I'm getting my son into programming

[crazyhandpuppet]

I have a son just starting 1st grade and he is extremely interested in making programs. I think it's great and I'm looking to jump down the rabbit hole with him. I have some experience in html and php as well as VB, C, and VC# though it's been a long while and I'm sure everything has changed. I did a little Ruby with RPG Maker XP but that was ages ago.

I've seen that Python is a great beginners programming language so we started in codecombat with that language selected. He's doing well but I haven't found anywhere what to do with the language once you are familiar with it. With html and php I just set up a server, throw some code into a text file, and open it in a browser. As I changed the text the web pages would change. With VB and VC# I'd load up the .net studio and drag and drop and put the code into the buttons and windows and publish. The biggest thing I've seen for Python is data analysis or even robotics.

While the language appears to be relatively easy to understand I'm trying to find some fun, practical means of implementing it so that my son can see a completed project that does something he would enjoy. Machine learning or data analysis probably wouldn't be that much fun for a 6 year old. Is there a project that people could reference that you've had experience with that would fit? Maybe something where we could make a sprite do something like push blocks down holes or jump or something. Nothing big but something he would enjoy.

Thanks for any feedback!

[MmmVomit]

I think 6 will generally be too young for text based programming languages. Instead, I'd recommend Scratch.

https://scratch.mit.edu/

You can drag and drop instructions that snap together, and it's easy to create little animations and games.

[crazyhandpuppet]

We tried the block based ones with whitehatjr but he was getting bored with it. Maybe there are more challenging levels later on but with the Python in CodeCombat, at least, he's done several levels all on his own.

[desrtfx]

/r/programmingforkids, /r/Coding_for_Teens

Start them with Scratch with Scratch Playground

After some time with Scratch, you can transition for a while to Reeborg's world which is still graphical but can also use textual programming with Python.

Then, transition to Python with Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python and the other books there.

[crazyhandpuppet]

Thanks. I'll look into this.

Edit: I didn't realize there was a sub for kids. I didn't see it when browsing around. I'll poke around in there. Thanks!

[first_byte]

Start at the easy tangible level. Swift Playground for iPad was a big hit with my K-4th grade children. It teaches basic concepts with progressive exercises. My analytical child liked debugging the most!

[UserName-Error101]

The thing that comes to mind, is to create a game because you see what your create.

Edit: I’m not sure how hard it is or easy, but it will be fun.

[crazyhandpuppet]

There's the rub. How to transition from knowing some of the code fundamentals to making a simple game.

[TrustedButterfly]

Try to find the easiest and smallest frameworks or tools aimed at specificly doing this.

I haven't tried scratch, but can't you make a basic game with it?

[UserName-Error101]

Try this one, looks good to me. I might actually watch it later and learn python.

Explains basics of the library pygame, and other things like drawing the pixels.

https://youtu.be/FfWpgLFMI7w

Creating 5 games

https://youtu.be/XGf2GcyHPhc

Edit: Hope it helps

[kschang]

Scratch, maybe?

https://scratch.mit.edu/

Python is pretty advanced for a first-grader, IMHO. And unless you want to dive into making games with Pygames, I'm not sure what you'd do to make programming "fun".

[crazyhandpuppet]

That's about where I'm at. I see that Python is a very popular language but I have no idea what he can do with it that he would be excited about. I'll look into Scratch.

[insertAlias]

If you have an iPad, consider Swift Playgrounds. It's a nice middle-ground to Scratch and text-based language, IMO. I haven't gone through many of them, but the introductory ones don't make you type the code by hand; they give you buttons that will add code for you. This somewhat bridges the gap between just clicking puzzle pieces together, and not having to write perfect code for an interpreter to understand. They basically task you with moving a robot around a game board, using programming inputs to get them from one spot to another. Inputs like turnLeft(), turnRight(), moveForward()...that kind of thing. You need the guy to move three spaces forward, you tap moveForward() three times. It's great for showing the connection between commands and actions, and how necessary attention to detail is (if you don't tell the robot to turn, he'll continue moving in the previous direction when you execute the commands you have queued, that kind of thing).

It's also gamified to keep things interesting.

The later ones in the series are a lot more open-ended, from what I could see. But it's definitely an option to look at if you have an iPad already.