General > General Technical Chat
Learning Simple Programming for a Ten Year Old?
rdl:
You might consider Parallax. They're not cheap and wouldn't be of interest to most people here. But, their primary focus is education and the quality of what they produce is excellent. Your grandson is right at the lower end of their age recommendations.
https://learn.parallax.com/tutorials/grade/grades-5-8
Nominal Animal:
Pileofstuff reviewed the CrowBot Bolt - Open Source Programmable Smart Robot Car kit:
and it seems to be very nice, open source programmable, and not too pricy ($60 or so with the joystick, both joystick and robot having ESP32's and are user-programmable).
I am only slightly ashamed to admit this looks like something I might enjoy, and am considering getting just for myself.
artag:
--- Quote from: fourfathom on November 13, 2022, 08:53:31 pm ---
And I'm sure my grandson could figure it out *IF HE REALLY WANTED TO* But, he doesn't, at least not yet. He doesn't even want to build a robot, not yet. That's why I'm looking for something with a very low barrier to entry, and perhaps he will be able to do something interesting enough at first that it will motivate him to push ahead. Or at least show him that "programming" isn't beyond his reach.
--- End quote ---
I think that's key. Some people love programming for it's own sake, but I think most of us got into it because it was a tool to do what we wanted to do. He'll learn to do anything if he sees it as a way to realise his imagination.
So, start with what he loves. If that's only playing games it's much the same as watching television. But if he's dissatisfied with what he has and wants more - different gameplay, or characters, or better interaction - then programming or electronics is a path he might try.
Nominal Animal:
--- Quote from: artag on November 25, 2022, 05:32:33 pm ---
--- Quote from: fourfathom on November 13, 2022, 08:53:31 pm ---
And I'm sure my grandson could figure it out *IF HE REALLY WANTED TO* But, he doesn't, at least not yet. He doesn't even want to build a robot, not yet. That's why I'm looking for something with a very low barrier to entry, and perhaps he will be able to do something interesting enough at first that it will motivate him to push ahead. Or at least show him that "programming" isn't beyond his reach.
--- End quote ---
I think that's key. Some people love programming for it's own sake, but I think most of us got into it because it was a tool to do what we wanted to do. He'll learn to do anything if he sees it as a way to realise his imagination.
So, start with what he loves. If that's only playing games it's much the same as watching television. But if he's dissatisfied with what he has and wants more - different gameplay, or characters, or better interaction - then programming or electronics is a path he might try.
--- End quote ---
I agree, that's why I thought the above kit might suit fourfathom's grandson: it is easy enough to put together (no soldering or anything, see the video), and you can use the wireless "joystick" (more like a gamepad) to drive the robot around too, with ready-made programs for other stuff. No need to learn to program, if one does not want to.
What I like about this kit, is that it is open source. Not only the software, but also the schematics and Eagle files are available. This is the way STEM toys should be done.
gamalot:
Children are smarter than people think! Half a year ago, I taught my son how to use Python to control character movement and build simple patterns in Minecraft Education Edition, and he understood it easily. A few days ago, I taught him how to solve linear equations in three variables. After I explained it to him once, he could do it by himself. In 40 days, he will be 10 years old, and I will start teaching him programming, starting with Python.
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