Ask HN: How was your experience of introducing coding to kids?
Starting with my 7y/o. Curious about your experience who have been in the same boat. I am starting with Scratch.
What different would you do if you have to restart?
In the end, my child's interests were not mine even though at age seven or eight, it was easy to mistake their interests in being with me for interests in my adult interests.
Practically speaking what I would do differently is to give everything time. At seven a child is only half way to fourteen and fourteen is an early start on programming. Seven is only a third of the way to twenty-one and learning programming at twenty one is just fine...I mean seventy isn't too late to start.
Don't expect Scratch to captivate a seven year old. iPads are easier to use and endlessly more fascinating. And infinitely of greater utility. These days, it's a whatever. These days, spending time with you is what matters.
Good luck.
>> At seven a child is only half way to fourteen and fourteen is an early start on programming.<<
I had a similar thought running in my mind but then till the time we introduce her to XYZ how will we gauge if it is of interest to her or not.
And living with "Not really."
That left more time for things they expressed interests in.
From their early adulthood, it is clear that the most effective means of exposure was allowing them to participate in my meaningful work.
Or saying "Come here and let me show you what I am doing."
"Here's some more homework related to my interests," was mostly ineffective in the long haul.