[vox] ISO: Good programming language to teach an 8yr old

[Dave Margolis]

This is actually a really good question; thanks for asking it.  I've 
been thinking about introducing basic (not BASIC) programming to my 5 
year old at some point (probably when he's a little older than 5).  He's 
been so shockingly quick ot pick things up, and with zero teaching (you 
should see this kid operate the Tivo!).   I was already planning on 
doing PHP, but my brother-in-law is a big TCL user and threw that in as 
a possibility.  Obviously a lot of people like Python too.  I kind of 
liked the idea of something that could graduate into GUI programming.  
TCL/TK offers this.  PHP obviously doesn't unless you consider 
Web-scripting an abstract example of GUI programming.  What are the GUI 
programming possibilities for Python? 

Bill Kendrick wrote:

>Back when I was 8 years old (about 20 years ago now!), I programmed in
>BASIC on my Timex Sinclair 1000 and Atari 1200XL computers.
>
>Today, I've been asked to tutor a very smart (but currently far
>too Windows-saavy for his and his parents' own good) 8 year old kid.
>
>He's got a Pentium (which doesn't work, and it sounds like Windows is
>broken), and I'm thinking of installing Linux for him.  (He's used it before,
>and likes what he's seen.)  I think he's ready to start picking up 
>programming, as it will provide him with a creative outlet for all that
>computer geek energy he has.
>
>
>What's a good, kid-friendly language for today's kids to use (on Linux,
>of course!)?
>
>I've though about picking up some Python and passing my knowledge on to him,
>but of course I'd rather ask the educators and other experts on various
>mailing lists for suggestions, since many of you have already dealt with
>this problem before.
>
>:^)
>
>Thanks in advance!
>
>-bill!
>bill@newbreedsoftware.com          Check out the new, improved Tux Paint site!
>http://newbreedsoftware.com/bill/        http://newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/
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