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The most success i've had with my 8 year old is building games in Roblox and the LUA scripting that comes along with that. We also have written some MicroPython

The most success i've had with my 8 year old is building games in Roblox and the LUA scripting that comes along with that. We also have written some MicroPython to drive a small rover. With kids, or my kids at least, you have to be able to show some tangible results quickly or else they get bored. ...kind of like dealing with your boss. another thing that my 8 year old is really into that surprised me is networks. Explaining how networks work and how he can start a minecraft server for him and his brother to play but his school friends can't because of the "firewall" has him on the edge of his seat hah. edit: i want to add that i don't bother with explaining programming concepts like object-oriented design or algorithms just very simple cause/effect. Then to simple if condition effect. I get excited and end up overcommunicating and then boring my kids, it's like trying to start a carbureted engine without flooding it. You have to do give them just enough info to get started and hope it catches.

leesalminen 6y ago
Networking was what really got me to do a deep dive into technology. Circa 2002, I really really wanted to LAN Party with my neighbor across the street remotely but neither of our 802.11b routers could reach. We spent so much time reading about how to do this and we ended up building a pair of Pringles can antennas on WiFi extenders, and long ethernet cables running through our yards into our bedroom windows, which ended up working great. Fun memories. Networks are cool.
brianush1 6y ago
> LUA Not that it really matters that much, but just for future reference: Lua is a proper noun, not an acronym.
reubens 6y ago
"You have to do give them just enough info to get started and hope it catches." That's an important mantra, I think. If you cast the net wide enough, you'll find something they like, and want to follow... but it might not be programming.
jugg1es 6y ago
Interesting! Networking is what really caught my attention as a young teenager. My personal epiphany moment early on was chatting on an AOL chatroom with someone in Japan when I was 10 and realizing what computers could actually do

leesalminen 6y ago

Networking was what really got me to do a deep dive into technology. Circa 2002, I really really wanted to LAN Party with my neighbor across the street remotely but neither of our 802.11b routers could reach. We spent so much time reading about how to do this and we ended up building a pair of Pringles can antennas on WiFi extenders, and long ethernet cables running through our yards into our bedroom windows, which ended up working great. Fun memories. Networks are cool.

brianush1 6y ago

> LUA Not that it really matters that much, but just for future reference: Lua is a proper noun, not an acronym.

reubens 6y ago

"You have to do give them just enough info to get started and hope it catches." That's an important mantra, I think. If you cast the net wide enough, you'll find something they like, and want to follow... but it might not be programming.

jugg1es 6y ago

Interesting! Networking is what really caught my attention as a young teenager. My personal epiphany moment early on was chatting on an AOL chatroom with someone in Japan when I was 10 and realizing what computers could actually do