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Ask HN: What programming language do I teach my 7 year old son?
My son is 7 and I think it's time to teach him how to write some software.
What language do I pick though?
Go? Precise, fast, C-like.
Ruby? Easy to read, fun, will hamper his future learning of other languages?
Javascript? Ubiquitous, yet terrible?
Elixir? Fun for the both of us, but maybe too hard for him? Will soil him into functional style programming from here on out?
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What do you guys recommend? Any parents here have experience teaching their children how to write code?
- maxaf 10y agoStart with https://scratch.mit.edu/ https://scratch.mit.edu/, which is both simple enough for a kid to grasp, relatable enough due to the whole game/interactive graphics angle, and "real" enough to teach some general programming concepts, such as control flow and variables. If Scratch instruction bears fruit, consider continuing with Python or Ruby. The main thing is not to overthink this. Proficiency in any language will do. Yes, I'm bothered that my 8yo daughter is picking up Python. Oh, the horror! There are no types. Yet I'd rather have her coding something as opposed to taking forever to enter the perfectly sensible realm of functional programming. Remember: learning via counterexamples is also learning.
- angersock 10y agoC or Scratch. Or, you know, encourage them to go outside and be physically active and interact with human beings.
- informatimago 10y agoScheme! "The Little Schemer"