Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Apps for teaching kids programming

Apps for teaching kids programming

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
questionhtmlcom
36 Posts 20 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • R Rage

    My first program ever (Basic, Amstrad 6128) was a small database named "Cave à vin", for my father, to keep track of the bottles of wine in our cellar (all 25 of them :laugh: ). If that's not French ... :rolleyes: It had an opening splash screen with a bottle of wine filling an empty glass, animated. Which was about 85% of the code. :-D

    Do not escape reality : improve reality !

    M Offline
    M Offline
    Munchies_Matt
    wrote on last edited by
    #17

    I am impressed! THats pretty good for an 8 year old.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • J Jorgen Andersson

      The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

      Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

      abmvA Offline
      abmvA Offline
      abmv
      wrote on last edited by
      #18

      u can get them a ps4 or xbox and let them play games...or give them their own computers with VR sets .... i'm sure they will love it...

      Caveat Emptor. "Progress doesn't come from early risers – progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things." Lazarus Long

      We are in the beginning of a mass extinction. - Greta Thunberg

      J 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • abmvA abmv

        u can get them a ps4 or xbox and let them play games...or give them their own computers with VR sets .... i'm sure they will love it...

        Caveat Emptor. "Progress doesn't come from early risers – progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things." Lazarus Long

        J Offline
        J Offline
        Jorgen Andersson
        wrote on last edited by
        #19

        Nintendo will do I hope.

        Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • J Jorgen Andersson

          The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

          Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

          Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
          Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
          Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter
          wrote on last edited by
          #20

          I got this a few weeks ago: Homepage | Minecraft: Education Edition[^] To be honest didn't checked yet...

          "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge". Stephen Hawking, 1942- 2018

          "It never ceases to amaze me that a spacecraft launched in 1977 can be fixed remotely from Earth." ― Brian Cox

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • J Jorgen Andersson

            The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

            Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

            R Offline
            R Offline
            RickZeeland
            wrote on last edited by
            #21

            Take a look at this overview: https://www.slant.co/topics/243/~best-ways-to-teach-a-beginner-how-to-program[^] And for books: https://www.slant.co/topics/1531/~beginner-s-books-for-programming[^] :-\

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • J Jorgen Andersson

              The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

              Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

              M Offline
              M Offline
              megaadam
              wrote on last edited by
              #22

              If they survive x86 assembly, they will be ready for the real wörld!

              "If we don't change direction, we'll end up where we're going"

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • M Munchies_Matt

                Yes, I suppose what I do doesnt look fun or funky, has no UI. I guess I naturally gravitated to the low level stuff, I found it much more challenging and interesting. My second job was writing a driver for Windows. I only got it because there was no one around any more capable than I was, and I had no idea, I was just in the area, looking for a new role, and had a couple of years doing low level user mode stuff in windows. :)

                N Offline
                N Offline
                Nelek
                wrote on last edited by
                #23

                Munchies_Matt wrote:

                I guess I naturally gravitated to the low level stuff,

                Are you that fat? ;) ;P :-D

                M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                M 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • N Nelek

                  Munchies_Matt wrote:

                  I guess I naturally gravitated to the low level stuff,

                  Are you that fat? ;) ;P :-D

                  M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                  M Offline
                  M Offline
                  Munchies_Matt
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #24

                  Gravity and I have an intimate relationship.... Actually no, I chose my pen name from the two atomic bombs, fat man and little boy. Plus fat boy is an affectionate name in Cantoneese (my wife lived there many years and speaks it fluently. SOmething like 'faizai', at least that is how it sounds to me. :) ) I am not particularly overweight, for a 50+ year old programmer at least!

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • J Jorgen Andersson

                    The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

                    Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

                    T Offline
                    T Offline
                    Tudor Ionel
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #25

                    I recommend checking out Zachtronics' puzzle games, they're very much programming in disguise. I'd start with Infinifactory as it's learning curve is the least steep. They're all hard and great fun. Depending on the kids' history with games and computers they might get into the harder ones (like Shenzhen I/O and TIS100).[

                    Here's an article on this

                    ](http://gregorulm.com/programming-game-review-spacechem-2011-by-zachtronics/)[^] But keep in mind - quote :

                    Sometimes people mention SpaceChem as a good game to introduce people to programming. I would not recommend that at all because an introductory programming course is laughably easy in comparison. If anything, it is a game you may want to introduce a subset of programmers to.

                    J 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • L Lost User

                      Lego Technic, if it still exists. May keep you busy for some weeks too :D

                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                      K Offline
                      K Offline
                      kalberts
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #26

                      The old classic Lego computer: The LEGO Turing Machine - YouTube[^] The Lego version is fun. Yet I will say that my favorite Turing machine, certainly aestetically, but the handiwork iw even more impressing, is Mechanical Turing Machine in Wood - YouTube[^]

                      L 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • K kalberts

                        The old classic Lego computer: The LEGO Turing Machine - YouTube[^] The Lego version is fun. Yet I will say that my favorite Turing machine, certainly aestetically, but the handiwork iw even more impressing, is Mechanical Turing Machine in Wood - YouTube[^]

                        L Offline
                        L Offline
                        Lost User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #27

                        Very impressive :D There's a few 3D printers that do LEGO-blocks well. Might be a good investment :)

                        Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • R Rage

                          I started programming when I was 8 :-O

                          Do not escape reality : improve reality !

                          K Offline
                          K Offline
                          kalberts
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #28

                          Quite a few games for kids are programming, even though not done typing programming language statements into vi on a linux machine. I really dislike that "learning programming" idea. What you should learn is "methodologies for problem solving". That is "programming without Linux or vi". And you see that in a lot of children's games. I have no worries about emphasizing that aspect in children's activities. An old example: My bookshelf holds a 1950s book for boys: A forest manager and his two sons, attacking the problem of how to build a cabin out in the woods - the planning of the entire operation, getting the materials, transport, and setting it up. Is is wrapped up in so much nature and forest, watching animals, fighting with the rowboat... A ten year old will read it as a wildlife adventure story. Without noticing, he will also learn a lot about how to approach a large problem, how to solve it. I didn't read the book myself until I read it to a nine year old daughter (she's visually handicapped; that's why I read it to her), and she loved both aspects of it. And I learned a lot about how to build a cabin! You can take a similar approach in a lot of familiy activities, such as planning a long and varied vacation, bringing the kids in on the family budget (exception handlers come in as a natural concept) and so on. Any sort of strategy games. Almost all kids are into such activities, never thinking of the methodologies and strategies. What you could do is to draw the attention of your kids to these aspects so they become aware of them. While discussing the family budget, you bring in the "what ifs" and exception handling (obviously not calling it "exception hanlding"). This way, the kids can continue being kids, doing kids' activities, but maybe more aware of methodologies than their playmates. (I just re-read good old "Tom Sawyer" - that is a kid who can develop a program for the activities of the kids in his gang!)

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • T Tudor Ionel

                            I recommend checking out Zachtronics' puzzle games, they're very much programming in disguise. I'd start with Infinifactory as it's learning curve is the least steep. They're all hard and great fun. Depending on the kids' history with games and computers they might get into the harder ones (like Shenzhen I/O and TIS100).[

                            Here's an article on this

                            ](http://gregorulm.com/programming-game-review-spacechem-2011-by-zachtronics/)[^] But keep in mind - quote :

                            Sometimes people mention SpaceChem as a good game to introduce people to programming. I would not recommend that at all because an introductory programming course is laughably easy in comparison. If anything, it is a game you may want to introduce a subset of programmers to.

                            J Offline
                            J Offline
                            Jorgen Andersson
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #29

                            :omg: Maybe in a few years. :laugh:

                            Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • M Munchies_Matt

                              OK, fair enough. (My daughter, 15, looks at what I do and is in horror at the sheer complexity of it! :) )

                              S Offline
                              S Offline
                              Steven1218
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #30

                              I raised 3 daughters, now in their 30s. None were interested in programming, but all 3 married IT guys. :)

                              M 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • J Jorgen Andersson

                                The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

                                Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

                                E Offline
                                E Offline
                                englebart
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #31

                                If you have an old android phone or tablet (rooted Nook?) lying around, check out MIT App Inventor. Similar paradigm to Scratch, but you can run your own apps on your phone/tablet. iOS version in beta!

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • S Steven1218

                                  I raised 3 daughters, now in their 30s. None were interested in programming, but all 3 married IT guys. :)

                                  M Offline
                                  M Offline
                                  Munchies_Matt
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #32

                                  They always say a daughter finds a husband like her dad! :)

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • J Jorgen Andersson

                                    The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

                                    Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

                                    K Offline
                                    K Offline
                                    Kyudos
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #33

                                    Don't know what level they are at, but my son uses this at school (and has done Scratch too): https://www.khanacademy.org/

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • J Jorgen Andersson

                                      The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

                                      Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

                                      P Offline
                                      P Offline
                                      pmauriks
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #34

                                      Python and the free resources: Games programming with Python and Pygame. https://inventwithpython.com/IYOCGwP_book1.pdf[^]

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • J Jorgen Andersson

                                        The question has been up before, but things change and it's time to see if there are any new programs around worth looking at. My kids are seven and eight and have finished Lightbot. What's your recommendations?

                                        Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

                                        J Offline
                                        J Offline
                                        Jacquers
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #35

                                        This is in today's newsletter: [CodeGuppy - Coding For Kids in Javascript](https://www.i-programmer.info/news/150-training-a-education/12739-codeguppy-coding-for-kids-in-javascript.html)

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • L Lost User

                                          Lego Technic, if it still exists. May keep you busy for some weeks too :D

                                          Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                                          T Offline
                                          T Offline
                                          Test Tickle
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #36

                                          I had Lego Mindstorms too, was expensive, but really good!

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups