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Does anyone else feel this is extreme amount of pushing/hand-holding to kids to have them learn programming? My own experience is this: (1) kids meticulously o

Does anyone else feel this is extreme amount of pushing/hand-holding to kids to have them learn programming? My own experience is this: (1) kids meticulously observe what their parents do in their "natural" state and get interested in that, however, (2) kids develop sort of "not for me" or even outright repulsion for things parents what them to excel at. So the best way for kids to get interested in X is just to do that yourself all the time and let them approach you with questions while never let them feel that you are way too good at that. One technique is to do Conway style "blunders" while teaching something to kids. This apparently makes them feel that there is room for them to come in, contribute and think independently.

deleted 7y ago
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kkwteh 7y ago
Could you explain what these Conway style "blunders" are? I hadn't heard of them, and a web search didn't turn up anything.
- ftbai 7y ago
  I believe they're talking about this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22843693 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22843693
- robotresearcher 7y ago
  John Conway had a teaching technique where he would appear to make an error in a talk, act slightly confused, then restart the problem now that a faulty assumption (for example) was made explicit. Second time around greater insight would be reached. You have to be very good to pull off that kind of move.
dqpb 7y ago
I think the right way to think about is to treat it like reading and writing.
analog31 7y ago
In a casual conversation, or web forum, when the subject comes up, mention "piano lessons" and watch what happens.
codingdave 7y ago
If you are trying to force your children to grow up to be coders, that would be extreme. But the parents and educators I know consider it more of a new facet to basic literacy. You know how to read. You know how to write. You know basic computational concepts.
gcheong 7y ago
I had no problem spending many hours learning to program the Apple II+ we had but I always felt forced to practice playing the piano. I think the difference for me was the computer was a puzzle to be figured out and I saw a lot of potential reward in it whereas the piano just seemed like something that had little use beyond the skill of coordinating the reading of notes to playing them. My parents did neither of these things so I had no models to base my interests in in these cases at least.
WarOnPrivacy 7y ago
I have 5 sons. I exposed all of them to computer, appliance & car repair. That involved setting them in front of the project, tool in hand & letting them go as far as they could. Only one really bit into it & he largely eclipsed my ability by the time he was 18. The others found their own skill sets, mostly with stuff I suck at. Edit: Interestingly, one is training as an electrician which is tangentially related to my skills. However, he came to that totally on his own. His learning is best aided thru support, not influence.
- hinkley 7y ago
  Speaking from personal experience, the seed was planted and just took longer to grow. I share a hobby with my great grandmother. I was never interested in it when my parents were involved with it, but on my own I still think of grandma when I’m making plans. It was just something she did, often while we were visiting.

deleted 7y ago

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kkwteh 7y ago

Could you explain what these Conway style "blunders" are? I hadn't heard of them, and a web search didn't turn up anything.

ftbai 7y ago
I believe they're talking about this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22843693 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22843693
robotresearcher 7y ago
John Conway had a teaching technique where he would appear to make an error in a talk, act slightly confused, then restart the problem now that a faulty assumption (for example) was made explicit. Second time around greater insight would be reached. You have to be very good to pull off that kind of move.

dqpb 7y ago

I think the right way to think about is to treat it like reading and writing.

analog31 7y ago

In a casual conversation, or web forum, when the subject comes up, mention "piano lessons" and watch what happens.

codingdave 7y ago

If you are trying to force your children to grow up to be coders, that would be extreme. But the parents and educators I know consider it more of a new facet to basic literacy. You know how to read. You know how to write. You know basic computational concepts.

gcheong 7y ago

I had no problem spending many hours learning to program the Apple II+ we had but I always felt forced to practice playing the piano. I think the difference for me was the computer was a puzzle to be figured out and I saw a lot of potential reward in it whereas the piano just seemed like something that had little use beyond the skill of coordinating the reading of notes to playing them. My parents did neither of these things so I had no models to base my interests in in these cases at least.

WarOnPrivacy 7y ago

I have 5 sons. I exposed all of them to computer, appliance & car repair. That involved setting them in front of the project, tool in hand & letting them go as far as they could. Only one really bit into it & he largely eclipsed my ability by the time he was 18. The others found their own skill sets, mostly with stuff I suck at. Edit: Interestingly, one is training as an electrician which is tangentially related to my skills. However, he came to that totally on his own. His learning is best aided thru support, not influence.

hinkley 7y ago
Speaking from personal experience, the seed was planted and just took longer to grow. I share a hobby with my great grandmother. I was never interested in it when my parents were involved with it, but on my own I still think of grandma when I’m making plans. It was just something she did, often while we were visiting.