On 12/1/06, Chris Devers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > As much as I like Perl, is it really a good first language for > anyone, and kids in particular? > > I seem to remember that there was some good "Python for kids" > tutorials out there, as well as Scheme/Logo. Maybe I'm biased because > my first exposure to programming was turtle graphics in Logo at about > the age you're describing, and I know there are some good modern > implementations of turtle / Logo / Scheme for Windows, OSX, Linux, > etc. that would be good for kids to learn on. > > Perl as a first language though seems like a risky idea though, > almost along the lines of that old (Knuth?) line about people who > learned on Basic being irrepairably damaged programmers :-) > > > -- > Chris Devers >
I thought that too, but I've been showing my daughter and bit and she seems to grok it; I think that not having to worry overmuch about data types and preciseness will help them learn concepts without stressing. This is also supposed to be a useful project - they're building a web site for their Girl Scout group and I want them to be able to use the skills they learn to enhance it. I, too, learned with Logo, but I think they're beyond that. Computers in school were a new experience for us, but she's been using one since she was two. When I started showing her basic HTML she already knew a lot of it because a chat system she uses uses raw html... Mind,I do intend to teach them a strict subset so they have to work to pick up any nasty habits! :) Kate _______________________________________________ Boston-pm mailing list [email protected] http://mail.pm.org/mailman/listinfo/boston-pm
