Ask HN: What is the best programing language and teaching resource for 10y child | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What is the best programing language and teaching resource for 10y child

9 pointsasasidh13 comments

Looking for best programing language to start with and online teaching resource for a 10+ child.

If you want something that will grow with them, consider a Raspberry Pi. There is a simple graphical language called Scratch. If that's already not advanced enough, then there is every language under the sun available. Python, as someone else mentioned, is a great place to start because it is easy, powerful, well supported everywhere, and in demand.

It's main strength when it comes to teaching is that the language itself is limited to the basic constructs, so there is no confusion around really similar ones like there is in many other languages. So there is a lower learning curve for getting something productive into code.

From there, they can go just about anywhere since Raspberry Pi supports all of the major languages, and a good lot of them are already installed by default since they are used by the OS to begin with.

The other thing is that they could also do some electronic projects if that ends up being of interest. The Pi is pretty awesome for that.

thank you. Sorry that I forgot to mention that I was looking for something beyond scratch.

I am starting my kids off with Python personally.

I don't know if best, but I know it well and with the repl and existence of notebooks like Jupiter (https://realpython.com/jupyter-notebook-introduction/) it gives me the tools to get started and teach quickly.

Interested to see what resources others share as I not using any right now just my own knowledge of python. I did have kids learn scratch using a book as a prequel.

I did come across this book but still have not decided if I will use it:

https://nostarch.com/pythonforkids

Thank you

I'd recommend a free coding puzzle game called Code E.D. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/code-ed/9mxsdnp6d777

It's essentially a puzzle game but you beat it by writing some code. It uses LUA a popular language for gamers (is used primarily in Roblox).

Check this recently book, Captain Code, on introductory programming for teenagers 10 - 18 years old based on Python [1]. The resources presented in the book have been used to teach teenagers for over half a decade.

[1]Captain Code: Unleash Your Coding Superpower with Python:

https://forta.com/books/0137653573/

Thank you

I've recommend https://grasshopper.app/ for people that are interested in programming and want to get a taste for it. It's a mobile game like experience so they can make progress anywhere, typically when they are bored at their job.

Grasshopper is nice because it teaches concepts well, is basically JavaScript syntax, and is largely button pushing through little puzzles, typically visual / animation based, which can be more motivational for beginners because they can see their code working

Would be interesting to see if it's approachable for younger humans

thank you

Ruby is a fantastic first language.

https://pine.fm/LearnToProgram

thank you. I was thinking of Python or Javascript, but Ruby is interesting too.

why do you want your child to become a programmer?

It is just a skill to learn. I never said that I was trying to make anyone a programmer. At this age, they need to get exposed to breadth of options (martial arts, music, dance, sports, code) so that they can decide what to do when they reach next stages of school and college life.

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