Coding for Kids
Meet our newest Featured Maker, 5th grader Sebastian from Pennsylvania! He likes to read, draw, and write. He also likes to play with his brother and sister and build Legos. Awesome! Sebastian recently spoke with us about his experience coding with Tynker.
How did you get introduced to Tynker?
I first did stuff for Minecraft because at the time I really liked Minecraft. I still do. When I started your projects, and then I remixed some, I found out how to add new characters, create code, and make things easier.
Have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker?
I think my coding skills have improved a lot.
How did you feel when your project was featured?
I felt excited and nervous because I’m not really somebody who likes attention.
What’s your favorite project you’ve made so far?
My favorite project so far is a remix of the Lord of War.
How do you get inspiration for your projects?
Normally, it’s other projects that I find and also a lot of the Minecraft projects.
Why do you like to code?
I think it’s fun. And it also helps you learn because I want to be a coder. So it also helps you for those harder codes that I’m gonna have to eventually do.
What’s the best thing about Tynker?
I think it’s the code because I recently figured out that you could code the Minecraft Mobs too. So that’s probably going to be my favorite because I like creating custom Minecraft mobs and custom characters.
Do you think learning to code has prepared you for the future?
I think it will help me know code more. And it can also prepare me for basic code. And then I’ll be prepared for the larger and bigger code.
Do you think other kids should try coding?
I think yeah because it can help you learn the stuff that you’re going to do when you’re older. Like if you want to take computer classes, you’re going to have to learn to code.
Any idea of what you want to be when you grow up?
So first, I would want to be a coder and a game designer because they both sound amazing. There are a lot of games that I like that I think I could do something like them and add features that I would like.
What’s your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject in school is probably art. I like drawing in the many techniques.
Bonus: What’s a fun fact about you?
I also have this writing club where you have to write 100 words each day. I’m also really into reading, and I can read through an entire book in a day.
Parent Questions
Sebastian’s father, Andrew, spoke with us about his son benefitting from coding:
Appropriate struggle, in terms of pushing through challenges and not giving up. When you code and play the game out, and it doesn’t go the right way and trying to figure out where it is. I used to be a Science teacher and basically the Scientific method is trying to figure out where the problem is, how to correct it, experiment, and find a solution that works.
Do you feel that he’s better prepared for the future?
Yes! In terms of being more comfortable with technology. Being more comfortable with adapting to things that may change. Seeing kids sometimes instantly give up on things when it becomes too much of a struggle. It’s learning that it’s okay to not get things right the first time and spending time trying to figure it out yourself instead of having someone immediately giving you the answer.
Thank you!
We want to thank Sebastian and his father for taking the time to speak with us about coding with Tynker. We can’t wait to see what he creates next – HAPPY CODING!
