We pair program with new hires on simpler tasks and gradually build them up. Sounds very similar.
I'm having my first kid soon and have pretty high ambitions for teaching him to program. Maybe I'll try the pair programming/Mayan chore method to get him up to speed.
Maybe better to first wait and see what he/she is interested in?
Of course, but even if they're not interested in calculus or US history we make them learn that. I just want my kids to be good enough at programming that it's a solid backup option so they can feel free to pursue anything their hearts desire knowing they can fall back on that.