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How should I introduce my 13-year-old daughter to programming?

7 points AsifMushtaq | 2 comments | 30 Aug 25 00:58 UTC | HN request time: 0.426s | source

I’m an experienced developer, but recently my 13-year-old daughter told me she wants to learn programming—and surprisingly, I find myself unsure about how to get her started.

There’s an overwhelming amount of advice out there. Some suggest beginning with Scratch or other no-code platforms, while others recommend jumping straight into the command line or a “real” programming language.

I’m torn between a bottom-up approach (teaching the fundamentals first and building up) and a top-down approach (starting with something more visual and practical, then filling in the gaps later). If we go top-down, should we start with Scratch or dive directly into a language? If it’s a language, should it be Python, JavaScript, or something else?

Even on the hardware side, I’m debating whether it’s better to get her started on Windows, macOS, or something else entirely.

I’d love to hear from those of you who have introduced programming to kids (or started young yourselves). What worked, what didn’t, and what path would you recommend?

1. zachlatta ◴[30 Aug 25 16:56 UTC] No.45076099[source]▶
You should see if there's a Daydream game jam near you! It's a game jam for teens ages 13-18 happening in 100 cities simultaneously worldwide on September 27th and 28th, 2025.

There'll be workshops to help people get started and everyone else will be her age: https://daydream.hackclub.com/

Here are some videos of recent hackathons like Daydream. All for ages 13-18.

- Hackathon on an Island (August 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXWMr0gdLJA

- Largest Hardware Hackathon (July 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaEFv7e49mo

- Scrapyard: Build Silly Projects (March 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iM1W8kXrQA

(I run Hack Club, the nonprofit hosting this event)

replies(1): >>45087235 #
2. AsifMushtaq ◴[31 Aug 25 21:24 UTC] No.45087235[source]▶
Thansk Zachlatta, thats very helpful. We live in Sydney and Daydream is happening here.