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Learning Simple Programming for a Ten Year Old?
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fourfathom:
My grandson is turning ten next month, and I would like to expose him to simple programming.  I'm not trying to turn him into a "coder", but I remember my early experiences with computers and enjoying simple programming essentials such as counting, calculating squares and primes, even just "Hello World".  I am looking for recommendations, probably not graphically-oriented, but simple BASIC or whatever the current thing would be.  I want him to see the numbers and the logic.

My first experience at that age (ten) was actually manually punching Hollerith cards -- I didn't really understand much of it, but it left an impression and a fascination that has stayed with me ever since.  Later I learned BASIC, working with teletype. paper tape, and a minicomputer.  I'm a hardware engineer, not a true programmer, computer scientist, or mathematician, but that early exposure made a big difference to me.  I would like to give my grandson the same opportunity that I had, and I would be quite happy to mentor him.  Perhaps it won't catch his interest, but it's worth giving it a try.

Recommendations?
james_s:
BASIC is still around, that's what I was starting to dabble in at that age.

Python also has a very low barrier to entry, it can run in an interpreter and is nearly as easy to get started with as BASIC.

There are also some games that are programming-like that might be easier to engage a younger kid with.
Gyro:
Maybe an opportunity to teach some simple hardware [Edit: interaction] at the same time. Take a look at Micromite / Picomite (Pi Pico version) BASIC...

https://geoffg.net/micromite.html
BrianHG:
For a 32/64bit free Basic compiler, look here:

https://www.freebasic.net/
https://www.freebasic.net/forum/  (Yes, you have an 'active' community forum with users today who can help you...)

You get a free compiler Windows & Linux and even Dos if you want to make a program which fits on a single bootable floppy disc.
Tons of source code examples on the forum.
Includes 32bit graphics support, window interface, OS extensions and sound including things like OPenGL 2D and full 3D examples and .mp3 players including complete video games.
I've also used it for full USB serial port control for my HDL/FPGA projects connected to my PC.

Most dumb simple basic code works.  The only new thing you might need to get used to is no line numbers, sub-routines are given labels/names.  The other thing is you need to declare the variables you use at the beginning of your code.

(Combo hardware/software things I have done with FreeBasic and a simple 3 wire TTL<->RS232 dongle include office monitor for temperature zones logging and controlling the furnace, Exercise bike generator workout tracking / charting, logging and scrolling scope of workout, FPGA hex editor / debugger and a few others...)
Nominal Animal:
How about one of the maze-solving robots?  Like Sparki?

Kids nowadays have so much audiovisual stimuli that I think something concrete they can interact with physically as well as via programming, might be more likely to ignite the spark.
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