6 ms·

Ask HN: What's a good resource for a 9 year old to learn programming?

23 points by roryreiff 13y ago

cryptoz 13y ago
I've heard excellent things about Scratch: http://scratch.mit.edu/ http://scratch.mit.edu/
- toolslive 13y ago
  It IS excellent. It has full I18N support which is important for the rest of the world. My kids (who didn't speak English at the time) learned programming using scratch at the age of 8. They typically did animated presentations, and games like 'frogger'. I only needed to show some little things but they could figure out most of it by themselves or with the help of youtube.
- zombio 13y ago
  +1 for scratch. It's a great way for kids to learn programming without getting bored. Show them how to make an account and share their games with the community and they'll be hooked. The same skills learned from scratch transfer over to more advanced languages.
rjsears 13y ago
How about this one: Python for Kids https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11729?utm_source=SparkFun+Customer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=49ac100126-Oct7-Oct11_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa5287abaf-49ac100126-60754509 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11729?utm_source=SparkFun+...
dasmithii 13y ago
I never would have started coding if it weren't for Processing. It's relatively easy to learn, but is also Java-based and super powerful. I still use it today! Check out http://www.processing.org http://www.processing.org
frr149 13y ago
The best is http://www.imacs.com http://www.imacs.com
- wimplash 13y ago
  I think you meant http://www.imacs.org http://www.imacs.org, the above link goes to something which appears slightly unsavory...
roryreiff 13y ago
It might be worth noting that this particular 9 year old is really good at math, but struggles a bit with reading. Thanks for all the suggestions so far!
ScottWhigham 13y ago
Has he/she gotten into Lego Mindstorms yet? I've sent my 9yo to summer camp to do that for the past two years and, when his birthday comes up next year, that's probably what he will get.
- roryreiff 13y ago
  Interesting - I will suggest that as well!
jfaghm 13y ago
I wonder if Raspberry PI would be a good one to get kids thinking below the hood. I am currious to hear how did Drew Houston start programming at 5 years old? I have a 2.5 years old so he's almost there!
markcmyers 13y ago
This combination of a diagram-rich Kindle book and free online interactive exercises provides a learning curve so gentle, it's good for both adults and 9-year-olds: http://www.ASmarterWayToLearn.com http://www.ASmarterWayToLearn.com
nRike 13y ago
I think CodeCombat.com would do the trick, they just got accepted into YC w'12.
thejteam 13y ago
My daughter (age 7) used Microsoft Kodu at summer camp this year and really liked it. http://fuse.microsoft.com/projects/kodu http://fuse.microsoft.com/projects/kodu I haven't had time to play with it, but I loaded it onto a computer for her and she occasionally plays with it still.
VPrime 13y ago
We developed an iPad app called GamePress. Its live in the app store for free. http://www.gamepressapp.com http://www.gamepressapp.com Teachers have started using it to teach students about programming and game development. It is similar to Scratch, but it is more powerful (and easier to actually make a game). The behaviour system has thing slike timers, if statements, math functions, variables. So far from what we have been told by our users it is a great intro to programming concepts. Keep in mind we never developed it for teaching programming! it was made as a fun and easy way to make and share video games!
trafficlight 13y ago
CodeHS has been fantastic. I'm part of a project called Code Montana whose goal is to teach 1000 Montanan high schoolers how to program using CodeHS primarily. The project launched in September and we already have over 400 kids signed up. http://codehs.org http://codehs.org http://www.codemontana.org/ http://www.codemontana.org/
- jljljl 13y ago
  Just correcting the CodeHS link: http://www.codehs.com/ http://www.codehs.com/
asmman1 13y ago
Look at Microsoft smallbasic http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/devlabs/cc950524.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/devlabs/cc950524.aspx
throwwit 13y ago
I would (probably controversially) say there's plenty of time to learn programming later on in the teenage years. Children only start developing abstract reasoning skills around 12 years of age. Learning social reasoning skills is more important than internalizing the way a compiler works.
- MarkusQ 13y ago
  As someone who teaches mathematics (set theory, combinatorics, logic, algebra, etc.) to grade school children, I'd have to say you're way off base. Many first and second grade kids have impressive abstract reasoning skills, though they often lack the vocabulary to express their thoughts. If you want proof, just find an eight year old that's into a complex game (as many of them are) and ask them to discuss the strategy with you.
fit2rule 13y ago
Find him an old Amstrad or similar 8-bit computer. Seriously. There is no better way to learn programming than having an old 8-bit machine in front of you, a stack of magazines with listings, and a free afternoon ..

23 points by roryreiff 13y ago

cryptoz 13y ago

I've heard excellent things about Scratch: http://scratch.mit.edu/ http://scratch.mit.edu/

toolslive 13y ago
It IS excellent. It has full I18N support which is important for the rest of the world. My kids (who didn't speak English at the time) learned programming using scratch at the age of 8. They typically did animated presentations, and games like 'frogger'. I only needed to show some little things but they could figure out most of it by themselves or with the help of youtube.
zombio 13y ago
+1 for scratch. It's a great way for kids to learn programming without getting bored. Show them how to make an account and share their games with the community and they'll be hooked. The same skills learned from scratch transfer over to more advanced languages.

rjsears 13y ago

How about this one: Python for Kids https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11729?utm_source=SparkFun+Customer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=49ac100126-Oct7-Oct11_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa5287abaf-49ac100126-60754509 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11729?utm_source=SparkFun+...

dasmithii 13y ago

I never would have started coding if it weren't for Processing. It's relatively easy to learn, but is also Java-based and super powerful. I still use it today! Check out http://www.processing.org http://www.processing.org

frr149 13y ago

The best is http://www.imacs.com http://www.imacs.com

wimplash 13y ago
I think you meant http://www.imacs.org http://www.imacs.org, the above link goes to something which appears slightly unsavory...

roryreiff 13y ago

It might be worth noting that this particular 9 year old is really good at math, but struggles a bit with reading. Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

ScottWhigham 13y ago

Has he/she gotten into Lego Mindstorms yet? I've sent my 9yo to summer camp to do that for the past two years and, when his birthday comes up next year, that's probably what he will get.

roryreiff 13y ago
Interesting - I will suggest that as well!

jfaghm 13y ago

I wonder if Raspberry PI would be a good one to get kids thinking below the hood. I am currious to hear how did Drew Houston start programming at 5 years old? I have a 2.5 years old so he's almost there!

markcmyers 13y ago

This combination of a diagram-rich Kindle book and free online interactive exercises provides a learning curve so gentle, it's good for both adults and 9-year-olds: http://www.ASmarterWayToLearn.com http://www.ASmarterWayToLearn.com

nRike 13y ago

I think CodeCombat.com would do the trick, they just got accepted into YC w'12.

thejteam 13y ago

My daughter (age 7) used Microsoft Kodu at summer camp this year and really liked it. http://fuse.microsoft.com/projects/kodu http://fuse.microsoft.com/projects/kodu I haven't had time to play with it, but I loaded it onto a computer for her and she occasionally plays with it still.

VPrime 13y ago

We developed an iPad app called GamePress. Its live in the app store for free. http://www.gamepressapp.com http://www.gamepressapp.com Teachers have started using it to teach students about programming and game development. It is similar to Scratch, but it is more powerful (and easier to actually make a game). The behaviour system has thing slike timers, if statements, math functions, variables. So far from what we have been told by our users it is a great intro to programming concepts. Keep in mind we never developed it for teaching programming! it was made as a fun and easy way to make and share video games!

trafficlight 13y ago

CodeHS has been fantastic. I'm part of a project called Code Montana whose goal is to teach 1000 Montanan high schoolers how to program using CodeHS primarily. The project launched in September and we already have over 400 kids signed up. http://codehs.org http://codehs.org http://www.codemontana.org/ http://www.codemontana.org/

jljljl 13y ago
Just correcting the CodeHS link: http://www.codehs.com/ http://www.codehs.com/

asmman1 13y ago

Look at Microsoft smallbasic http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/devlabs/cc950524.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/devlabs/cc950524.aspx

throwwit 13y ago

I would (probably controversially) say there's plenty of time to learn programming later on in the teenage years. Children only start developing abstract reasoning skills around 12 years of age. Learning social reasoning skills is more important than internalizing the way a compiler works.

MarkusQ 13y ago
As someone who teaches mathematics (set theory, combinatorics, logic, algebra, etc.) to grade school children, I'd have to say you're way off base. Many first and second grade kids have impressive abstract reasoning skills, though they often lack the vocabulary to express their thoughts. If you want proof, just find an eight year old that's into a complex game (as many of them are) and ask them to discuss the strategy with you.

fit2rule 13y ago

Find him an old Amstrad or similar 8-bit computer. Seriously. There is no better way to learn programming than having an old 8-bit machine in front of you, a stack of magazines with listings, and a free afternoon ..