Python for Kids
A Playful Introduction to Programming
by Jason R. Briggs · first published 2012
60% recommend40% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Step-by-step, playful intro to programming for kids around 10+, building a couple of 2D games. Suits parents who want children making things on a computer, and echoes old magazine type-in listings.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Python for Kids brings Python to life and brings you into the world of programming. For kids aged 10+ (and their parents). The code in this book runs on almost anything: Windows, Mac, Linux, even an OLPC laptop or Raspberry Pi!
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Check out the book Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming. It covers how to make a couple different 2D games. http://www.amazon.com/Python-Kids-Playful-Introduction-Progr...
on “Ask HN: What is good language / project to teach 12-year old to code?” ↗++ on Python. There is also a nice Python-for-kids textbook for ages 8+ http://www.briggs.net.nz/log/writing/snake-wrangling-for-kid... And ++ on not letting your own enthusiasm scare him off. My mother started me on piano when I was 2 years and 10…
on “Ask HN: How do I give my son a head start?” ↗…line at that table. Thinkfun also has a good board game to teach programming logic called Code Master Programming Logic Game. If you really do want to go a more abstract route, I would start with the Python for Kids book by Jason Briggs. Once he gets through that, get the Python Crash Course next and work through the 3 problems in that book. It has one where you make a Django app with a user login.
on “Ask HN: Best resources for teaching my 8 year old to code” ↗Python for Kids https://nostarch.com/python-kids-2nd-edition I've heard really great things about this book. //// The other one is "How to Think Like a Computer Scientist, Learn Python 3" https://openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english3e/"…
on “Ask HN: Best books to get started with programming in 2023?” ↗Python for Kids https://www.nostarch.com/pythonforkids
on “Ask HN: What are the latest and greatest books on your favorite language?” ↗My daughter is following this book (Python for Kids) on her own now, and about a year ago we spent a while reading the Hello World book (http://www.manning.com/sande/) which is a very gentle intro to programming, Python and it was great. I liked Hello…
on “Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming” ↗…computers were explained in simple language, and the character of the kid which questions everything is really fit for this type of book. Also, there were lots of small games with different mechanics. Python for Kids is really good also, has a intro about the Python language which feels more focused than the other book and it has a chapter about drawing with a turtle, as I did with LOGO many years ago! ... Python…
on “Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming” ↗…For kids, it's a bit difficult, especially given the wide age bracket (14-year old basically can form their own startups…). I would recommend Python over Ruby there, though. No Starch Press has a good "Python for Kids" book (as far as I can tell), listed as 10+. That seems to do a few small GUIs (tkinter) and games first. Probably more interesting in the beginning. For teaching web programming, I'd just make a simple…
on “Best web framework for non-programmer beginners (or kids)” ↗…Is there a board book edition? Other great STEM and computers books for kids: "A is for Array" "Lift-the-Flap Computers and Coding" "Computational Fairy Tales" "Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding" "Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction To Programming" "Lauren Ipsum: A Story About Computer Science and Other Improbable Things" "Rosie Revere, Engineer" "Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine" "HTML for…
on “A Hacker Writes a Children's Book” ↗…the mouse and compile to an exe) With my son, I ended up searching high and low, umming and ahhing, and in the end I found the spiritual successor to those computer magazines with program listings in a Python for Kids book that takes them step-by-step (a little like the Commodore manual did) introducing concepts and eventually getting you to build a game. I think a lot of the wonder about computers that seems to have…
on “Learning BASIC Like It's 1983” ↗I don't (anymore). But I do suggest to friends and colleagues the book "Python for Kids" when they ask me about a book to a (potentially useful) programming language so they can get their kids to do something more than watch vids on YT, with a computer.
on “Ask HN: What programming language book(s) are you reading?” ↗I recommend "Python for Kids" from O'reilly
on “Ask HN: Are there any children's websites that teach coding or coding concepts?” ↗…future-proof skill Here are some free resources: - https://github.com/pygamelib/pygamelib - https://kidspython.com - https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Programmers - https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python-for-kids/ - good starting point with general Py guidelines for kids. - https://github.com/mytechnotalent/Python-For-Kids - very cool free book 3. Playing Minecraft, Roblox, beamNG, or any other game that supports…
on “Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?” ↗…kids get started with Python: <https://github.com/pygamelib/pygamelib> <https://kidspython.com> <https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Programmers> <https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python-for-kids/> - A good starting point with general Python guidelines for kids. <https://github.com/mytechnotalent/Python-For-Kids> - A very cool free book Playing games like Minecraft, Roblox, or BeamNG that…
on “Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?” ↗Two new books on the way from No Starch Press: Super Scratch Programming Adventure (http://nostarch.com/scratch -- available now) and Python for Kids (http://nostarch.com/pythonforkids -- available soon). The Scratch book is probably appropriate for ages 8 and up, the Python one for ages 10 and up (depending on the kid, of course). Disclaimer: I…
on “Teaching my 10 year old niece how to program.” ↗