Coding for Kids
Meet our newest Featured Maker, 8th grader Emerson from New Zealand! His hobbies include coding and writing his own stories. He also likes to learn math outside of school. Cool! Emerson recently spoke with us about his experience coding with Tynker.
How did you get introduced to Tynker?
I got introduced through Hour of Code, and then that kind of linked us to Tynker, which we did for two years and I’ve kept on coding since.
How did you learn to use Tynker?
I think it was that floating island, Turing’s Tower.
Have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker?
They’ve improved. So now I code in four different languages. I can do CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and p5.js.
How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured?
I felt kind of happy and excited.
What’s your favorite project you’ve made so far?
Probably my pickup project because it gives a little animation and then a response for each choice that you choose.
How do you get inspiration for your projects?
Mainly just the things around me and also from the community and games I like playing.
Why do you like to code?
I think it’s fun. It’s kind of like an open playground. You can do whatever you want if you know how to do it.
What do you do with a project when you’re done with it?
I debug it. I’d show it to my family, usually, and then I’ll publish it. But I’m never really done with it. I keep on working on it.
What are you planning to make next?
I think I’m going to try to do a geometry dash kind of game in JavaScript and CSS and HTML.
What’s the best thing about Tynker?
It’s really easy to get started and without much help from guardians or parents or anything.
Has learning to code prepared you for the future?
Well, I think that lots of jobs these days have some form of code or IT stuff, really. And so I think that doing coding has definitely prepared me.
Do you think other kids should try coding?
Yes, I do. Because if they enjoy it, they can keep on doing it.
What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker?
Probably just keep on trying and have fun with it.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I like biology and reading.
Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a software developer and a part-time author.
Emerson’s mother, Melanie, spoke with us about her son learning to code with Tynker:
It’s something that keeps him busy. He uses his mind, and he’s not playing computer games. He’s creating them instead. So it’s really making him think hard, and he just loves it. So it’s a great thing to do for kids.
Do you think coding has benefits for Emerson?
It stimulates his brain, keeps him busy, and it sets him up for the real world in an enjoyable way.
Do you feel he’s better prepared for the future?
Definitely. It’s setting him up for more opportunities later on in life. And by doing Tynker, it’s a fun way to start for the kids.
How do you support his coding endeavors?
Just check on what they’re doing and encourage them to show other family members, and also share it with their friends as well because when their friends get involved, it’s just a good feeling. And your friends all like seeing what you’re doing and what kind of code you’re doing, and they love playing your games.
Thank you!
We want to thank Emerson 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!
