Youngest Age Recommended?

[Lemur]

I'm starting to muse on it a bit myself. I ended up starting programming through RPG Maker 2000 or so some time when I was around 12 or 13 if I recall. I'm considering trying to get my younger brother started on it some time, but as he's only 8 now I think it's a stretch. What's the youngest you've seen someone really get into this, and what would you say is an appropriate age to start?

The only reason I consider is because the kid is more or less brilliant already and could probably pick up anything if he were interested. I'm tempted to try him on scratch or some basic code tutorials to see what happens.

 

[JosephSeraph]

Go ahead and try! Worst case will be that he'll bore off and turn away. I was 8 when I first heard of Rpg Maker!

 

[Lemur]

We're working on easing him into it. The folks are getting him a 3DS, and I got him Omega Ruby to cut his teeth on. We'll see where it ends up going. I've taught some kids younger than him how to use some basic HTML and CSS, but that's hardly what I'd call programming. Most tended to fall apart around javascript (well, in part due to it being an interesting language...)

 

[Sharm]

I've played with this with my nephew when he was five and he loooooved it. I had to do most everything and it didn't get further than basic maps and fights but he was still completely enthralled. If he lived nearby he'd probably be making games by himself by now.

 

[Wavelength]

I know a couple of 14-year-olds that do decent stuff with the PC RPG Makers, but honestly, I was pretty lost at that age.  I'd call that a bare minimum for where to start if you don't want to worry about them getting frustrated and giving up.  Younger than that, RPG Maker 1 or 3 for the Playstation are really the way to go.

 

[_Shadow_]

If you can show your brother how and when to do a "Conditional branch", the boy can make incredible things just with this and Show text.

And slowly and gradually you can show more acoording to his interest.

Just keep in mind you have to show him how HE can make something instantly, so he will not get bored.

The superstar is the student, not the teacher.

If he won't love it, well he might have different interests. 

 

[whitesphere]

My first computer experience was when I was 8 years old.  I started programming in BASIC which is a simple structured language.   So I think a very bright 12 to 13 year old could easily at least start using RPG Maker VX Ace.  He might not be able to do everything, but if he becomes self-motivated, he'll probably be really good at it and drive himself to learn everything about it, eventually.

It really comes down to:  Can the kid understand logic at that age?  If he can, then he can use RPG Maker.  I'm not even talking scripting.  You can make a pretty good RPG without creating your own scripts.  If you learn how to use other people's scripts like Yanfly's, then you can leverage their excellent work.  And as we know there are literally thousands of scripts available to do almost anything.

So I'd say let him try it but ease him into the particulars.

 

[mlogan]

There are programs out there designed to help young ones start understanding the basics of coding.

I was doing this with my 5 and 8 year old the other day. http://studio.code.org/s/frozen/stage/1/puzzle/1

While I think it would be a bit much for my 5 year old on her own, my 8 year old could do it independently I believe.

I realize your brother may not be as excited about Anna and Elsa as my girls, but this site has others.

http://studio.code.org/

Also, I'm sure google could pull up some similar items.

Lego has kits that are designed to help young kids start learning program (though they are pricey).

I think your brother would be capable of beginning to learn code as long as it's kept to very basic principles.

 

[_Shadow_]

I started programming in BASIC which is a simple structured language.  

You are really REALLY lucky if you had the opportunity to experience BASIC as a structured language.

Bacause back then, for me, without the Internet and without nice books, the only thing we had, was experimenting and searching for awful code on magazines. It was the GOTO era.

Fortunately, I was lucky enough to try doing something bigger than the usual stuff and I understood why GOTO was not the way...

Then I leaned what structured programming was.

And my life changed.

 

[Tsukihime]

8 is an excellent time to start programming.


I think they should start when they're 5.

 

[whitesphere]

You are really REALLY lucky if you had the opportunity to experience BASIC as a structured language.

Bacause back then, for me, without the Internet and without nice books, the only thing we had, was experimenting and searching for awful code on magazines. It was the GOTO era.

Fortunately, I was lucky enough to try doing something bigger than the usual stuff and I understood why GOTO was not the way...

Then I leaned what structured programming was.

And my life changed.

Well it wasn't structured like C was so I think I really said the wrong thing there.

Now the jump to Object oriented programming was a big conceptual leap.

 

[Lemur]

The thing to consider here is that among our family, most qualify in the genius level. That kid blows most of us away.

He's already making a habit of outsmarting teachers on computers in school it seems, and teaching others how to use them. I just hesitate to teach him a real language as I've had particularly mixed results with kids older than him and Javascript when I was teaching groups. I think he could, but getting him on it too early could leave a bad taste in his mouth and the kid is nightmarishly stubborn when he doesn't like something.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

If he can use Paint he can enjoy RPG Maker. At his age the question is less about intelligence and more about frustration tolerance and reasonableness.


Anyone can learn if they will take things step by step, but a child who wants the moon and can't abide the fact that they are not ready for space flight until they get things ready to go can find even very exciting, enjoyable activities to be inappropriate.


I speak from years of experience on this, fwiw.


And TouchFuzzy blogged about teaching his kid RPG Maker; you may enjoy reading that.

 

[mlogan]

Yeah, as far as RM goes, he can definitely do it. Both of my kids do.

And I apologize, I thought you were originally asking about coding because of your last sentence.

 

[Lemur]

Realistically both. We'll see how he does. He already loves Minecraft, so it's a start. Nifty it's on Steam Sale for $18 right now.