Christmas? - Because 31 Oct = 25 Dec. Business Myths of the Geek #4 'What you think matters.'
I agree! I just wanted to give it a try.
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
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I don't know if a product exists for the propose - but it would be great if you introduce her to flowcharts. i.e. creating flowcharts for simple activities like going to school, going to park or something similar - just make sure let her do any thing she likes and not you likes.
Amar Chaudhary wrote:
creating flowcharts for simple activities like going to school, going to park or something similar
Not a bad idea!
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
Have you looked at GameMaker 8 yet? A friend took a class in game design at the local college, and I worked with her some using this tool. It's awesome, and I'm convinced that with a little adult guidance initially, a six year old could find hours of entertainment creating games with it. It won't make PS3 style games, but it's more than adequate to build arcade type games with mazes, falling things to dodge, dragons flaming, magic objects to capture - all good stuff for kids. It doesn't require anything special to make the finished games run, either, so the games it produces can be shared with friends. Best part - it's free! The Pro upgrade costs all of $25, but the basic version is quite enough.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
You might want to look into Microsoft's Kodu Game Lab [^]. It's similar to a Logo style programming but kids can make their own video games very easily. It's not a formal language to be sure but it will get kids solving problems and thinking programatically very quickly. And I thought it was kinda fun too. It's about $6 downloaded on XBox Live or a free download on a PC.
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
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I wanted to see if I could teach my six year old daughter some programming (may be too early but worth a try). While looking at various options: I came across Microsoft Kids corner[^] and this awesomeness[^] (Small Basic). I did not know about both of them before today.
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In between posting here, coding and having supper I have just watched a BBC TV program of a concert by Stevie Winwood and Eric Clapton. One of the songs they did was Voodo Chile. Not as good as Jimi, but bloody good all the same.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” Why do programmers often confuse Halloween and Christmas? - Because 31 Oct = 25 Dec. Business Myths of the Geek #4 'What you think matters.'
My public library has that concert....well, maybe not YOUR exact concert....but those two great guys anyhow, in concert, live and rockin', on DVD. Might be worth a look for anyone who didn't see it on the BBC tonight! :-D
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I don't know if a product exists for the propose - but it would be great if you introduce her to flowcharts. i.e. creating flowcharts for simple activities like going to school, going to park or something similar - just make sure let her do any thing she likes and not you likes.
I would think that the nice visual aspects of the UML might appeal to children....I like the little actors very much myself! :-D
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I don't know if a product exists for the propose - but it would be great if you introduce her to flowcharts. i.e. creating flowcharts for simple activities like going to school, going to park or something similar - just make sure let her do any thing she likes and not you likes.
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No, Scratch is not boring. You've got to think what is a six year old going to be interested in programming for, and focus on small tasks with instant payoff. Does she like music? Then program some noise (drums, beeps, etc controlled by the keyboard or mouse), or show her how to record and playback herself singing. Does she like drawing? There's a (primitive) drawing program she can draw a picture - then do a program to spin it around or change its colour. There are plenty of program examples - does she like "Knock knock" jokes? They're pretty funny at that age and she can make her own from the examples.