App / website to get kids started on IT

Speedster

Speedster

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I remember playing with logo as a young kid when PCs first became available in the mid 80s. Is there something similar around that I can use to introduce my kids to basic programming and IT stuff?
 
Speedster said:
I remember playing with logo as a young kid when PCs first became available in the mid 80s. Is there something similar around that I can use to introduce my kids to basic programming and IT stuff?
Click to expand...

You could install the latest version of Python.

Python: 
from turtle import *

The Python IDLE also has numerous Turtle examples to get you going. Example:

759578
 
Have a look at www.code.org. My opinion is that is today what Logo was 35 years ago.

(But the Logo in Python support is really cool. I did not know about that. It brings back great memories.)
 
Depending on their age I was going to say scratch. My kids played with scratch for about a year, then I bought a family lifetime subscription to code kingdoms (it was 50% off or something) and now they make their own minecraft mods. Or they could. My son just usually cranks up the jump height or makes a bomb chest or some kind of nuke and then blows his sister up :/
He's is only 11 tho, I hope he starts making more sophisticated stuff when he is a little older.
 
There is nothing better than the Head First series of programming books imo. Absolutely nothing I've seen comes close.

I got a huge stack of their PDFs through a Humble Book Bundle, but it would be preferable to have a hard copy anyway. If you can find any, they're incredible. They make learning programming languages extremely enjoyable and effective. How different university would have been if all prescribed textbooks were from Head First.
 
Remember to not just focus on the software side. Introduce networking, VMs, logic gates, how a computer works, etc.

I used to open old 10GB maxtor hard drives and use the disks as supper smooth rollers for other toys.
Always wanted to circuit up multiple HDD actuator arms and let them play a beat but never did so - didn't really know where to start at the time. Many years later, I see it being done with a Raspbery Pi.
 
Why not good old BASIC? I mean seeing as you grew up in the 80's it could be fun for you and your kids after lunch on Sunday.
 
Bryn said:
There is nothing better than the Head First series of programming books imo. Absolutely nothing I've seen comes close.

I got a huge stack of their PDFs through a Humble Book Bundle, but it would be preferable to have a hard copy anyway. If you can find any, they're incredible. They make learning programming languages extremely enjoyable and effective. How different university would have been if all prescribed textbooks were from Head First.
Click to expand...

The Usborne series taught me how to program (around 6 years old). The classic books are available for free download. They have new books for Python and Scratch. They also have books on how a computer works, machine code, etc. all for kids.

https://usborne.com/browse-books/features/computer-and-coding-books/
 
Thanks guys. Some great suggestions. My kids are between 8 and 5, so I'm thinking very basic and lots of fun just to get them curious. I've put scratch on my tablet for them to play with and will look at the other options you guys posted
 
Speedster said:
Thanks guys. Some great suggestions. My kids are between 8 and 5, so I'm thinking very basic and lots of fun just to get them curious. I've put scratch on my tablet for them to play with and will look at the other options you guys posted
Click to expand...
Scratch is the way to go. The tutorial videos are perfect for that age.
 
Speedster said:
Thanks guys. Some great suggestions. My kids are between 8 and 5, so I'm thinking very basic and lots of fun just to get them curious. I've put scratch on my tablet for them to play with and will look at the other options you guys posted
Click to expand...

That's more words than saying your kids are 6 and 7...

Check out Google's free Grasshopper app too by the way.
 
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