> > I'm not a parent either, but I suspect that four might be a bit early for > sticking the kid into a machine
I started programming at age 5 on a Spectrum 48K and no harm came of it besides the usual BASIC braindamage (no multiline functions on a 48K, only goto, gosub and return - if I'm wrong someone please pop back to '86 and tell me). Though those who know me best might disagree. > > On Sat, Oct 1, 2011 at 4:29 PM, Alexey Zinger <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Not having kids of my own, I have little to contribute, except remembering >> what drew me into what eventually turned into an interest in programming. I >> think around that age, I was most enthralled by games (checkers, puzzles), >> fun brain twisters (Louis Carroll), doing challenging stuff with my hands >> (working on my bicycle), etc. All of it relates to the same mindset that >> programming requires (learning patience, persistence, curiosity, abstract >> thinking). So I don't think it's necessary to sit a little kid in front of >> a monitor right away to get there. Most of all, as others have said, have >> fun! >> >> Alexey >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* JamesJ <[email protected]> >> *To:* [email protected] >> *Sent:* Friday, September 30, 2011 7:01 PM >> >> *Subject:* Re: [The Java Posse] Computing and kids >> >> With anything that dad enjoys and wants the kids to enjoy, I share >> some advice from a golfer. He started with the objective to make it >> fun. He said to start with some playing for short periods on the >> lawn, or going to hit some balls on the driving range for a short >> time, with minimal criticizing and afterwards took his kids for >> ice-cream or some treat. >> >> The most important thing is to provide opportunities, but don't let >> yourself or you kid get upset or stressed, ever. >> >> I have kids from 15 down to 8. I think that for serious programming, >> 10 to 13 is still pretty early. They don't have much patience and >> expect to be able to whip out some polished game in an afternoon that >> would really take 20 man years. >> >> The science fair was a good chance to have some incentive to work on >> programming and my oldest enjoyed that. >> >> I think whatever system you choose, you need to balance what it is >> teaching, how much you have to do to see results, how much fun it is >> to encourage continuing work. >> >> I have been blown away with the realization of how much you really >> have to understand to be a decent programmer. It is a huge >> curriculum. Take it in small chunks. >> >> At 4, I think the best idea is to just have fun with him. Play some >> puzzle games together and lots of hands on open ended building like >> leggos. (Save the mindstorms for later, or just get it for your >> self.) >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "The Java Posse" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to javaposse+ >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en. >> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "The Java Posse" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Java Posse" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
