Have you looked at HtDP? I'm guessing it's still too "old" for any 10yo
(you might have to wait until 12, at least), but worth a look, so you
have some sense when to introduce it later.
One option is to make this constructionist self-directed, with a
helper. Specifically, find out something he wants to start making or
doing first, and have older brother give him pointers on how to get
started. For example, if he wants to start playing with graphics, older
brother can show him how to minimally operate DrRacket, an example of
graphics, how to modify it, and where's some documentation for doing
other things with graphics. Then brother is available occasionally for
questions and tips (say, he wants to draw a car, and this car has 2
wheels, and brother might show him how do abstract that into a
`draw-wheel` procedure, even though the kid has probably not yet been
exposed to any algebra (he doesn't have to understand variables, to
start modifying an example, and incidentally starting to learn some
algebra without being explicitly told about it). And lots of unattended
time to figure things out and play on his own.
Similar with animations, music, games.
Maybe get a friend or two of the same age also learning this way, so
they can learn from and inspire each other, work on things together,
etc. But be careful that all of them stay encouraged, and you don't get
a situation like one of them getting a head start and consequently
feeling like they're "good at this", and the other feeling like they're
"bad at this", which are self-fulfilling perceptions.
There are also language platforms specifically designed for young
children. But don't discount the potential of throwing a young child at
a computer with only non-child software on it, and let them figure out
how to do what they want, much on their own. That's how the early-1980s
home computer kids got started, and that worked out pretty well. Just
keep nudging towards increasing technical sophistication, as the child
is ready. (And keep child away from modern Web programmer talk as long
as possible, to avoid rotting brain during a crucial formative period. :)
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Racket
Users" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to racket-users+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.