I think there is a difference between: - how can they quickly get to a point where they can build something real and keep their attention on it? and - what a

I think there is a difference between: - how can they quickly get to a point where they can build something real and keep their attention on it? and - what are the skills that if they develop at an early age will have the biggest impact on their long term career and ability as a developer? The answer to the second question is algorithms in a low level language (C/C++), which admittedly can be boring unless one has an inclination for that kind of thing.