Lego mindstorms has a beautiful visual programming tool in which you combine little blocks to build programs. Has flow control and all sorts of things going on,

Lego mindstorms has a beautiful visual programming tool in which you combine little blocks to build programs. Has flow control and all sorts of things going on, with the added bonus that everything is very tactile... you input the commands, click a button, and your contraption starts doing things. It's what I would start my kids on.