Comments on: Computer Programming for Kids

By: shaun

shaun — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:53:05 +0000

My oldest (10) is currently taking a co-op class in Alice and loving it. It does seem to fit well with her love of making up stories. It is an easy learning curve — the kids seem to go right to creating things.

The more experienced kids are doing Python — seems like Alice might be a better first step.

She is doing a Java class as well, which is more what I think of when I think of programming. She is supposed to learn how to create a Tetris-like game by the end of the week!

By: shaun

shaun — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:53:05 +0000

The more experienced kids are doing Python — seems like Alice might be a better first step.

She is doing a Java class as well, which is more what I think of when I think of programming. She is supposed to learn how to create a Tetris-like game by the end of the week!

By: Melissa Wiley

Melissa Wiley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:32:30 +0000

Charlotte, thanks for the Lynda info…it’s my 14yo who is interested in learning, and we are a Mac family, so that’s good to know. We are checking out Scratch & Alice too. Thanks, everyone!

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:40:26 +0000

Yeah, I was going to second the recommendations for Alice and Scratch. We used Scratch in an intro class at Harvard. I’ve heard that Alice is particularly appealing to girls (not just because of the name) because of the storytelling aspect of it.

By: Charlotte (Matilda)

Charlotte (Matilda) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:23:55 +0000

My Husband agrees that Alice and Scratch are both good. Lynda, he says, is best for older kids working on a Mac.

By: Kez

Kez — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:35:52 +0000

My 7yo uses Scratch and has started using Alice. I’d recommend both of those.