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Ask HN: Best coding sites for teens/pre-teens?

5 points by dankohn1 ↗ HN
I'd like to work with my 12-year-old to improve his coding skills so that he can actually build something interesting. He's comfortable with Scratch and the simple levels from Code.org (which is Python). I'd like to figure out an intermediate level curriculum that would move him forward to being able to build his own projects, such as a website for rating games that he and his friends could use.

A lot of the options seem either too academic (for example, code.org's AP CS curriculum <https://code.org/educate/csp>), too basic, or too advanced.

I'm considering Code Academy's Web Development path: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/paths/web-development

I've had a good personal experience with Michael Hartl's Rails Tutorial and so was also considering his Learn Enough series: https://www.learnenough.com/story

What have you used?

8 comments

[ 1.9 ms ] story [ 29.2 ms ] thread
johncoltrane
If he likes coding, and coding would actually help him solve an actual problem, he will find what he needs on his own.
snazz
This is my experience too. Provide access to a computer that the student has full control over (to experiment with operating systems) and allow plenty of time to work on programming projects. Even though playing video games can be a waste of time, modding and recreating them is a good programming exercise and should be encouraged. That’s how the few twelve-year-olds I know got into programming, and they now make more “serious” projects of their own.

Edit: and since you’ve got plenty of experience, you can be the perfect first resource for your 12-year-old to ask for help.

altairiumblue
I think there is a difference between:

- how can they quickly get to a point where they can build something real and keep their attention on it?

and

- what are the skills that if they develop at an early age will have the biggest impact on their long term career and ability as a developer?

The answer to the second question is algorithms in a low level language (C/C++), which admittedly can be boring unless one has an inclination for that kind of thing.

dankohn1
I would be thrilled if he decided to go through Knuth a chapter at a time, re-implementing every algorithm. But starting with git to edit some HTML seems more likely.
ThrowawayR2
Games are often a good way to motivate kids. You might want to take a look at something like Screeps (https://screeps.com/), which involves programming virtual robots in JavaScript to to play in an online MMO.
zachlatta
I started https://hackclub.com because I was in his shoes not too long ago. Maybe he'd find value in our Slack (or maybe start / join a club once he's in high school)?

Not a curriculum as much of a supportive community of other teens that share the hacker ethic.

thiago_fm
SPOJ. If he learns how to program well and compete in the IOI, he will have a great career ahead of him, much ahead of his peers. This got me more into programming and shaped my future in a way I can't even measure.