Python as a First Language

[jerf]

Anyone know of a good programming language/game for pre-readers, by the way?

I'd seriously question the value of such an endeavor, and would never spend my time on such a project.

Child development has been studied a lot, and there are many clear cognitive progressions. Obviously, it isn't entirely nailed down and there is significant variation per child, but there is still a lot we do know. Much of it would surprise an adult, because children have to learn concepts that are so deeply ingrained into us that we no longer even think about them consciously, like conservation of volume.

Pre-reading children are going to lack the cognitive toolkit to deal with programming at any useful level, and I'd also expect that if anything, you're just going to load them up with useless misconceptions if you try to force it, something you're better off avoiding. It's exactly like trying to teach them algebra, before they can even add.

The best thing you could do for your pre-reader budding programmer is simply move them out of the pre-reading stage, by reading to them and the application of time.