Coding for Kids
Meet our newest Featured Maker, 5th grader Nicky from New York! His favorite subject in school is social studies because it combines two of his favorite things, history and geography. Cool! Nicky recently spoke with us about his experience coding with Tynker.
How did you get introduced to Tynker?
My parents found me Tynker to put me up to the quote unquote next level.
How did you learn to use Tynker?
I started doing the HTML and Python courses.
Have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker?
For me Scratch wasn’t advanced enough. Now, I’m creating a football game.
How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured?
I felt very good. This is the first of many things that will happen.
How do you get inspiration for your projects?
I was watching the football season so my head was right, and I’ve added so many things like animations and stuff later.
Why do you like to code?
Because I want to create a big video game, that’s really my motivation.
What do you do with a project when you’re done with it?
I publish it, and then I’ll debug it and republish it later.
What are you planning to make next?
I might have to try out a baseball game.
What’s the best thing about Tynker?
Its simplicity. It’s not complicated and the courses are guided so the block coding is very simple, easy to use.
Has learning to code prepared you for the future?
It’s my future so from the start it was preparing me.
Do you think other kids should try coding?
Yes, especially if you started with Tynker. It’s very simple and easy to learn, like visual languages. Once you’re done with that, in my opinion, HTML was very easy. So I feel like anyone can learn as long as they try. Write one line of code. Just try it.
What advice would you give to kids starting with Tynker?
Start with the block coding. Learn that, very simple. Make a basic project like my first project is just that you move the mouse to move the character is very simple. Just make something basic like that, the basic functionality, and then go from there. It’s all your choice.
What are some of your other hobbies?
I’ll play sports with my friends and read whenever I get the chance. I like playing video games, watching TV, and playing with my little brother.
Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be the owner of a gaming development company.
Bonus: What’s a fun fact about you?
I’m really good with technology. Overall, I’m really good with it.
Parent Questions
Nicky’s mother, Corine, spoke with us about her son learning to code with Tynker:
To be quite honest, I didn’t even know what coding was. You know, I’m from a different generation. I think it’s amazing that he’s kind of taken on this other language. I’m just very proud of him. I think it kind of brings out his creative side. And yeah, I think his projects are great.
What benefits do you think coding has for him?
I really think that it makes him learn how to think outside the box a little bit more, tap into his creative side a little bit more, and I think it’s just good for his overall future.
Do you feel that he’s better prepared for the future?
Absolutely. I feel like this generation, if you don’t know this type of stuff, you’re going to be a little bit lost. I feel like this is going to be very important for his future and something he’s interested in. I think this is definitely preparing him and putting him in the right direction. I’m so happy he’s interested in it.
Thank you!
We want to thank Nicky and his mother for taking the time to speak with us about coding with Tynker. We can’t wait to see what he creates next – HAPPY CODING!
