Programming for Kids

[sbrown02]

As a kid my first experience (ok, after games) with computers was basic programming. Things have changed a lot since then. I'd like to get my son or daughter interested beyond games. Can anyone recommend a low cost/low tech entry level programming language (under Win-XP) that I can introduce my kids to?

Thanks

[doctorgonzo]

Why not stick with BASIC?

http://download.com.com/3000-2212-2399176.html?tag=lst-0-7

[LoveJones]

It's silly, but it's how I got my start... show them QBasic. It's available on most Ti-80+ calculators and it's actually relatively robust. Depending on their age, you can show them how they can program math problems into their calculator to help them on their homework =p. Don't help them too much, or they won't learn the math hehe. If you can program it, you know the theory pretty intimately.

[piasabird]

Pascal might be a nice language. It is kind of rudimentary, but there are free compilers. There are also GNU versions of C and C++ at sites like delores? Delorie?. For under $100.00 you can probably purchase a copy of one of the standard Microsoft Visual C++ Compilers. Visual C++ can do quite a lot. It is harder to learn but is more flexible. Also Try downloading JAVA from the sun website. Java is a very interesting programming language. Lots of books are written on it. One can easily write programs with it and it is a free download also. Sun has lots of examples on their website.

I suggest trying Java:

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/download.html

http://www.delorie.com/

You would have to find Pascal on your own.

Microsoft is trying to get everyone to buy Visual Studio C++.net
It runs a little over $100.00