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?
Also, do some math calculations that require "for". From recursive series to brute force problems with small integers.
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I'd recommend HTML+Javascipt only if she wants to make a few interactive webpages, with a few text fields and buttons. I'm not sure how hard is to do that in Python.